Job Discussion Forums

[gigihope]

I will try to be brief but detailed.

I just finished a 22 month contract with an eikaiwa in a small city in Saitama. I am going home in a week, but plan to be back in the new year. I still have 14 months left on my work visa, and I will be out of country for only one month.

When I come back I will be moving to a different city and prefecture (Gunma) than where I lived during my contract. I don't have a job yet, but I do have a place to live.

When I spoke to a representative from my company and told him I would be back in Japan, he encouraged me to hand in my ARC to immigration. His reasoning was that I would accrue property taxes under my name at the address on the card that I would be expected to pay. This was the only reason he gave me.

I don't intend to hand in my ARC when I go home for Christmas.

My questions are about what steps I should take when I come back.

I understand I have 14 days to change my address on my ARC when I get back. Do you recommend I follow this rule strictly, or should I wait until I find employment?

Will I be accumulating back property taxes if I don't change my address right away? Is what this person told me accurate?

Is there anything else you think I may not be aware of as someone moving from one prefecture to another with no company assistance?

I appreciate any help and advice, and I apologize for asking questions that are probably on the FAQs somewhere.

[Inflames]

Yes, follow the 14 day rule strictly. You don't have to tell them about your job.

Your taxes are based on your salary and where you were registered on January 1st. By having an ARC on January 1st you might have to pay taxes. Don't hand in your ARC this means you're leaving the country.

Just a word of advice - don't necessarily move somewhere without a job. Get the job lined up somewhere first, then move (a free room in an area with no jobs is worse than paying rent somewhere with a lot of jobs).

[ultraman111]

i agree, just notify the new kyuyakusho within 14 days of moving there. Ive done it a few times myself.

[Glenski]

There is absolutely no reason for you to hand in your alien registration card. None! You intend to return for work in Japan, and your visa will remain valid while you are out of the country (as long as you leave with a reentry permit in hand).

Forget what your employer's representative said. Go to the official source: your ward office or city hall. Tell them your intentions so that they can adjust any tax premiums and insurance premiums for the period you are out of the country.

As far as what to do when you return, you are supposed to advise your new ward office within 2 weeks, but people have forgotten/ignored that for far longer and gone in, apologized, gotten whatever sighs, scowls, or shrugs that the ward office staff choose to dispense (probably based a lot on the sincerity of your apology), and then you get the ARC amendment written in.

[Inflames]

[Glenski]

But if you don't tell the ward office that you aren't here, you will still be billed for the health insurance premiums during your absence. (Of course, if you don't leave a forwarding address...)

[gigihope]

Thank you for taking the time to help ease my mind about the property tax issue. I have no intention of handing my card in, as I hope to continue to live and work here for some time.

Cheers!!