How to Pay Resident Tax in Japan: Convenience Store, Bank, Online (Step-by-Step) If you just received your resident tax bill in Japan, the first question is simple: “How do I actually pay this?” If you’re not fully clear on how resident tax works in the first place, read this first: Resident tax in Japan for freelancers explained simply . It will make this process much easier to understand. The good news is: paying resident tax in Japan is usually straightforward. The bad news: the instructions are often in Japanese, and the system is not always obvious if you’re new. This guide walks you through exactly how to pay your resident tax, where to go, what to say, and what to do if something goes wrong. What you should have received Most freelancers and self-paying residents receive a set of payment documents called: 納付書 (のうふしょ) – payment slips These usually include: Several slips (one per instalment) Total tax amount Due dates Barcode for payment T...
Missed a Resident Tax Payment in Japan? What Actually Happens Next You missed the resident tax deadline. Maybe you forgot. Maybe the bill was bigger than expected. Maybe the letter was in difficult Japanese and you were not even sure what it was. If that happened, do not panic - but do not ignore it either. In Japan, missing a resident tax payment does not usually turn into a disaster overnight. But if you leave it too long, it can become a much bigger problem than most people expect. This guide explains what usually happens after you miss a resident tax payment in Japan, what the letters mean, what happens in real life, and what you should do now. First: what tax are we talking about? This article is about resident tax , usually called 住民税 (じゅうみんぜい) in Japanese. This is the local tax charged by your city, ward, town, or prefecture. If you are an employee, it may be deducted from your salary automatically. If you are a freelancer or otherwise paying it yourself, you us...