Job Discussion Forums

rebecca432 · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Osaka, Japan

I fortunately do not have to pay this year, but I received my roommate's bill who has left Japan and it was about 97,000 or so.

I may have read this somewhere but some of the Nova people don't want to pay the tax. That's fine I guess if the person was leaving and never coming back, but let's say a person didn't pay the tax and then wanted to come back to Japan on vacation or to work again. Would he/she be barred entry into the country or be rejected for a work visa because of that non-payment?

I'm not sure how it works but any info might be helpful!

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I left Japan a few years ago planning never to come back. I had paid part of my city tax but not all, and I didn't hand over my gaijin card at Immigration when I left. I ended coming back on the same visa 6 months later Rolling Eyes

and as soon as I registered at my new city office I started to get bills from my old city office, with penalty fees for lateness added.

I believe that if you came back as a tourist, it wouldn't affect you as Immigration and the tax department don't seem to share information. If you came back to work however, unless quite a number of years had elapsed then you might find your old ward/ city tax catching up with you at some point.

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

My bad news - 396,000 yen, even more than Canuck Shocked

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

It seems to me that Japan's ward tax is roughly the same as what we north americans pay in INCOME tax. This being the first time I have lived in Japan for consecutive years, the shine is starting to wear off. I still think I pay less taxes here, but it's not much less. Confused

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

Well, I'm pleased to say that I did indeed misread my bill - it's 700,000 yen, not 70,000 as I'd originally (and mistakenly) hoped. So beat that, guys!

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:57 am Post subject:

Ha, only joking, it's just 70,000. Looks like Johanne is in the lead now, then. Commiserations at being pipped at the post, Canuck (s*d the size of your huge bill itself LOL).

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:00 am Post subject:

It'd be interesting to hear if people consider this tax as "value for money", proportionately, as they would back in their original country. Overall it seems a lower amount to be paying than back in the UK, but at least there healthcare was free.

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Fluffy.......local tax doesn't pay for health care in either Japan or the UK.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:24 am Post subject:

Yes, I know that. Very Happy

My "point" rather was that, as Yawarakaijin mentioned above, the amount one is paying locally in Japan is similar to what one pays nationally elsewhere (even though in e.g. the UK, there isn't the need for such expensive health insurance, for a start); then again, Americans have to fork out quite a bit for decent health insurance back home, so perhaps Japan will only seem more expensive mainly to Brits?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

In New Zealand we have no equivalent of the universal city/ ward tax they have here- only property owners pay rates to the council. Healthcare is free or very cheap depending on your income. Income tax is rather high however. Japan did seem cheap until this ward tax hike, however my taxes altogether are starting to approach the amount I would be paying in NZ.

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:29 am Post subject:

I have just split several inappropriate postings from this thread. Appropriate members have been warned. The thread is now locked and if and when it is unlocked, please stay on topic and avoid anything that can get you or the thread into trouble.