28
Excise Commissioner General Udaya Kumara Perera has notified the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to submit a report on licensed excise permit holders who have paid taxes for the year 2025. With approximately 2,000 permits set for renewal next year, the Commissioner General has requested details of both taxpayers and defaulters to ensure a streamlined process.
According to Commissioner General Perera, the Inland Revenue Department has already forwarded 1,636 applications for permit renewals, along with tax clearance reports, for the upcoming year. He emphasised that permits can only be renewed if the Inland Revenue Department confirms tax payments through official clearance documents. The Commissioner General further recommended that a comprehensive list of taxpayers be submitted by the Department before permit renewals commence. This would expedite the process and allow for the immediate issuance of permits to eligible applicants while withholding them from defaulters.
As of today (26), the Inland Revenue Department is prepared to release 232 tax clearance reports, facilitating the renewal process.
Commissioner General Perera expressed confidence that the Department would cooperate efficiently to provide the necessary data. There are approximately 4,500 excise permits required nationwide for the sale of alcoholic beverages, making this tax compliance process critical for ensuring smooth operations in the sector.
Jayasiri Munasinghe and Subhashini Senanayake
