Payslip Template Sri Lanka (Free Excel Download)

Sri Lanka Payslip Template (Free Excel Download)

A ready-to-use payslip template for Sri Lankan employers, with the country's statutory deduction lines built in: EPF employee and employer contributions, ETF employer contribution, and APIT withholding. Copy it into Excel or Google Sheets and it is ready for your monthly payroll run.

How to Use This Template

1. Fill in the employer and employee header fields once — they stay the same every month.
2. Enter gross monthly earnings (basic salary plus allowances and overtime).
3. Apply the EPF, ETF and APIT lines exactly as shown — the formulas are described beside each line.
4. Issue one copy to the employee and keep one for your payroll records.

Sri Lanka Payslip Template

Employer: [Company Name] | EPF Employer No.: [] Employee: [Full Name] | NIC No.: [] Designation: [] | EPF Member No.: [] Pay Period: [Month / Year] | Payment Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Employer contributions (not deducted from employee):

Worked Example

Monthly gross salary: LKR 150,000 (no other allowances).

• EPF employee: 8% × 150,000 = LKR 12,000 (deducted)
• APIT: withheld per the Inland Revenue Department tables for the employee's tax bracket (deducted)
• Net pay: 150,000 − 12,000 − APIT
• EPF employer: 12% × 150,000 = LKR 18,000 (employer cost)
• ETF employer: 3% × 150,000 = LKR 4,500 (employer cost)
• Total employer cost: 150,000 + 18,000 + 4,500 = LKR 172,500 (15% on top of salary)

Statutory Notes for Sri Lanka Payroll

• EPF applies from day one of employment on total monthly earnings, with no ceiling: 8% employee, 12% employer.
• ETF is 3% employer-only — it must never be deducted from the employee's pay.
• APIT (Advance Personal Income Tax, which replaced PAYE) is withheld by the employer using the IRD's published tables.
• Sri Lanka's year of assessment runs 1 April to 31 March.
• Always verify current rates against the Inland Revenue Department and the Employees' Provident Fund before each payroll year, as thresholds change.

Pro Tips

• Show employer contributions on the slip. Staff often don't realise the company pays 15% on top of their salary — printing it builds trust and reduces disputes.
• Keep the EPF member number on every payslip. It is the single identifier auditors and the fund ask for.
• Reconcile monthly. Gross minus deductions must equal net pay to the cent; a one-rupee rounding drift repeated across staff compounds fast.
• File APIT correctly. Withholding is only half the job — remit it to the IRD on schedule and keep the receipts with your payroll file.
• New hires, day one. EPF/ETF liability starts immediately, not after probation — set up the member numbers before the first pay run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the difference between EPF and ETF on a Sri Lankan payslip? A: EPF is the Employees' Provident Fund: 8% comes out of the employee's salary and the employer adds 12%. ETF is the Employees' Trust Fund: a flat 3% paid entirely by the employer. Only the 8% EPF share appears as an employee deduction.

Q2: Is ETF deducted from the employee's salary? A: No. ETF is employer-only by law. If you see it as a deduction on a payslip, that is an error.

Q3: What is APIT and how is it calculated? A: APIT (Advance Personal Income Tax) replaced the old PAYE system. The employer withholds it each month using the tax tables published by the Inland Revenue Department, based on the employee's estimated annual income.

Q4: Does EPF apply to allowances and overtime? A: Yes. EPF is calculated on total monthly earnings — basic salary plus allowances and overtime — from the first day of employment, with no cap.

Q5: What is the total cost to the employer beyond gross salary? A: 15%: 12% EPF plus 3% ETF, both calculated on gross earnings.

Q6: When does the Sri Lankan tax year run? A: The year of assessment runs from 1 April to 31 March, which matters for annual APIT reconciliation and reporting.