Court of Appeal issues order preventing IRD collecting PAYE taxes from judges

The Court of Appeal has issued an interim order preventing the Inland Revenue Department from collecting PAYE Taxes from judges. 

The Court of Appeal’s two-judge bench, comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola had issued this order pursuant to the writ petitions filed by the Judges’ Associations.

Justices, Attorney General and Judges are the highest paid State professionals in Sri Lanka. The take-home salary including allowances comes to around Rs. 530,000 per month. 

This is excluding the non-cash benefits. 

The Attorney General has requested the Court of Appeal that an opportunity be given to present facts before the court in relation to the interim order issued.

The case is due to be taken up on 9 February after the Attorney General noted that measures with regard to deducting the PAYE tax from some judges are already underway.