📢 IRD Postpones Mandatory Revised VAT Invoice Format to October 1

• Implementation Extension: The Department of Inland Revenue (IRD) has officially delayed the mandatory adoption of the revised Value Added Tax (VAT) invoice format. The new effective date is now October 01, 2026, pushed back from the original July 01, 2026 deadline. • Legal Authorization: Commissioner General of Inland Revenue Rukdevi Perpetua Himali Fernando issued Gazette Extraordinary No. 2500/106 on August 06, 2026, exercising powers under Section 20 of the Value Added Tax Act, No. 14 of 2002. • Specifications Unchanged: The directive amends the previous notice published in March 2026. All underlying requirements, formats, and technical specifications outlined in the original March gazette remain fully intact. • Business & Compliance Impact: The extension provides necessary lead time for VAT-registered businesses operating across key domestic sectors—including wholesale & retail trade, manufacturing, and services—to update their billing and accounting systems to comply with the revised format.