Free guides · Written for foreigners in Japan
35 guides to Japanese tax, in plain English.
Everything we've published, grouped by situation. Each guide is reviewed by a certified partner accountant and updated for the current tax year. Read what applies to you — then, if you'd rather have someone handle it, the form is on the right.
Getting Started
7 guidesYour first return, the calendar, and how the system actually works.
- Tax Filing Guide for Foreigners in Japan (2026)Your complete step-by-step guide to filing taxes in Japan as a foreigner.
- How to File a Tax Return in Japan: Step-by-Step GuidePractical walkthrough of the Japanese tax return filing process.
- Japan Tax Calendar & Key Deadlines for ForeignersMonth-by-month tax deadlines every foreign resident should know.
- Nenmatsu Chōsei: Year-End Tax Adjustment in JapanHow Japan’s year-end adjustment works and what foreigners need to do.
- How to Find an English-Speaking Tax Accountant in JapanTips for finding a bilingual tax professional who understands your needs.
- Questions to Ask When Choosing a Tax AccountantKey questions to evaluate before hiring a tax advisor in Japan.
- Tax Accountant Fees in Japan: Pricing GuideWhat to expect in terms of costs for professional tax services.
Business & Freelance
8 guidesSole proprietors, small companies, consumption tax and the invoice system.
- Starting a Business in Japan: Tax & Visa GuideTax obligations and visa options for foreign entrepreneurs.
- KK vs GK: Starting a Company in JapanKabushiki Kaisha vs Gōdō Kaisha — which structure fits your business?
- Sole Proprietor vs Corporation in JapanComparing tax implications of individual vs corporate structures.
- Business Manager Visa: Tax Strategy GuideTax planning strategies for Business Manager visa holders.
- Freelancer & Self-Employed Tax GuideHow to manage taxes as a freelancer or independent contractor in Japan.
- Side Job Tax Rules for ForeignersThe ¥200,000 rule, visa restrictions, and how to report side income.
- Consumption Tax & Invoice SystemRegistration thresholds, Qualified Invoice requirements, and simplified taxation.
- Hiring Employees: Payroll Tax GuideEmployer obligations for withholding, social insurance, and labor insurance.
Investment & Assets
6 guidesStocks, crypto, property and what the NTA already knows about your overseas accounts.
- Capital Gains Tax in Japan for Foreign ResidentsStock sales, real estate, and investment gains — what foreigners need to know.
- RSU & Stock Option Tax in Japan for ForeignersHow RSUs and stock options are taxed for expats at multinationals.
- Crypto Tax in Japan: 2026 Reform GuideEverything foreign residents need to know about Japan’s crypto tax rules.
- Inheritance Tax in Japan for ForeignersJapan’s inheritance tax can reach 55% — here’s what you need to know.
- Real Estate Tax in Japan for ForeignersTaxes at purchase, annual holding costs, rental income, and capital gains.
- Gift Tax in Japan & the 10-Year RuleReceiving money from family abroad? Japan may tax it. Know the rules.
International Tax
8 guidesTreaties, double taxation, inheritance across borders and US-specific rules.
- Japan Tax Residency: The 5-Year Rule ExplainedHow the 5-year rule affects your tax obligations as a foreign resident.
- Double Taxation in Japan: Guide for US, UK & IndiaHow tax treaties work and how to avoid paying tax twice.
- Foreign Tax Credit in JapanHow to claim credits for taxes paid abroad against your Japanese tax.
- US-Japan Tax Treaty: Practical GuideHow the treaty affects employment income, dividends, pensions, and capital gains.
- US Citizens Tax Guide in JapanFBAR, FATCA, and dual filing obligations for Americans in Japan.
- FBAR Filing Guide for US Citizens in JapanFinCEN Form 114 requirements, NISA/iDeCo reporting, penalties, and relief programs.
- Non-Permanent Resident & Remittance RuleHow NPR status shields foreign income — and the remittance traps to avoid.
- Overseas Asset Reporting (CRS/OAR)The ¥50M reporting threshold, CRS automatic data exchange, and penalties.
Living in Japan
6 guidesResidence tax, pensions, dependents and leaving Japan.
- Residence Tax in Japan for ForeignersHow residence tax works, when it’s due, and what happens when you leave Japan.
- National Health Insurance for ForeignersUnderstanding NHI premiums, enrollment, and tax deductions.
- Furusato Nozei Guide for ForeignersJapan’s hometown tax donation program — save on taxes and get local gifts.
- Japan Pension Lump-Sum Withdrawal GuideHow to claim your pension refund when leaving Japan.
- Leaving Japan: Tax Checklist for ForeignersEverything you need to handle before departing Japan.
- Exit Tax in Japan for ForeignersWho’s subject to exit tax and how to plan around it.