What must a tax invoice contain in Sri Lanka?

Under IRD Gazette Extraordinary No. 2481/22 the words "TAX INVOICE", the supplier's name, address and 9-digit TIN, the purchaser's name, address and TIN, a serial number in the YYMMM_QQQQ_XXXXX format, the invoice and supply dates (MM/DD/YYYY), a description of the goods or services, and the net value, VAT amount and VAT-inclusive total stated separately to two decimal places.

What is the new tax invoice format effective 1 July 2026?

The Commissioner-General's directive (Gazette 2481/22, dated 27 March 2026) standardises the tax invoice: a bold "TAX INVOICE" heading, the supplier TIN top-left and purchaser TIN top-right, a fixed serial-number pattern, US-style MM/DD/YYYY dates, and net, VAT and total each shown on their own line to two decimals. It became strictly mandatory on 1 July 2026.

What is the correct VAT invoice serial number format in Sri Lanka?

The serial number is YYMMM_QQQQ_XXXXX: the last two digits of the year, the three-letter uppercase month (JAN–DEC), an entity/branch identifier, and a running number — joined by underscores. For example an invoice issued in July 2026 by branch BR01, number 1, becomes 26JUL_BR01_1. The whole string must contain no spaces and be at most 40 characters.

Is the TIN mandatory on a Sri Lankan tax invoice?

The supplier's 9-digit Taxpayer Identification Number is mandatory. The purchaser's TIN is required when the buyer is VAT-registered and wants to claim input VAT; for an unregistered end consumer it can be left blank. This tool validates both TINs as exactly 9 digits and warns when the purchaser TIN is missing.

What VAT rate do I put on a Sri Lankan tax invoice?

The standard VAT rate is 18%, per the Inland Revenue Department and Public Notice PN/VAT/2025-01. The tool defaults to 18% but lets you enter a different rate for zero-rated or specially-rated supplies. VAT is calculated on the VAT-exclusive net value and shown as its own line.

Does anything I type get uploaded?

No. The whole tool runs in your browser. Your client details, amounts and TINs never leave the page — there is no server, no account and no invoice database. Printing or saving to PDF uses your browser's own print dialog, so the document is generated locally on your device.

Should the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) be a line on the invoice?

No. The tax invoice under this format states VAT-subject values only. SSCL is a supplier-side levy on the supplier's turnover, not an itemised charge on the customer's tax invoice, so this tool deliberately omits it to keep the output compliant. Build SSCL into your pricing separately if you need to recover it.

Can I use this for a credit note or a simplified/SVAT invoice?

Not in this version. Credit notes, debit notes, suspended-VAT (SVAT) credit vouchers and simplified invoices are separate document types with their own rules. This tool produces a standard tax invoice only. Those other documents are on the roadmap as separate tools.

When was this format last verified against the source?

The format, serial-number pattern and 18% rate on this page were last cross-checked against IRD Gazette 2481/22 and the IRD VAT page on 2026-07-17. The page is reviewed whenever the IRD amends the tax-invoice specification or the standard VAT rate.

Sri Lanka · Finance

Sri Lanka VAT Tax Invoice Generator (2026 Format)

Create a print-ready VAT tax invoice in the mandatory IRD format (Gazette 2481/22, effective 1 July 2026): correct serial number, supplier and purchaser TINs, and separate net, VAT and total lines. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.

By Induwara Ashinsana— Executive Director, Ryzera TechnologiesUpdated Jul 17, 2026

Build your tax invoiceGazette 2481/22 format

Runs in your browser · nothing uploaded

Start from

Supplier (you)

Name

Address

TIN (9 digits, required)

Valid 9-digit TIN.

Phone (optional)

Purchaser (customer)

Name

Address

TIN (9 digits)

Leave blank for an unregistered consumer.

Invoice date

Shown as MM/DD/YYYY

Date of supply

Shown as MM/DD/YYYY

Entity ID (QQQQ)

Branch / register code, no spaces

Serial no. (XXXXX)

Positive whole number

Serial number26JUL_BR01_112/40 chars

Line items

VAT %

Description

Qty

Unit price (Rs)

Line net

Rs 250,000.00

Net value (VAT-exclusive)

Rs 250,000.00

VAT @ 18%

Rs 45,000.00

Total consideration

Rs 295,000.00

Amount in words: Two Hundred Ninety-Five Thousand Rupees and Zero Cents Only.

Show amount in wordsVAT checked two ways

Compliance checklist

All fields present

"TAX INVOICE" headingPrinted automatically on every invoice.
Supplier name & address
Supplier 9-digit TIN (top-left)
Purchaser name & address
Purchaser 9-digit TIN (top-right)
Serial number in YYMMM_QQQQ_XXXXX form
Invoice & supply dates (MM/DD/YYYY)
At least one described line item
Net, VAT and total stated separatelyLaid out separately in the totals block below.

