Tax & Legal
Will Japan's Food Consumption Tax Really Drop to 1%? What the Tax Reform Outline Means for Your Cost of Living
Japan's ruling party is speeding up coordination on a plan to cut the consumption tax on food from 8% to 1%. Here's where the September tax reform outline stands, and what it does — and doesn't — change for your tax filings.
Does Sending Money From Abroad to Japan Trigger Gift Tax? What Cross-Border Family Transfers Mean for Your Filing
Receiving help from family overseas to buy property or cover living costs in Japan is common — but transfers above a certain amount can trigger Japan's gift tax. Here's who is generally liable, how the tax office finds out, and roughly what the numbers look like.
Is Japan's Food Consumption Tax Really Dropping to 1%? What's Changing (and What Isn't) Explained
Food and beverage price hikes are set to hit a 2026 high of 4,531 items in September, even as PM Takaichi has proposed cutting the consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years starting April 2027 (not yet law). Here's how Japan's reduced tax rate works and what the proposal actually says.
Can You Deduct Earthquake Insurance Premiums? Coverage and Limits Explained
An earthquake centered in southern Ibaraki shook much of the Tokyo metropolitan area early on August 23, 2026. Here is how earthquake insurance premiums are treated for income and resident tax, which homes qualify, and the exclusions that overseas owners and landlords most often miss.
Can Foreigners Use Japan's Mortgage Tax Credit? The 2026 Reform and Non-Resident Rules
Japan's fiscal 2026 tax reform outline extends the mortgage tax credit's deadline by five years, to the end of 2030. For overseas readers considering buying property in Japan, here's how to tell whether you qualify and what the non-resident rules mean in practice.
How Much Inheritance Tax Applies to Japanese Real Estate? Filing and Tax Agents for Overseas Heirs
What overseas-based heirs need to know about Japanese inheritance tax on real estate: the basic exemption, filing deadline, the small-lot exemption, and appointing a tax agent.
What Tax Do You Pay When Selling Property in Japan? Gains and Withholding
How capital gains are calculated, how the rate turns on your holding period, and what withholding and exemptions mean for non-resident sellers.
What Tax Do Non-Resident Owners Pay? Property Tax, Income Tax, Withholding
The practical points overseas property owners need to cover: fixed asset tax, income tax on rent, and withholding at source.