The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has clarified that the potential conversion of National Identity Card (NIC) numbers to Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) is merely a proposal under consideration, with no current plans for implementation.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, IRD Assistant Commissioner S.A.K.K. Sanath emphasised that there had been no concrete decisions made regarding this transition. 

“So far, we haven’t implemented anything like that. It is just a suggestion,” he stated.

Sanath further explained that while the department did utilise NIC numbers to assist in TIN registration, this process was currently limited to using NIC details for ease of registration rather than replacing TINs with NICs.

“For example, if we were to be sent a list of names and their NICs, we would use that data to register such individuals for TINs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the criteria for TIN registration remain unchanged and all citizens over the age of 18 are required to obtain a TIN.

However, the deadline for registration has been lifted in light of the economic challenges faced by the public, allowing individuals to register for a TIN at their convenience, with the IRD focused on facilitating the registration process for taxpayers rather than imposing new regulations.

State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said earlier this year that the Government was looking at making an individual’s NIC number their TIN number as well.