Kakutei Shinkoku

Quick Answer Most company employees in Japan don’t need to file a tax return — their employer does year-end adjustment (nenmatsu chosei) for them. You must file yourself if you’re self-employed, had multiple employers, earned over ¥20M, or have deductions to claim. The tax filing period is February 16 – March 15 each year. File at your local tax office (zeimusho) or online via e-Tax. Filing a tax return in Japan for the first time feels overwhelming — the forms are in Japanese, the rules are specific, and the deadlines are unforgiving. Once you understand the structure, it’s actually manageable. Here’s a step-by-step guide to filing taxes in Japan as a foreign resident. ...

Quick Answer Who must file: Freelancers, side-income earners (¥200,000+/year extra income), those with 2+ employers, people who left mid-year, and anyone claiming deductions beyond the standard year-end adjustment. Who doesn’t need to file: Salaried employees with one employer — your company handles it via nenmatsu chōsei. Deadline: February 16–March 15 (for previous year’s income). Biggest mistake foreigners make: Not knowing about the second-year residence tax spike (housing allowance stops, ¥100,000–300,000 bill arrives in June). ...