Nearly 12 million TINs issued as registration becomes mandatory

TIN has now been made compulsory for several financial and legal activities  

The Inland Revenue Department has urged all eligible citizens to obtain their TINs promptly to avoid any legal or administrative inconveniences

Nearly 12 million Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) have been issued since the gazette notification making TIN registration mandatory for all individuals aged 18 and above, Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Commissioner Nandana Kumara said.   

He said the requirement applies to those who turned 18 by December 31, 2023, as well as individuals reaching the age of 18 after January 1, 2024.   

Addressing the media, Commissioner Kumara said that the department expects around 17 million people in the country to be registered for TINs. However, at least five million individuals still remain unregistered.   

“Obtaining a TIN became a legal requirement following the gazette notification, but many people did not initially receive their numbers. Subsequently, the IRD processed and issued TINs for them, bringing the total number of registered individuals to around 10 million,” he explained.   

He further said that the TIN has now been made compulsory for several financial and legal activities.  

“The TIN is mandatory for opening bank current accounts, registering or renewing motor vehicle licenses (excluding certain vehicle types), obtaining building plan approvals, registering title deeds to land or transferring land ownership, and transferring vehicle ownership and registrations from January 1, 2026,” he said.   

Commissioner Kumara added that the remaining five million people are expected to register voluntarily in the coming months rather than through enforcement measures.   

The IRD has urged all eligible citizens to obtain their TINs promptly to avoid any legal or administrative inconveniences.