LankanTax Desktop is a one-time purchase that runs offline and keeps data on your computer. Taxable is a cloud service with a free tracking plan and a Rs 5,900 annual plan that generates the return documents. Neither submits your return to the IRD for you today. Pick on cost shape and data location.
Side-by-side comparison
| LankanTax Desktop (ours) | Taxable | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | One-time purchase, installed software | Free plan plus a paid annual subscription |
| Price as published | Rs 7,000 one-time launch price, regular Rs 15,000 | Free plan “Rs. 0/forever”. Annual plan “Rs. 5,900/per year” |
| Data location as stated | Your own computer. Our page states “Your computer only. Nothing is sent to us or any server”. Optional encrypted backups go to your own Google Drive or OneDrive | Their features page states data is “Encrypted at rest in Azure South-East Asia data centres”. Their security page states encryption in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256) |
| Prepares a return | Yes | Yes on the Annual plan. Their site lists a tax return, capital gains return and assets schedule generated for the IRD |
| Submits to the IRD | No. Guided field-by-field fill of the IRD portal, you press submit | No. Their site describes a filing-ready export package with a passcode-protected share link for an agent, and lists agent filing as “Coming Soon” |
| Platforms | Windows 10 or newer, macOS 12 or newer | Web app. No mobile app listed on their site |
| Works without internet | Yes | No, it is a cloud service |
| Income types | Employment, rent, interest, freelance and foreign currency, for several household members under one licence | Six income types, foreign and local employment, foreign and local business, investment and other, with automatic currency conversion |
| Year-round tracking | Not listed on our page as a day-to-day bookkeeping tool | Yes. The free plan works as an ongoing income and expense record |
| Document storage | On your computer, plus your own cloud backup if enabled | 1 GB on the free plan, 10 GB on the Annual plan, hosted by them |
| Sharing with an agent | Not listed on our Desktop page | Passcode-protected share links and an invite for your accountant |
Taxable details checked 20 September 2026.
What it costs over three years
The arithmetic, using only prices published on 20 September 2026.
LankanTax Desktop, launch price
Rs 7,000 x 1 purchase = Rs 7,000, plus any optional annual tax-table update. We have not announced a price for that update, so we cannot include a figure. Treat Rs 7,000 as the floor, not the certain total.
LankanTax Desktop, regular price
Rs 15,000 x 1 purchase = Rs 15,000, on the same caveat, if you buy after the launch price ends.
Taxable, free plan
Rs 0 x 3 years = Rs 0. This plan tracks income and calculates tax but does not generate the return documents.
Taxable, Annual plan
Rs 5,900 x 3 years = Rs 17,700.
Assumptions, stated plainly
- Prices are as published on 20 September 2026 and are assumed to hold for three years. Both companies describe current prices that can change, and ours is a launch price.
- Rs 7,000 is our launch price. Rs 15,000 is our regular price. Use whichever applies when you buy.
- The optional annual tax-table update for LankanTax Desktop has no announced price. We have not assumed it is free and we have not assumed a figure. If you need updated tax tables in later years, your three-year cost will be higher than Rs 7,000 by an amount we cannot state yet.
- Taxable’s figure assumes you stay on the same plan for three consecutive years and that Rs 5,900 does not change.
- Neither total includes what you might pay an accountant, or anything the IRD charges. IRD e-services itself is free.
What Taxable lists that we do not
- A free plan that works year-round with nothing to buy.
- Hosted document storage, 1 GB free and 10 GB on the paid plan.
- Passcode-protected links and an invite flow for sharing records with an accountant.
- Running tax calculation as you record each item through the year, rather than at filing time.
- Asset disposal tracking for capital gains reporting and a capital gains return on the paid plan.
What we list that Taxable does not
- Working with no internet connection. Their product is a cloud service.
- A one-time payment with no recurring fee for the base product.
- Returns for several household members under one licence.
- A guided walkthrough of the IRD e-services fields themselves. A portal walkthrough is not listed on their site, checked 20 September 2026.
Choose Taxable if
- You want to record income and expenses through the year, not only at filing time.
- You are comfortable with a cloud service and want the document storage that comes with it.
- You want to share records with an accountant through a link rather than by email.
- A recurring Rs 5,900 a year suits your budget better than paying once.
Choose LankanTax if
- You want your income data to stay on your own computer.
- You would rather pay once than pay every year.
- You are preparing returns for more than one person in your household.
- You want to be walked through the actual IRD portal fields rather than handed a document.
If neither fits
If your APIT is already correct and your return is short, IRD e-services is free and may be all you need. If your situation involves a business, a property sale or an open assessment, speak to a qualified accountant first. See our tax consultant directory or our full comparison of the options.
How to get LankanTax Desktop today
Our Family page currently points to the Founding 100 campaign, which offers the Y/A 2025/26 edition free to 100 households. As of 20 September 2026 the campaign page shows all 100 seats reserved and the form working as a waitlist for a next batch, closing 15 October 2026. To buy at the Rs 7,000 launch price, or to ask about the waitlist, email hello@lankantax.com.