🗂️ Topic: Money, Tax & Insurance (8 guides, in situation order)
Final Tax Return Guide
If you have a side job, freelance work, rental income, or stock investments in Japan—and your income exceeds a certain threshold—you need to file a final tax return. The filing period is from February 16 to March 15 each year.
🧮 Tax Estimator
※ Simplified estimate; the tax office's calculation takes precedence. Includes basic, social insurance, and dependent deductions.
🤔 Who needs to file a final tax return?
- Employees with side income (e.g., social media, personal shopping, translation, food delivery)
- Freelancers and self-employed individuals (sole proprietors)
- Those with rental property income
- Those with stock/investment losses or gains who need to claim a refund or pay additional tax
- Annual income exceeding 20 million yen
📅 Key Dates
January
Start organizing income and expense receipts. You will receive your withholding statement (源泉徴収票) and salary details.
February 16 - March 15
Final tax return filing period. You can submit online via e-Tax or in person at the tax office.
Around May
Receive a notice of correction or have your tax refund deposited.
📎 Official Resources
📋 Required Documents
- Withholding statement (annual income certificate from your employer)
- Medical expense deduction receipts (amounts exceeding 100,000 yen per year can be deducted)
- Social insurance premiums, National Health Insurance, and National Pension payment certificates
- Side income proof, invoices, and contracts
- Expense receipts (transportation, office supplies, communication fees, etc.)
- Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) contribution certificates
💡 Common Deductions
🔵 Blue Tax Return (青色申告)
Applicable to sole proprietors. With proper bookkeeping, you can deduct an additional 550,000 or 650,000 yen. Requires double-entry bookkeeping or free accounting software.
⚪ White Tax Return (白色申告)
Simplest option, suitable for those with modest side income. Does not offer the blue return deduction benefits.
🏠 Medical Expense Deduction
Medical expenses exceeding 100,000 yen per year (threshold varies by income) can be deducted.
🛠️ Recommended Tools
- Final Tax Return Form Creation Corner (National Tax Agency website): Free and most authoritative.
- MF Cloud / freee: Bookkeeping for sole proprietors, automatically prepares tax returns.
- My Number Card + Card Reader: Essential for e-Tax electronic filing.