Live preview

TAX INVOICE

Supplier

Colombo Software Labs (Pvt) Ltd

12 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka

TIN: 134567890

Tel: 011 234 5678

Purchaser

Kandy Retail Holdings (Pvt) Ltd

45 Peradeniya Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka

TIN: 987654321

Invoice No: 26JUL_BR01_1Invoice date: 07/17/2026Date of supply: 07/17/2026

Description	Qty	Unit price	Line net
Web development services	1	Rs 250,000.00	Rs 250,000.00

Net valueRs 250,000.00

VAT @ 18%Rs 45,000.00

TotalRs 295,000.00

Amount in words: Two Hundred Ninety-Five Thousand Rupees and Zero Cents Only.

Format, serial-number pattern, TIN placement and decimal rules follow IRD Gazette Extraordinary No. 2481/22 (effective 1 July 2026); the 18% standard rate follows the Inland Revenue Department VAT page and PN/VAT/2025-01. Full links are cited under “Sources” below. This tool formats what you enter — it is not tax advice.

How it works

This generator builds a tax invoice that matches the particulars set out by the Commissioner-General of Inland Revenue in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2481/22 (dated 27 March 2026), which became strictly mandatory on 1 July 2026. Every field the gazette requires is either captured from your input or generated for you, and the compliance checklist ticks each mandatory particular before you print.

The arithmetic is deterministic and shown to two decimal places:

Line net for each row = quantity × unit price, rounded to two decimals.
Net value (VAT-exclusive) = the sum of all line nets, rounded to two decimals. The gazette requires the net to be stated separately.
VAT amount = round(net × rate ÷ 100, 2). The rate defaults to the 18% standard rate published by the Inland Revenue Department, and is shown on its own line.
Total consideration (VAT-inclusive) = net value + VAT amount, to two decimals — the amount your customer pays.

The serial number is assembled as YYMMM_QQQQ_XXXXX: the last two digits of the invoice year, the three-letter uppercase month, your entity/branch identifier, and a running number, joined by underscores. The whole string must contain no spaces and be at most 40 characters — the tool enforces both rules and flags the serial in red if either is broken. Dates are rendered as MM/DD/YYYY and both TINs are validated as exactly nine digits.

As a credibility check the tool recovers the VAT a second way — backward from the VAT-inclusive total using the fraction rate ÷ (100 + rate) — and confirms it matches the VAT computed forward from the net, to the cent. When both agree, the invoice shows a “VAT checked two ways” badge. No data is sent anywhere; the print/PDF is produced entirely on your device.

Worked examples

Single service line — VAT-registered consultancy

Line: Web development services, qty 1 × Rs 250,000.00
Net value = 1 × 250,000.00 = Rs 250,000.00
VAT @ 18% = 250,000.00 × 0.18 = Rs 45,000.00
Total consideration = 250,000.00 + 45,000.00 = Rs 295,000.00
Serial (07/17/2026, BR01, 1) = 26JUL_BR01_1
In words: Two Hundred Ninety-Five Thousand Rupees and Zero Cents

Multi-line retail invoice

Line A: HP laptop, qty 2 × Rs 180,000.00 = Rs 360,000.00
Line B: USB mouse, qty 5 × Rs 1,500.00 = Rs 7,500.00
Net value = 360,000.00 + 7,500.00 = Rs 367,500.00
VAT @ 18% = 367,500.00 × 0.18 = Rs 66,150.00
Total consideration = Rs 433,650.00
Serial (07/17/2026, A1, 42) = 26JUL_A1_42

Edge case — fractional unit price rounds correctly

Line: Printing per page, qty 3 × Rs 33.33 = Rs 99.99
Net value = Rs 99.99
VAT @ 18% = 99.99 × 0.18 = 17.9982 → rounded Rs 18.00
Total consideration = 99.99 + 18.00 = Rs 117.99
Rounding to two decimals happens at each stated line, per the gazette

Frequently asked questions

Sources & references

The tax-invoice format, serial-number pattern and 18% standard rate were last cross-checked against IRD Gazette Extraordinary No. 2481/22 and the IRD VAT page on 2026-07-17. This tool formats the data you enter and is not tax advice; confirm your VAT-registration status and obligations with the IRD or a qualified accountant.

Related tools

LiveFinance

Invoice Generator

Build a professional invoice with line items, tax, discount, and shipping — then download a clean A4 PDF. Ten currencies, Sri Lanka VAT and SSCL presets, everything in your browser.

Open tool

LiveFinance

SL Tax Deadline Calendar

Pick the taxes you pay — income tax, VAT, SSCL, APIT/PAYE or WHT — and instantly see every upcoming IRD filing and payment deadline with a live days-remaining countdown. Dates taken verbatim from the official IRD Tax Calendar 2026.

Open tool

LiveFinance

Sri Lanka VAT Calculator

Add or remove 18% Value Added Tax from any LKR amount, with a clear base / VAT / total breakdown and a copy-ready invoice line. Defaults to Sri Lanka's current standard rate and supports the older 8%, 12%, and 15% rates for reconciling historical invoices.

Open tool

Rate this tool

Be the first to rate

Comments & feedback

Spotted a bug or want an improvement? Tell us — our team reviews every comment, and good ideas get built. Comments are public and anonymous.

Found a bug, edge case, or want to suggest an improvement?

Email me at [email protected] — most fixes ship within 24 hours.