How to Claim a Tax Refund on Your Japan Pension Refund

*This is a follow-up article of How to Claim Your Japan Pension Refund.

You noticed 20.42% income tax has been withheld from your Japan pension refund. In most cases, you should be eligible for an income tax refund on this income tax. Let’s start!

Step 1. Submit your tax return

Please prepare the following documents.

1. Tax Return Form, kakutei shinkoku sho

3. Copy of My Number card (front & back)

If you didn’t make a My Number card, please provide the copy of the My Number notice (front & back)

3. Copy of your passport (face photo page)

4. Overseas address in English

If your tax representative has a tax accountant qualification, zeirishi, he can prepare your tax return on your behalf. He may ask for a copy of your photo ID to confirm your current overseas address.

5. Your tax representative’s bank account information.

The tax refund will be deposited into your tax representative’s bank account. Your tax representative should provide you with the following information.

＊bank name, ginkou mei

＊branch name, shiten mei

＊account type, koza shubetsu

＊account number, koza bango

＊beneficiary name, kouza meigi

Step 2. The Tax Office receives your tax return.

Tax Office will send a copy with the “received” stamp within 5 – 10 business days by post.

If your zeirishi filed your tax return online, the “received” notice will be issued online within several business days.

Step 3. The Tax Office makes a deposit to your tax representative’s bank account.

It usually takes 2 – 4 weeks to process a refund. If you file an income tax return in January, February, or March, it may take more than 4 weeks as this is the busiest season for the Tax Office.

Step 4. Your tax representative forwards the tax refund to your account.

You should provide your bank details to your tax representative.

＊SWIFT code or IBAN code

＊bank name

＊branch name

＊branch address

＊account number

＊beneficiary’s name (registered name should be the same as the name on the passport)

Step 5. You receive your tax refund.

Congratulations!

If you are not sure where to find a tax representative or how to fill out the tax return form, please contact us.