Job Discussion Forums

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

Being more polite than the poster above me who just replied to my message, I am not fond of people who don`t actually read what somebody has to say before launching an attack on them and saying you hate them because they are free market drones, etc.

You are confused - you are confusing the ordinary NHK service ( that supposedly depends on the money of millions of people in this country, Japanese and foreigner alike to survive even while the Government already takes enough tax to run NUHK) with those extra services that you get through the special networks like Fox, ESPN, and of course NHK in Japan. THAT cable tv is far more expensive and is regarded by many people still as a luxury.

I was referring to the usual NHK tv - non cable. I didn`t say I was against public services given by government - I am against government wasting ordinary people`s money by double taxation which the NHK tax actually is, and I am against government-subsidised bodies which are not accountable, don`t try to be and feed off the money of a country`s citizens.

Public media can be very good - I don`t find NHK very good. I also wonder why the majority of countries with quality media can operate government radio and tv broadcasting without taking twice from the taxpayers but Japan cannot.

As I made the point in my first post - this is simply another case of how inefficiency (and Japan is chocablock full of bloated departments that do nothing but give jobs to an elite ruling class bureaucracy and their family and friends) is usual in the government sector in Japan. There are numerous examples you can read about if you have the inclination to learn something but I am not going to do your work for you - educate yourself!

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

NHK is a whole other ball game.

Maybe this topic should be split - residence tax and NHK are both important topics.

I'm still curious, though. How much have people paid for residence tax? I'm looking for a ballpark figure.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I just got hit with an annual bill for 60,000 yen broken into 3 installations.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

My residence tax is about the same as guest of Japan. I think you can pay it in one, two, three or four installments.

As Das Fads · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 44

I just got my bill for 4700 yen for the year - I am in Ibaraki. I take it that it will probably increase next year to the 6man figure?

Stella · Joined: 22 Mar 2003 Posts: 17 Location: Japan

Alrighty then! I'm jealous!

I just got my residence tax bill in the mail today and it's 140,000 for the year payable in 4 installments.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

Smooth Operator · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 140 Location: Japan

Mine is 200,000yen! Very pissed off...

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

Whoah! That's madness!

In Canada, we only pay residence tax if we own our homes, not if we're renters, and I'm assuming that 99% of foreigners live in rented accommodation unless their partners are homeowners.

Looks like I can't win - I'm either goods-and-services-taxed-to-death in Canada or charged for occupying land in Japan...

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Tokyoliz,

You can bet that the landlord is charging you for landownership taxes in Canada.