Resident Tax in Japan for Foreigners (2026): How Much & When You Pay
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📋 Table of Contents
How much resident tax do foreigners in Japan pay, and what happens when you leave the country? This 2026 guide explains how juminzei is calculated, when it starts (your first year is usually ¥0), payment methods, lump-sum collection when you quit or leave Japan, and the impact on permanent residency — all under the same rules that apply to Japanese residents. Foreigners with resident registration are taxed exactly like Japanese citizens.
- Anyone with an address in Japan on January 1 (including foreigners) is taxed on the previous year's income.
- Resident tax is calculated as per-capita tax (flat rate) + income-based tax (10%). In your first year in Japan, you typically pay no resident tax because there was no prior-year income.
- When quitting or leaving Japan, any outstanding balance may need to be paid in a lump sum — confirm before departure.
- Unpaid resident tax can negatively affect permanent residency applications; always pay on time.
① What is Resident Tax
Resident tax is the combined name for prefectural and municipal inhabitant taxes, collected together by your municipality. You are taxed by the municipality where you live as of January 1, based on your previous year's (Jan–Dec) income. Employees have it withheld from salary; the self-employed pay in four installments.
② Per-Capita & Income-Based Components
Resident tax = "per-capita levy" (flat) + "income-based levy" (10% of taxable income).
| Category | Standard amount |
|---|---|
| Prefectural (metropolitan) per-capita levy | ¥1,000 |
| Municipal (special ward) per-capita levy | ¥3,000 |
| Resident tax per-capita total (standard) | ¥4,000 |
| Forest environment tax (national, collected together) | ¥1,000 |
| Total taxpayer burden (standard) | ¥5,000 |
※Kanagawa, Osaka, and others levy extra surcharges, making the per-capita amount higher than standard (e.g., Yokohama: ¥1,300 prefectural + ¥3,900 municipal).
| Municipality type | Prefectural | Municipal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular municipalities | 4% | 6% | 10% |
| Designated cities (Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Kobe, etc.) | 2% | 8% | 10% |
Designated cities only differ in the split (2%/8%); the total burden remains 10%.
③ Calculation Examples by Income (FY2026, Single, Tokyo 23 Wards)
The formula is as follows (standard pattern for salaried workers).
Salary income −(employment income deduction)= Employment income
Employment income −(social insurance deduction + ¥430,000 basic deduction, etc.)= Taxable income
Taxable income × 10% − adjustment credit = Income-based levy
Income-based levy + ¥4,000 per-capita + ¥1,000 forest tax = Annual tax
| Annual salary | Employment income | Taxable income (est.) | Income-based levy | Annual resident tax (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¥3,000,000 | ¥2,020,000 | ¥1,140,000 | ~¥112,000 | ~¥116,500 |
| ¥4,000,000 | ¥2,760,000 | ¥1,730,000 | ~¥171,000 | ~¥175,500 |
| ¥5,000,000 | ¥3,560,000 | ¥2,380,000 | ~¥235,500 | ~¥240,500 |
※Assumptions: single, no dependents, social insurance ≈15% of salary, ¥430,000 basic deduction, adjustment credit of ¥2,500 applied, ¥5,000 per-capita + forest tax.
Resident tax is based on your previous year's income. Filing your tax return correctly ensures that income is reflected properly.
Start filing easily — MoneyForward Cloud →SponsoredBoth resident tax and National Health Insurance premiums are calculated from your previous year's income. For enrollment, premiums and how to use National Health Insurance, see the National Health Insurance guide ↗ on our sister site Zainichi Life Navi.
④ Payment Methods (Special & Ordinary Collection)
| Type | Who | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Special collection | Salaried employees | June to May of the following year, withheld from monthly salary in 12 installments |
| Ordinary collection | Self-employed, unemployed, pensioners, etc. | 4 times a year (June, August, October, January) via payment slips |
For salaried workers, special collection is in principle a legal obligation (handled by the employer). Ordinary collection can be paid at convenience stores, by direct debit, Pay-easy, or smartphone payment (e.g., PayPay bill pay, depending on the municipality). Some municipalities also accept credit-card payment via the local tax payment site — if you do not have a suitable card yet, see our guide to credit cards for foreigners.
Ordinary collection arrives as four payment slips a year, so a missed deadline is easy. Setting up direct debit (kōza furikae) from a Japanese bank account is the usual way to avoid that, and — unlike a credit card — opening an account does not involve a credit check. Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank are generally easier to open than megabanks soon after arriving, using your residence card (eligibility varies by bank — check each bank's official site).
