Job Discussion Forums

[ajarn]

I'm about to sign a new teaching contract and have been informed that I will have 20,000 yen per month deducted from my pay for something called Welfare Pension Insurance. Previously I have been on short term contracts and not had to pay this. I just want to make sure this is mandatory before I sign anything and would like to know how difficult it is to take the accumulated amount as a lump sum payment once I leave Japan?

[PAULH]

[ajarn]

Thanks for the reply Paul. Does that mean if I only pay into the fund for 2 years and then leave I can't apply for a refund? Also is it a total refund of what you have paid or does the government dip into it in some way.

Thanks again

[PAULH]

[PAULH]

1 Public Pension Plans All foreign nationals between 20 and 60 years of age are eligible to enroll in the Public Pension Plan providing they possess foreign registration. Details regarding application procedures for this plan can be obtained at your local municipal office. If you currently work for a Japanese company, your employer will file a pension application on your behalf. Be sure to consult your employer for more information regarding this.

National Pension Plan The National Pension Plan provides a periodic allowance to people who are too old to work, or to those who suffer from a disability through either prolonged illness or injury. Eligibility All residents of Japan between the ages of 20 and 60 (including those who are not currently enrolled in an employees� insurance scheme) are eligible to enroll in the National Pension Plan.

Application Procedure You can apply for the National Pension Plan by filling out an application form and submitting it to the National Pension Division of your local municipal office. Please remember to bring your personal seal and foreign registration card with you so your application can be processed. Pension Booklets After you have enrolled into the National Pension Plan, you will be either issued with or sent a pension booklet. This booklet will contain your name, date of birth, pension reference number and the date on which your pension plan commenced. Although you may work for many different employers during your career, your pension reference number outlined in the booklet will remain unchanged. Once enrolled, you must notify the municipal office of any of the following, should they arise: ?

You change your address
You resign from your job or switch workplaces

Application Procedure To apply for a lump sum pension refund, fill in the relevant application form (available at insurance offices and your local municipal office) and send it together with your pension booklet, a copy of your passport and account number details to the following address: Social Insurance Affairs Center 3-5-24 Takaido Suginami Ku, Tokyo?168-8505 Japan Please note that you must apply from outside the country, within 2 years of leaving Japan. Additionally, the application form must be filled out by the applicant concerned. For more information, contact your local pension office. Inquiries from overseas can be made by calling the above center at (03) 3334 3131


Lump sum withdrawal refunds and income tax withdrawal When you receive your lump sum tax refund, 20 percent of this will be deducted for income tax purposes. However, you can have this amount reimbursed by applying for an income tax refund as well.

Application Procedure 1. Appoint a tax agent: This person will carry out your tax refund application procedures in your absence. Obtain an application form from your nearest tax office, fill out all relevant details and give this to your tax agent. Your tax agent must have a permanent address in Japan. 2. Apply for your lump sum withdrawal refund: You can apply for this refund once you have left Japan. Upon receiving a receipt of the amount of your refund, you should send this to your tax agent immediately. 3. Notify your tax agent of a bank account where your refund can be transferred and apply: Your tax agent will carry out your Year-end tax adjustment for you and the corresponding refund will initially be deposited in their account. You can then have this amount transferred to the

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[buffy]

If this works out, might be nice for those of us who have been paying in longer than 3 years.
http://www.gethiroshima.com/en/gethiroshima/Hype/2004/10/29/us_ja_pensiontreaty