TIN mandatory for key transactions from November

A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) will become mandatory from 1 November 2026 for a range of financial, property and administrative transactions, the Inland Revenue Department announced.

Under the new requirement, individuals will have to provide a valid TIN when opening an account with a bank or financial institution, obtaining approval for a building plan, registering a motor vehicle or renewing a vehicle licence.

A TIN will also be required when registering land or ownership of land, registering a business, transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka and applying for a credit card, the department said.

The Inland Revenue Department said officials responsible for processing these transactions must verify that the TIN provided is valid before proceeding.

Individuals who have not yet obtained a TIN can register through the department’s e-services platform.

The department has also provided an online facility for taxpayers to verify whether their existing TIN is valid.

Once verification is completed successfully, the TIN will be displayed on screen. The Commissioner General of Inland Revenue said a printed copy clearly showing both the individual’s National Identity Card number and TIN would be accepted for the specified transactions in place of an official TIN certificate.