Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is required to file a tax return?

  Self-employed individuals, those with real estate income, individuals with additional annual income of 200,000 yen or more, and company employees whose annual salaried income exceeds 200,000 yen are also required to file a tax return.

• In what situations am I not eligible for a tax deduction?

  If your income this year drops below a certain threshold due to changes in employment status, such as a job change or retirement, you may be exempt from income tax and resident tax, and thus ineligible for deductions. Additionally, if you are posted overseas, you may lose eligibility for the inhabitant tax deduction.

• Are salaried employees not required to file an income tax return?

  Even salaried employees (such as company employees) are required to file an income tax return if they need to deduct medical expenses for high medical costs.

• Am I required to file an income tax return if I have a second job and additional income?

  If you have a second job or additional income and are required to file an income tax return, you will also need to file a tax return for your hometown tax.

• Am I eligible to receive a thank-you gift from my own municipality?

  You cannot receive a thank-you gift for a donation to your own municipality.

• Can I receive thank-you gifts from the same municipalities more than once?

  Some municipalities have a limit on the number of times you can receive thank-you gifts. If you donate more than twice to the same municipality, be sure to check the limit in advance, as you may only receive one gift.

• How do I count the number of municipalities to which I have made donations?

  For example, if you make six donations, four of which are to different municipalities, and the remaining two are to the same municipality, these two donations will be counted as one donation to that municipality. In this case, the total number of municipalities to which you made donations will be five.

  In this situation, you do not need to file an income tax return. However, if you mistakenly make six donations, each to a different municipality, you will need to file an income tax return.

  Please note that some municipalities have limits on the number of times you can receive thank-you gifts for your donations, so be sure to check these limits before donating.

• Can a dependent make a Furusato tax payment using a family member's credit card?

  If a dependent pays Furusato tax with a family member’s credit card, income tax and resident tax will not be deducted because the payment is made under a name different from that of the donor.

• Are there any precautions I should take when paying my hometown tax through multiple websites?

  You can pay your hometown tax through multiple websites, but be careful not to lose track of your donation history if you use too many sites.