Who has to file an IIT return in Sri Lanka?

Broadly, a resident individual whose assessable income exceeds the tax-free threshold, who has had tax withheld, or who is registered with the IRD. Even when APIT covers a salary, other income such as freelance work, rent or dividends generally still has to be declared in an IIT return.

What is the tax-free threshold and personal relief?

Personal relief is Rs. 1,800,000 for Y/A 2025/2026, deducted before tax so income up to it is effectively untaxed. Further reliefs — solar, the 25% rent deduction, ETF/gratuity concessions — reduce it more where they apply. TaxWise applies each one automatically.

When is the IIT return due for Y/A 2025/2026?

The assessment year runs 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, and the annual IIT return is due by 30 November 2026. Where you have non-salary income, quarterly installments also fall due during the year. TaxWise tracks both dates for you.

Does TaxWise file my IIT return with the IRD?

No. TaxWise reconciles all your income into IRD-ready IIT schedules and computes the exact liability with citations. You review, export and submit the return yourself through the IRD's official e-Filing portal — filing remains your responsibility.

Individual Income Tax Return Sri Lanka 2025/26

How it works

Four moves. Cage by cage.

Your return is the story of where your money went. TaxWise tells it in the order the IRD reads it.

IncomeAdd every incomeSalary from your T-10, freelance fees, bank interest, rent, dividends. Snap a certificate or upload a bank statement and each line lands in its cage.Rs 4,200,000 + 384,000 + 480,000
DeductionsTake off reliefs and costsPersonal relief, solar, the 25% rent upkeep allowance, approved charity and allowable costs come off before any tax is worked out.Rs 1,800,000 relief applied
TaxWork out the taxWhat's left is taxed at the 2025/26 slabs: 6% on the first Rs 1,000,000, then 18%, 24% and 30% on the next Rs 500,000 each, and 36% above Rs 2,500,000.6 · 18 · 24 · 30 · 36%
Pay & filePay and fileAPIT, WHT and AIT already taken are credited. You see what's left to pay or what comes back, export cage-by-cage schedules and a filing guide, then submit on the IRD e-Filing portal yourself.Schedules ready · Export PDF

2025/26 reliefs

Every relief, applied automatically.

Reliefs come off before the tax is worked out. Each one below is checked against your return, so nothing you're owed stays behind.

Personal reliefRs 1,800,000Up from Rs 1,200,000. Everyone gets it, no paperwork.

Solar reliefup to Rs 600,000For rooftop solar panels you paid for.

Rent upkeep allowance25%Taken off your gross rent automatically, before any tax.

ETF and gratuityOwn laneTerminal benefits are taxed at concessionary rates in a separate lane, away from your slabs.

Foreign incomeMax 15%Foreign income remitted to a Sri Lankan bank is taxed at no more than 15%.

Approved charityup to Rs 75,000Or one-third of taxable income, whichever is lower.

Port City employmentCan be exemptPaid in a designated foreign currency by a licensed Port City employer (CPCEC Act s.35).

Not sure which ones apply to you?Find your tax profile

Try the maths

See your 2025/2026 tax in thirty seconds.

Slide in a year's salary and anything else you earned. See which slabs your income reaches.

Salary for the yearRs 4,200,000Gross, before EPF and APIT. From 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026.

Other incomeRs 480,000Freelance fees, bank interest, rent after the 25% allowance.

Demo maths. Personal relief and the 2025/26 slabs only. Your real return also applies solar, charity and the other reliefs, puts dividends, capital gains and foreign income in their own lanes, and credits the APIT, WHT and AIT already paid.

Income tax for the year

Rs 556,800

Effective rate

11.9%

About a month

Rs 46,400

Total incomeRs 4,680,000

Personal relief−Rs 1,800,000

Left to be taxedRs 2,880,000

Slab by slabYour top rupee reaches the 36% step.

First Rs 1,000,000 · 1,000,000

Rs 60,000

18%

Next Rs 500,000 · 500,000

Rs 90,000

24%

Next Rs 500,000 · 500,000

Rs 120,000

30%

Next Rs 500,000 · 500,000

Rs 150,000

36%

Above Rs 2,500,000 · 380,000

Rs 136,800

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Individual income tax · common questions

Straight answers, current for 2025/2026.

IIT is the tax a resident individual pays on total income for the assessment year — salary, business or freelance income, dividends, interest, rent and foreign income combined. After reliefs, the progressive Y/A 2025/2026 rates apply, and taxes already withheld (APIT, WHT) are credited against the result.

Get filing-ready for 2025/2026.

Your first estimate in about a minute. Free for salary and bank interest. No card needed.

Start my return

Return for Y/A 2025/2026 due 30 November 2026