Overseas Dependent Deduction Guide for Foreigners【2026 · 2023 Reform · Required Documents】
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For those anxious about tax-return calculations and paperwork. Some services let you complete everything online, from data entry to filing (e-Tax). Useful if you have multiple income sources or are filing for the first time.
- The Dependent Deduction is a scheme that allows a set amount to be deducted from taxable income when you financially support a relative, and parents, siblings, or children living overseas may also qualify as an 'overseas dependent'.
- Under the 2023 (Reiwa 5) reform, overseas dependents aged 30 to under 70 no longer qualify for the deduction unless they meet one of three conditions: being a student, having a disability, or having received 380,000 yen or more in remittances during the year.
- Eligible relatives must be blood relatives within the 6th degree or relatives by marriage within the 3rd degree who share living expenses with you, and must meet conditions such as annual income of 480,000 yen or less and being aged 16 or older.
- Applications require documents proving the family relationship, and (for those aged 30–69) documents proving remittances; documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation.
What is the Overseas Dependent Deduction?
Foreign workers in Japan who financially support family members abroad (parents, siblings in China, Vietnam, etc.) may claim a dependent deduction — reducing income tax and resident tax. Depending on income and number of dependents, annual tax savings can reach ¥100,000–¥200,000 or more.
2023 Tax Reform — Key Changes
From January 2023, non-resident dependents aged 30–69 must meet at least one of the following three conditions:
⚠️ Dependents aged 30–69 must meet ①, ②, or ③
- ① Student enrolled at a foreign educational institution
- ② Person with a disability as defined by income tax law
- ③ Received ¥380,000 or more in living/education expenses from the Japan taxpayer that year
For typical parents aged 50s–60s (not students, not disabled) → you must prove annual remittances of ≥¥380,000.
Who qualifies as an overseas dependent?
To be treated as a “dependent relative” for the dependent deduction, the person must meet all of the following conditions.
✅ Qualifies
- Blood relatives within the sixth degree of kinship (parents, grandparents, siblings, children, grandchildren, etc.)
- Relatives by marriage within the third degree (your spouse’s parents, etc.)
- Someone who shares a common household budget with you (you send money for living expenses)
- Someone whose annual income is 480,000 yen or less (employment income of 1,030,000 yen or less)
- Someone aged 16 or older (under 16 counts as a young dependent, for which no deduction applies)
- Someone who meets the 2023 reform requirement (for ages 30–69, one of the three conditions ①②③)
❌ Does not qualify
- Children under 16 (the deduction for young dependents was abolished)
- Annual income over 480,000 yen (relatives who earn income locally)
- Your spouse (covered by the spousal deduction / special spousal deduction instead)
- Anyone aged 30–69 who meets none of study abroad, disability, or 380,000 yen in remittances
- The parents of a common-law or de facto partner
Deduction Amounts
| Category | Age | Income Tax | Resident Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| General dependent | 16–18, 23–69 | ¥380,000 | ¥330,000 |
| Specified dependent | 19–22 | ¥630,000 | ¥450,000 |
| Elderly dependent | 70+ | ¥580,000 | ¥380,000 |
Tax Savings Examples
Required Documents (2 types)
① Proof of Relationship
- Official government document showing family relationship (family register, birth certificate, marriage certificate)
- Must include a Japanese translation (self-translation is permitted — include your name and address as translator)
② Proof of Remittance (required for dependents aged 30–69)
- Bank international transfer records (total ≥¥380,000/year)
- Wise transaction history PDF (downloadable from your account)
- SBI Remit or GMO Remit transfer history
- Recipient must be the dependent or their household
How to File
Employees (year-end adjustment): Fill in the "Non-resident dependent" section on the Year-End Tax Adjustment form (扶養控除等申告書) and submit with documents to your HR/payroll dept. by October–November.
Self-employed or missed year-end adjustment: File a tax return (確定申告) between February 16 and March 15, attaching both document types.
Remittance and dependent deduction
Since the 2023 reform, sending 380,000 yen or more per year has been a condition of the deduction for overseas dependents aged 30–69. Below is a summary of how to send the money and keep records.
- Ideally send to an account in the dependent’s own name: a transfer into the dependent’s own account is the easiest to prove
- 380,000 yen or more in annual total: 32,000 yen per month × 12 months = 384,000 yen clears the requirement
- The currency does not matter: even if the money is received in a local currency such as Chinese yuan or Vietnamese dong, the requirement is met as long as the amount sent is equivalent to 380,000 yen or more
- Wise and SBI Remit records can be used: these services let you export your transaction history as a PDF, so it can be used as proof of remittance
- Cash handed over in person is hard to prove: cash carried on a visit home leaves no supporting document and is unlikely to be accepted
FAQ
Claiming this deduction relies on the money you already send home. Sending to the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal or elsewhere? Compare low-cost ways to transfer — no credit check needed. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with clear, upfront fees, and its downloadable transaction history also works as your proof of remittance; you can verify with your residence card and finish online.
SBI Remit is also worth comparing for direct deposits to bank accounts in China, Vietnam or the Philippines. For a full comparison of Wise, SBI Remit and bank wires, see our international remittance comparison. We introduce licensed providers and may earn a commission (PR); we are not a money-transfer operator. In Japan, Wise is provided by Wise Payments Japan K.K., a registered Funds Transfer Service Provider (Kanto Local Finance Bureau No. 00040). Fees and exchange rates change — check the official site. Sending money abroad does not affect your residence status.