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.
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.