How to open a bank account →⑤ Lump-Sum Collection When Quitting or Leaving Japan
Because resident tax is levied on the previous year's income, the obligation remains in the year you quit or leave. If you have an address in Japan on January 1, resident tax from June of the following year still applies.
| Resignation timing | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Resign January 1 – April 30 | The remaining balance is collected in a lump sum from final salary/severance (legally required), even without your request |
| Resign in May | Collected as usual through the final month |
| Resign June 1 – December 31 | Switches to ordinary collection in principle. Lump-sum collection available upon request |
If resident tax remains unpaid at departure, you must appoint a "tax manager" (nozei kanrinin) and notify your municipality before leaving. The tax manager is an individual or corporation residing in Japan — Japanese or foreign. Family, friends, your company, or a tax accountant can serve.
If you'll be sending money home from your Japanese account after returning, see our Wise how-to guide, which tends to keep fees low. To compare all the low-fee ways to send money overseas, see our overseas remittance comparison (fees & exchange rates). When leaving Japan, it also helps to check how your NISA account and brokerage account are handled (whether to close or keep them).
Compare low-cost ways to transfer money abroad — no credit check, but identity verification (KYC) is required (an account may not be opened if your documents are incomplete). Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with clear, upfront fees; you can verify with your residence card and finish everything online.
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.
⑥ Reductions & Exemptions
- Single (no dependents) with previous-year total income of ¥450,000 or less → exempt from both levies
- With dependents: income at or below "¥350,000 × (self + dependents) + ¥100,000 + ¥210,000" (criteria vary by municipality)
- Persons with disabilities, minors, widows, single parents with total income of ¥1.35M or less
- Public assistance recipients
If your tax burden becomes severe due to disasters (earthquake, flood), unemployment, prolonged illness, or financial hardship, you may qualify for a resident tax reduction by applying to your municipality. Requirements and rates vary — consult your local tax office.
⑦ What Happens If You Don't Pay
- Within 1 month after the deadline: 2.8% per year
- Beyond 1 month: 9.1% per year (capped at 14.6%)
Penalties accrue from the day after the deadline. Rates are announced annually — check your municipality's official site for the latest.
Demand letter → reminder → asset investigation → seizure (salary, deposits, real estate, etc.). This is a compulsory collection procedure under the Local Tax Act.
⑧ FAQ
A. No resident tax arises in your arrival year. It taxes the previous year's (Jan–Dec) income, which is zero for your first year. It starts in earnest from June of your second year (if you earned salary in Japan the year before).
A. For FY2026, a single person with no dependents and salary income only generally owes no resident tax at ¥1.1M or less in standard-rate areas such as Tokyo's 23 wards; the threshold can be lower in some municipalities, so check your own municipality.
A. It depends on when you resign. January–April: lump-sum collection (balance withheld at resignation); June–December: switches to ordinary collection (slips mailed to your home). You can also ask your new employer to continue special collection.
A. Yes. The portion of your donation exceeding ¥2,000 is credited against income and resident tax. Employees use the "one-stop exception"; the self-employed file a tax return. See the tax filing & resident tax guide. For eligibility, deduction limits, and cautions for foreign residents, see the Furusato Tax guide.
A. It can matter. The Immigration Services Agency's guidelines treat on-time payment of taxes and public charges as a factor, and its document checklist asks for several years of certificates (5 years for the standard work-status route). Late payments are viewed negatively. From 1 April 2027, the amended Immigration Control Act allows a permanent resident's status to be revoked in cases of deliberate non-payment of taxes. Always pay on time.
A. Appoint a tax manager and file notification with your municipality. The tax manager is a Japan-resident individual or corporation — family, friends, your company, or a tax accountant. Post-departure payment slips go to the tax manager, who pays on your behalf.
If you're considering buying a home, the mortgage deduction may reduce your income and resident tax. See home loans for foreigners in the home loan guide.
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.
Easy tax filing — Money Forward Cloud
Resident tax is based on last year's income. Filing reflects it correctly. With MF Cloud you just enter the data.
Try it free →* MoneyForward Cloud offers a 1-month free trial; continued use requires a paid plan (it does not switch to a paid plan automatically).
※This article contains promotion. Check the NTA and your municipality's official info for details.
