Job Discussion Forums

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:43 pm Post subject: city tax- what a bummer!

I have to pay city tax. I shouldn't complain, cause I'm supposed to pay a SOFA tax for working in the Japanese economy, but I got a pretty good deal at work and they "switched" for the "cheaper" city tax. Then I got the city tax info. It's almost 230,000 yen!!!!! WTF!!!! I feel like I'm just giving away my money to the govt. for what??? What does "city tax" actually cover? And also just out of curiousity: what is everyone else's city tax like? Sad

tipo · Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Japan

Consider yourself lucky. My city tax went from 350,400Yen last year to 482,400Yen this year. I live in Osaka City so I guess the city needs the money to support all its old folks. So, my employer deducts 40,200 a month from my salary! They say that the amount of city tax you pay is based on the previous years salary.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Wow! I guess I was really lucky to have lived in Chiba. (about Y70,000 in Prefectural taxes per year, if I remember correctly)

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

AndyH, a few years ago I only paid around 90,000 yen, this year I'm paying 340,000 (up from about 200,000 last year). Everybody's taxes have gone up drastically the last few years- I think you'd be paying a lot more if you were still there.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:57 am Post subject: Re: city tax- what a bummer!

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

My city tax in a N. Chiba city is about Y300,000. I think I'm doing pretty good, as that works out to less than one month's salary.

City services are fantastic - there are a dozen offices that provide free support to residents near the main train station. The library, free Japanese lessons, free legal help, free immigration consultation, public works, are all awesome.

That's what you're paying for.

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

You know, it used to be that, I earned a lot more in Japan than I could in Canada. Now, in comparison to Canadian taxes, Japan takes more out of my pay check.

I was responding to Nawlinsgirl who was freaking out about taxes.

When you're ready, Southofreality, you want to storm city hall with me? We could demand free tissues or something...

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Clerk · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 17

If I recall correctly -- and I very well may not -- city tax is getting hiked as a method of switching monies out of the federal system and into the prefectural ones. Federal tax down, city tax up, theoretically allowing for more efficient and localized use of tax monies.

I'm sure it's not anything close to completely balanced, but I do believe that is the rationale behind it.

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

Except my income tax didn't go down... Sad

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

That's because the lowered income tax plan isn't set to take effect until 2024. Sad

Clerk · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 17

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

Yes, that city tax does hurt. I'm paying 36,000 yen a month. My city tax and income tax are 70,000 yen a month combined - quite similiar to what I was paying in Canada on the same gross salary. On the other hand I'm only paying 30,000 yen a month for quality daycare whereas in Vancouver I was paying the equivalent of 70,000 yen for lower (although not bad) quality. If you have a family you benefit a lot from city services and end up further ahead despite the city tax. If you are single then yes, you are not further ahead than working in Canada, especially at the current exhange rate.