A Guide to Tax and Accounting in Japan

Dealing with the tax and accounting of a business can be daunting in your own country let alone in a country such as Japan. Added regulations and procedure can cause delay in productivity leading to possible setbacks within your business.

Typical Taxes To Be Aware Of In Japan

Furusato Nozei

Guide on directing your local tax to cities across Japan using the “home tax” system.

Pension System

Guide to the Japanese pension system.

Year-End Tax Filing

Filing and adjusting your end of year tax in Japan.

Lump-Sum Pension Payments

Guide to the Japanese pension lump payment system.

Exit Tax in Japan

How Japan’s exit tax may affect you and your business.

At the center of SME Japan’s business is our commitment to assisting businesses and individuals with a smoother and seamless move to Japan. Taxation and financial procedures are a foundation of all successful business of any size, with the support of the following guide we aim to support your steps in developing your business in Japan the most streamlined way possible.

Withholding Tax

Explaining withholding tax for an employer and how it may affect you and your employees.

Corporation Tax

A guide explaining the universal direct tax that and how it works in Japan.

Notification of National Tax

A guide explaining your questions on National Tax and delinquent tax payments answered.

Consumption Tax

A run-through on what you need to know about consumption tax in Japan.

Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax

Know your rights and how to deal with tax from the result of inheritance or a gift that has been passed down to you.

Individual Income Tax

Defining your individual income tax and whether you owe taxes or our eligible to a tax refund in Japan.

Capital Gains Tax

Find out what tax you may be eligible for if you’re selling a property or business asset in Japan.

Residency For Tax Purposes

How will your residency status affect your rate of tax in Japan?

Employment Deduction

A review regarding deductions in an employee’s pay-check due to government taxes and other purposes.

Need More Information?

For more information fill in the form or call us and we connect you to our client servicing team directly.

Why – Tax and Accounting in Japan?

Dealing with taxes and accounts can be a painstaking and long process in any country. The accuracy of keeping your books up to date, clear and consistent simultaneously while running your business is imperative to knowing your cashflow as well as abiding by all laws.

Hiring a professional accountant is nothing to be scared of when starting a business, this can be a very important to ensuring that you can focus on building your business without the burden of dealing with a new countries taxes, policies and procedures.

We can also help you apply for your Company Number after incorporation.

Japan Tax and Accounting glossary

English Romanji Furigana Kanji
accountant Kaikeishi かいけいし 会計士
accounting department keiribu けいりぶ 経理部
annual closing nenkankeisan ねんかんけいさん 年間計算
audit kansa かんさ 監査
delivery note nouhinsho のうひんしょ 納品書
liquidity ryuudousei りゅうどうせい 流動性
listed company joujoukaisha じょうじょうかいしゃ 上場会社
loan kariirekin かりいれきん 借入金
local currency genchi tsuuka げんちつうか 現地通貨
local tax chihouzei ちほうぜい 地方税
monthly report getsuji houkoku げつじほうこく 月次報告
standard costs hyoujun genka ひょうじゅんげんか 標準原価
stock exchange shouken torihikijo しょうけんとりひきじょ 証券取引所
stockholder kabunushi かぶぬし 株主
stockholder meeting kabunushi shoukai かぶぬしそうかい 株主総会
stock price kabuka かぶか 株価
sister company shimaikaisha しまいかいしゃ 姉妹会社
subsidiary company kogaisha こがいしゃ 子会社
tangible fixed asset yuukei kotei shisan ゆうけいこていしさん 有形固定資産
tax accountant zeirishi ぜいりし 税理士
tax rate zeiritsu ぜいりつ 税率
tax year zeinendo ぜいねんど 税年度
tax deductible sonkin sannyuu koumoku そんきんさんにゅうこうもく 損金算入項目
taxable income kazei shotoku かぜいしょとく 課税所得
taxation kazei かぜい 課税
total assets soushisan そうしさん 総資産
total liabilities fusaigoukei ふさいごうけい 負債合計
total sales souuriagedaka そううりあげだか 総売上高
trade account receivables urikakekin うりかけきん 売掛金
transfer price furikae kakaku ふりかえかかく 振替価格
useful life taiyou nensuu たいようねんすう 耐用年数
value added tax fukakachizei ふかかちぜい 付加価値税
variable costs hendouhi へんどうひ 変動費
variance analysis saibunseki さいぶんせき 差異分析
working capital untenshihon うんてんしほん 運転資本

Easy and Understandable for everyone?

Let’s face it, Japanese tax and accounting can be complex and difficult to understand. The Japanese National Tax Agency provides various tax information in English but even this can be difficult to navigate.

We have tried to provide comprehensive English information to help you understand Japan tax rules, however, every situation is individual so we recommend you contact us to discuss your needs.