Making Sense of Payroll & Tax Compliance in Sri Lanka: A Simple Guide

Managing payroll and tax compliance in Sri Lanka can be one of the most complex parts of running a business — especially as your team grows. Between calculating salaries, EPF, ETF, PAYE, and statutory deductions, there’s a lot that can go wrong if processes aren’t managed properly. That’s where Gallery HR makes life easier — simplifying payroll, automating compliance, and giving business owners peace of mind.

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Understanding Payroll in Sri Lanka

Payroll management is more than just paying employees on time. It’s a structured process that ensures every salary, allowance, and deduction aligns with both company policy and government regulations.

In Sri Lanka, payroll typically includes:

• Basic Salary – the fixed monthly amount.

• Allowances – such as transport, meals, or attendance bonuses.

• Overtime Pay – calculated based on daily wage or hourly rate.

• Statutory Deductions – EPF, ETF, PAYE, and other mandatory payments.

Manual payroll calculations are time-consuming and prone to human error. Even a small miscalculation can create trust issues with employees and compliance risks with authorities. That’s why businesses across Sri Lanka are turning to automated HR solutions like Gallery HR to manage payroll accurately and efficiently.

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Key Payroll Compliance Requirements

Here’s a quick breakdown of the major components every employer must handle correctly:

1. EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund)

• Employee Contribution: 8% of gross salary

• Employer Contribution: 12% of gross salary

• Contributions must be remitted to the Central Bank by the last working day of the following month.

2. ETF (Employees’ Trust Fund)

• Employer Contribution: 3% of gross salary

• ETF is submitted along with EPF but managed separately.

3. PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn Tax)

PAYE applies to employees earning above the tax-free threshold set by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). Employers must:

• Deduct tax before paying salaries.

• Submit monthly PAYE schedules to the IRD.

• Issue annual PAYE certificates to employees.

Missing deadlines or miscalculating tax can lead to penalties — something Gallery HR’s automated compliance tools help you completely avoid.

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Challenges Businesses Commonly Face

Even well-organized businesses often face payroll challenges such as:

• Constantly changing tax laws.

• Manual data entry errors.

• Late submissions and penalties.

• Lack of visibility into payroll reports.

• Difficulty managing both permanent and contract staff.

These pain points can lead to wasted hours, frustrated employees, and unnecessary costs. Payroll mistakes also affect morale — employees notice when something feels off with their pay.

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How Gallery HR Simplifies Payroll & Compliance

Gallery HR was built to handle these exact challenges. The platform automates calculations, ensures compliance with Sri Lanka’s latest labor and tax laws, and provides transparency for both HR teams and employees.

Here’s how it helps:

• Automatic EPF, ETF, and PAYE Calculations: No more spreadsheets or manual formulas. Gallery HR applies accurate percentages automatically.

• Real-Time Updates: The system adjusts to new government rates or policies instantly.

• Digital Payslips: Secure, paperless distribution with a single click.

• Compliance Dashboard: View and track submission deadlines in one place.

• Integrated Employee Management: From attendance to overtime, everything connects seamlessly to payroll.

Imagine finishing your entire monthly payroll process in minutes — not hours — while knowing every compliance box is checked. That’s the power of automation done right.

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Example: From Chaos to Clarity

Take for instance a mid-sized design agency in Colombo managing 45 employees. Before switching to Gallery HR, their HR manager spent nearly three days each month calculating EPF/ETF, creating payslips, and fixing errors.
After automating payroll with Gallery HR:

• Processing time dropped from 3 days to 30 minutes.

• Zero penalties were recorded for late submissions.

• Employees received instant payslips and clear tax summaries.

The HR team could finally focus on growth and employee engagement — instead of drowning in spreadsheets.

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Final Thoughts

Payroll and tax compliance don’t have to be a headache. With the right digital tools, you can stay fully compliant while freeing your team to focus on what matters most — people and performance.

Gallery HR simplifies payroll, automates compliance, and keeps you aligned with Sri Lanka’s labor laws — all in one smart, easy-to-use system.

If you’re ready to leave behind manual errors and paperwork chaos, it’s time to make your HR processes effortless.

👉 Visit galleryhr.com to explore how Gallery HR can transform your payroll and compliance management today.

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to upgrade your HR operations and join the growing list of businesses in Sri Lanka achieving success with GalleryHR.

GalleryHR is committed to helping Sri Lankan businesses thrive with smarter, more efficient HR solutions. Partner with us today and experience the difference.

Join our empire today!