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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DJ.Parker" data-source="post: 240323" data-attributes="member: 1924">Sri Lanka has a transparent, low-tax regime, and has signed double taxation relief agreements with 26 countries. These agreements provide for reduced tax rates on dividends, interest and royalties. .All Sri Lankan businesses, except for BOI (board of investment) companies (enterprises that qualify for BOI incentives under Sec. 17 of the BOI Act and enterprises that qualify for special concessions under the Inland Revenue Law, are liable to tax.TAX TREATIESDouble Tax Relief Agreements signed between Sri Lanka and other countries provide for reduced tax rates on dividends, interest and royalties. Recently completed agreements include special provisions to ensure that foreign investors receive the benefits arising from the various tax incentives. The countries having tax treaties with Sri Lanka are: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea-South, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, UAE, United States and Yugoslavia.CORPORATE INCOME TAXResident and Non-Resident companies are liable to a corporate income tax of 35 per cent. These rates are in line with those in other fast developing Asian economies.Non-resident companies (companies whose head offices are located overseas, or are controlled from abroad) pay an additional tax of one-third of remittances abroad or one-ninth of taxable profits - whichever is less. Remittances exclude dividends for this purpose.BOI companies that meet specific criteria i.e. size of total investment, type of investment and location of investment, qualify for tax holidays ranging from 5-20 years. In addition, a concessionary rate of income tax of 15% up to a maximum period of 20 years is also extended to these companies.DIVIDENDSDividends declared out of tax-exempt profits during the tax holiday period and one year thereafter, is tax free. A withholding tax of 15% on dividends applies to all companies other than quoted public companies. This can be credited against the individual income tax of the shareholders. Quoted public companies have to deduct the 15% withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders.Resident companies pay an Advance Company Tax (A.C.T.) of 27% of gross dividend. The A.C.T. can be offset against the tax liability of the company to a level of 50% of the income tax payable. Any excess can be carried forward to the following year.PERSONAL INCOME TAXResident individuals pay personal income tax on a sliding rate scale up to a maximum of 35% of their income. The first Rs.144, 000 per annum is exempt from income tax.Non-citizens of Sri Lanka who are employed in qualifying BOI companies pay a concessionary tax of 15% of their Sri Lankan source income. This benefit, with the exception of BOI approved "flagship" projects, is restricted to the expatriate's first five years of employment.Basis of LiabilityIncome tax is charged for every year of assessment in respect of the profits and income of every person for that year of assessment. "Person" is defined to include the following :   1. An Individual   2. A Company   3. Body of Persons   4. Any GovernmentA "resident" person is liable to tax in Sri Lanka on that person's income arising in Sri Lanka and income arising outside Sri Lanka. A 'non-resident' person is liable to tax in Sri Lanka only on that person's income arising in Sri Lanka.Year of Assessment / Income PeriodAn year of assessment is the period of twelve months from the 1st of April of an year to the 31st March of the following year.e.g.: The year of assessment 1997/98 covers the period 1st April 1997 to 31st march 1998.Resident or Non-residentWhether an individual is 'resident' or 'non-resident' depends normally on the length of his stay in Sri Lanka.A company is deemed to be resident in Sri Lanka if its registered or principal office is in Sri Lanka or it is controlled and managed in Sri Lanka.Exemption LimitsA resident individual is liable to tax for any year of assessment only if his assessable income exceeds the exemption limit for that year.Sources of IncomeA person is liable to tax on his profits and income from the following sources:   1. · Trade, business (including agriculture), profession or vocation;   2. · Income from house properties and buildings;   3. · Net annual value -Owner occupied houses,   4. · Net annual value -Occupier's income,   5. · Rents;   6. · Dividends;   7. · Capital gains;   8. · Interests;   9. · Royalties, premiums, discounts, charges or annuities;  10. Payment of TaxesEvery person is required to pay income tax in installments on a self-assessment basis as follows:INSTALLMENT PAYMENT DUE BYFirstAugust 15th of the tax yearSecondNovember 15th of the tax yearThirdFebruary 15th of the tax yearFourthMay 15th of the following tax yearFinalSeptember 30th of following tax yearEach of the first four payments is on an estimated basis of not less than 1/4th of the income tax for the tax year immediately preceding. Any balance of income tax due must be paid as the final installment on or before 30th September following the end of the year.The tax return for any year is due by November 30th following the end of that tax year.Rates of DepreciationPLANT, MACHINERY OR FIXTURES(1) 25% per annum on the costMotor vehiclesLorryBusTractorOffice furniture (metal or wooden)(2) 50% per annum on the cost ofAll other plant ,machinery or fixtures Computer SoftwareBUILDINGSOOO6 2/3% per annum on the cost of constructionVALUE ADDED TAX - ACT, NO. 14 OF 2002An act to provide for the imposition and collection of a value added tax on goods and services supplied in Sri Lanka or imported into Sri Lanka: to provide for the abolition of the National Security Levy and The Goods and Services Tax: and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto was enacted by the parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. This act may be cited as the Value Added Tax act no. 14 of 2002 and shall come into operation on august 1. 2002.Imposition of Value Added Tax:2. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a tax, to be known as the Value Added Tax (hereinafter referred to as "the tax) shall be changed-(a) at the time of supply, on every taxable supply of goods or services, made in a taxable period, by a registered person in the course of the carrying on, or carrying out of a taxable activity by such person in Sri Lanka;(b) on the importation of goods into Sri Lanka by any person and on the value of such goods or services supplied or the goods imported, as the case may be, at the following rates :-   1. Ten per centum (of which the Tax Fraction is 1/11) on the value of goods and services referred to in the Second Schedule, which are chargeable with the tax other than zero rated supplies;   2. twenty per centum (of which the Tax Fraction is 1/6) on the value of all other taxable goods and services which are chargeable with the tax other than zero rated supplies.Free Trade Zones (under continuous surveillance by Customs)VAT is not due on the imports of goods to a free trade zone for the purpose of storage/processing. VAT is payable on imported goods taken out of a free trade zone and used within Sri Lanka or on goods used within the free trade zone. VAT is not payable on goods of Sri Lankan origin, which have been in a free trade zone and are being removed in an unaltered state, for home use. Where goods manufactured in a zone are removed into Sri Lanka for use in the owner's business, as opposed to being sold or disposed of, VAT is due only on the value of any imported elements of the goods.Supplies of goods and services to, from and within a free zone are taxable in the normal way.Zero Rating and Exemption Lists of ItemsZero Rated Goods - Goods exported to a customer outside Sri Lanka is normally zero-rated provided that the appropriate conditions are met. Input taxes can be claimed.Services Services are zero-rated under the following conditions:   1. International transportation (including transhipment) of goods and passengers   2. Moveable or immovable property outside Sri Lanka   3. Repair of foreign ships or aircraft, refurbishment of marine cargo containers or any other goods imported for the purpose of re-export   4. A copyright, patent, license, trademark or similar intellectual property right to the extent that such rights are for use outside Sri Lanka.ExemptionsAn Exemption Schedule to the Goods and Services Act No. 34 of 1996 is available at the Department of Inland Revenue.</blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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