Types of Taxes

Taxes in Japan are paid on income, property and consumption on the national, prefectural and municipal levels. Below is a summary of some of the most relevant types of taxes paid by individuals:

Income Tax

Paid annually by individuals on the national, prefectural and municipal levels. Also known as "resident tax" on the prefectural and municipal level. The amount is calculated based on the net income of the individual person.

Paid annually by individuals on the national, prefectural and municipal levels. Also known as "resident tax" on the prefectural and municipal level. The amount is calculated based on the net income of the individual person. Enterprise Tax

Prefectural tax paid annually by self-employed individuals engaged in business activities. The amount is calculated based on the person's net income and the type of business.

Prefectural tax paid annually by self-employed individuals engaged in business activities. The amount is calculated based on the person's net income and the type of business. Property Tax

Municipal tax paid annually by individuals who own land, housing and other types of depreciable assets.

Municipal tax paid annually by individuals who own land, housing and other types of depreciable assets. Consumption Tax

Paid by consumers when they purchase goods and services. The rate is generally 10 percent. For food and drinks (except alcohol and dining out) and newspaper subscriptions the rate is 8 percent.

Paid by consumers when they purchase goods and services. The rate is generally 10 percent. For food and drinks (except alcohol and dining out) and newspaper subscriptions the rate is 8 percent. Vehicle related Taxes

A prefectural automobile tax is paid annually by individuals who own a car, truck or bus. In case of passenger cars, the amount is calculated based on the engine displacement. A municipal light vehicle tax is paid annually by individuals who own motorbikes or other motorized light vehicles. A national motor vehicle tonnage tax is paid by vehicle owners at the time of the mandatory inspections (shaken). A prefectural automobile acquisition tax is paid by persons when they acquire a car.

A prefectural automobile tax is paid annually by individuals who own a car, truck or bus. In case of passenger cars, the amount is calculated based on the engine displacement. A municipal light vehicle tax is paid annually by individuals who own motorbikes or other motorized light vehicles. A national motor vehicle tonnage tax is paid by vehicle owners at the time of the mandatory inspections (shaken). A prefectural automobile acquisition tax is paid by persons when they acquire a car. Liquor, Tobacco and Gasoline Taxes

The national liquor tax is paid by consumers when they purchase alcoholic beverages. National, prefectural and municipal tobacco taxes are paid by consumers when they purchase tobacco products. A national gasoline tax is paid by consumers when they purchase gasoline. The liquor, tobacco and gasoline taxes are included in the prices shown by shops.

Income Tax

Income tax is paid annually on income earned during a calendar year.

For tax purposes, people living in Japan are classified into three categories. This categorization is not related to visa types:

Non-Resident

A person who has lived in Japan for less than one year and does not have his primary base of living in Japan. Non-residents pay taxes only on income from sources in Japan, but not on income from abroad.

A person who has lived in Japan for less than one year and does not have his primary base of living in Japan. Non-residents pay taxes only on income from sources in Japan, but not on income from abroad. Non-Permanent Resident

A person who has lived in Japan for less than five years, but has no intention of living in Japan permanently. Non-permanent residents pay taxes on all income except on income from abroad that does not get sent to Japan.

A person who has lived in Japan for less than five years, but has no intention of living in Japan permanently. Non-permanent residents pay taxes on all income except on income from abroad that does not get sent to Japan. Permanent Resident

A person who has lived in Japan for at least five years or has the intention of staying in Japan permanently. Permanent residents pay taxes on all income from Japan and abroad.

Note that tax treaties between Japan and more than 50 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, China, South Korea and most European countries, can take precedence over the above guidelines.

How to pay taxes?

Income tax in Japan is based on a self-assessment system (a person determines the tax amount himself or herself by filing a tax return) in combination with a withholding tax system (taxes are subtracted from salaries and wages and submitted by the employer).

Thanks to the withholding tax system, most employees in Japan do not need to file a tax return. In fact, employees only need to file a tax return if at least one of the following conditions is true:

if they leave Japan before the end of the tax year

if their employer does not withhold taxes (e.g. employer outside Japan)

if they have more than one employer

if their annual income is more than 20,000,000 yen

if they have side income of more than 200,000 yen

Employees, who do not need to file a tax return, will have their income taxes withheld from their salaries by their employer, and an eventual adjustment is made with the year's final salary. People, who are required to file a tax return, such as self-employed persons, must do so at the local tax office (zeimusho), by mail or online (e-Tax) between February 16 and March 15 of the following year. The tax return for 2019 had to be filed between February 17 and April 16, 2020 (the deadline was extended by one month due to the coronavirus outbreak).

When to pay taxes?

If not withheld by the employer, national income taxes are due in full by March 15 of the following year (mid April if you pay by automatic bank transfer), with two prepayments paid in July and November of the running tax year. Prepayments are calculated based on the previous year's income, i.e. you do not pay them during your first year in Japan.

For example, if you had to pay national income taxes for 2019, they had to be fully paid by April 16, 2020 (delayed by one month due to the coronavirus outbreak), with the prepayments paid in July and November 2019.

If prefectural and municipal income taxes are not withheld by the employer, they are to be paid in quarterly installments during the following year. For example, the 2019 taxes are paid in four installments in June, August and October 2020 and January 2021.

Tax Rates

The tax rate is determined based on the taxable income. Like in other countries, taxable income is the total earnings minus a basic exemption, exemptions for dependents and various types of deductions, such as deductions for insurance premiums, medical expenses and business expenses of the self-employed.

National Income Tax Rates Taxable Income Tax Rate less than 1.95 million yen 5% of taxable income 1.95 to 3.3 million yen 10% of taxable income minus 97,500 yen 3.3 to 6.95 million yen 20% of taxable income minus 427,500 yen 6.95 to 9 million yen 23% of taxable income minus 636,000 yen 9 to 18 million yen 33% of taxable income minus 1,536,000 yen 18 to 40 million yen 40% of taxable income minus 2,796,000 yen more than 40 million yen 45% of taxable income minus 4,796,000 yen

Prefectural Income Tax Rates Taxable Income Tax Rate all 4% of taxable income

Municipal Income Tax Rates Taxable Income Tax Rate all 6% of taxable income