Long queues formed at Inland Revenue Department (IRD) offices across Sri Lanka on Tuesday as members of the public tried to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN).
At the department’s regional office in Kalutara, large crowds waited in line. Several people complained of delays and difficulty obtaining their TIN certificates.
Some applicants said they had been in the queue since morning. Others said they had visited the office repeatedly over several days without completing the process.
Several people alleged that they could not obtain their certificates on Monday because of a system breakdown, despite waiting for hours. Others said they had taken leave from work but were turned away and asked to return with more documents or on another day.
Some of those queuing said the delays were affecting vehicle-related transactions, including obtaining driving licences and revenue licences. One person appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to intervene. People also complained about waiting in rainy weather.
The surge follows the Government’s decision to make a TIN certificate mandatory for eight categories of financial, commercial and administrative transactions from 1 November 2026.
Background
A TIN is a number the IRD issues to identify a taxpayer. Under Sri Lanka’s tax regulations, obtaining one is mandatory for all resident individuals who turned 18 on or before 31 December 2023, as well as those who turn 18 on or after 1 January 2024.
Making the certificate a requirement for specified transactions means that people who had not registered before now need one to complete those dealings. The IRD has not been quoted in the reports on Tuesday’s queues, and the reasons for the delays are given only by the applicants themselves.
The rule took effect on 1 November, which means demand for TIN certificates rose sharply within days of its introduction. Queues were reported at more than one office on the same day.
What it means
Anyone who needs to carry out one of the eight categories of transaction now has to hold a TIN certificate first. People who have not yet registered should expect waits at IRD offices and should carry the documents the office asks for to avoid repeat visits.
For people dealing with vehicle matters, applicants say the certificate is holding up driving licence and revenue licence transactions. Anyone planning such a transaction should confirm the current requirements with the relevant office before travelling, and Sri Lankans abroad who are due to handle such matters should check the position with the IRD.
