Filing a Tax Return in Japan: The Japanese You Need for Kakutei Shinkoku
In Japan, a personal tax return is called 確定申告 (kakutei shinkoku), and it’s usually filed between mid-February and mid-March for the previous calendar year. Most salaried employees don’t file, because their employer settles their tax through the year-end adjustment (年末調整). You’re more likely to file if you’re self-employed, have income from more than one source, or want to claim deductions such as medical expenses. This guide explains the Japanese words and documents you’ll meet. It isn’t tax advice: for your own situation, ask the tax office (税務署) or a tax accountant (税理士).
Key words
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 確定申告 | kakutei shinkoku | Tax return |
| 年末調整 | nenmatsu chōsei | Year-end adjustment by your employer |
| 源泉徴収票 | gensen chōshūhyō | Withholding slip (annual income and tax paid) |
| 所得税・住民税 | shotokuzei, jūminzei | Income tax, resident (local) tax |
| 控除 | kōjo | Deduction |
| 医療費控除 | iryōhi kōjo | Medical expense deduction |
| 青色申告・白色申告 | aoiro shinkoku, shiroiro shinkoku | Blue and white returns (for the self-employed) |
| 還付 | kanpu | Refund |
| マイナンバー | mai nanbā | Individual number, needed on the return |
Documents you may need
- Withholding slips (源泉徴収票) from each employer.
- Records of other income, such as freelance invoices or overseas income.
- Receipts for deductions, such as medical costs or insurance certificates (控除証明書).
- Your My Number card and bank details for any refund.
How you can file
You can file online with e-Tax, by post, or at your local tax office. In the filing season, tax offices often run help desks, which can be very busy. Japanese-language forms and websites use formal vocabulary, so it helps to learn the key terms beforehand. If you can, start early in February.
Phrases for the tax office
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 確定申告について相談したいのですが。 | kakutei shinkoku ni tsuite sōdan shitai no desu ga. | I’d like some advice about my tax return. |
| この書類は必要ですか？ | kono shorui wa hitsuyō desu ka? | Do I need this document? |
| どこに記入すればいいですか？ | doko ni kinyū sureba ii desu ka? | Where should I write this? |
| 英語で説明できる方はいますか？ | eigo de setsumei dekiru kata wa imasu ka? | Is there anyone who can explain in English? |
For other offices, see Japanese at the ward office and opening a bank account in Japan.
How Hanabuddies can help
A native tutor can teach you the vocabulary for forms and offices online. We can translate Japanese tax documents for your reference (not certified translation), and an English–Japanese interpreter can join your call or visit to the tax office, in person or online; see interpreting calls with Japanese offices. We don’t give tax advice or prepare returns.