bobby12 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 So I moved back to the UK in early Dec 2011, but I have started getting letters from Kobe City tax office saying that I need to pay them 100,000 yen (yes, 10man) city tax for the period Jan to June 2012. I contacted them to say "but I am not living in Japan anymore" but they insist that I have to pay it anyway. I have never heard of this before from friends moving home, and it didn't happen to me when I left JET. Has anyone else come across this one? Link to post Share on other sites
nagoid 4 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Perhaps for tax that was for the period you were still in Japan? Oops just re-read that. Scrap that one perhaps! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Sounds strange. Did you make sure everything important was cut off and tied up neatly when you left, you notified them of you leaving etc? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 wow, you've left Japan. Tell them to sing for it....or actually, don't tell them anything, just ignore them Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Are you sure it is for the period Jan-June 2012, and not before? Isn't tax paid on a later cycle? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 city tax is based upon your previous year's earnings Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 flip them the bird.....laugh.....walk away....ignore. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 The bill is for the financial year which I think is June-June or so. I actually think the owe me money because the total amount was 300,000 for the financial year, and I have paid 200,000 (2/3) already despite only being in Japan for 1/2 the year. So they should owe ME 50,000 yen according to my logic. Japan has already got 2 years of non-refundable pension payments out of me so I am tempted to just ignore them now but I wonder what the consequences would be should I return to Japan. I doubt they are clued up enough to nab me at the airport coming in but you never know! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Bobby....they aren't. I am living proof. When I was first here I didn't pay my city tax, back then though it was cheap, and I was worried about when I came back. I had budgeted in that amount just in case I was stopped at the airport (paranoid? oh yeah!!) but I wasn't. Are you married though? That might complicate things Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 yes, my wife is more likely to go back. she is going in april for example. but i told her that in the worst case scenario that they nab us at the airport, we just say 'what letter? we didnt get no letter!' and then just give them the money. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 they won't....not that I meant getting nabbed at the airport. I just meant if you moved back here there'd be more of a paper trail from your previous time here if your wife was Japanese etc. Although they are starting to get their act together, I bet immigration staff at the airport don't have flagged names from the Tax office. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Your city tax is set based in where you were living on Jan 1st of that year, which in your case was Kobe for 2011/12. You are due to pay the full amount regardless of where you live after that time. It sucks but that be the law. Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 So that means if you move out of Japan on Jan 2nd 2011, you have to pay city tax for the financial year June 2011 to June 2012? Seems crazy. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Your city tax is set based in where you were living on Jan 1st of that year, which in your case was Kobe for 2011/12. You are due to pay the full amount regardless of where you live after that time. It sucks but that be the law. that be the law in Japan.......but Bobby doesn't live in Japan anymore Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 You may be joking but that's actually quite a good argument that I may call and try to use (would prefer to get some closure on it). Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 So that means if you move out of Japan on Jan 2nd 2011, you have to pay city tax for the financial year June 2011 to June 2012? Seems crazy. Am afraid so. The first year in Japan is essentially tax free however from year 2 onwards we are supposed to pay now and show that we have been paying when we renew our visas. I see what you are saying about a pro rata tax system, but then what is to stop people saying, "hey, I didn't use x or y, so why should I pay for those services?" Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Yeah, I'd be inclined to play the "Letter! What letter?" card as and when or if you return to Japan. & obviously don't live in Kobe again! I see what you are saying about a pro rata tax system, but then what is to stop people saying, "hey, I didn't use x or y, so why should I pay for those services?" It's been a few years since I've lived there, but I seem to remember getting refunds of UK Council Tax after moving out of my house and into lodgings. Obviously not here though, which reminds me - I need to pay my city tax instalment this week! Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 You can also do that Mick Rich. Move cities, and they don't share information. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I know a guy who has been here for 5 years and hasn't paid....he just moves ku every year. Of course I did suggest that with all the moving fees he pays every bloody year it would be cheaper just paying his bloody tax!! Bobby, tell the tax of to get on their bike!! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I think I would rather pay tax than move house every year! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 yeah same as me.....MUCH less hassle! Link to post Share on other sites
Scallywag 0 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Not that I particularly want them to be but... why are they so disconnected like this? Other countries so are the Japan authorities just a bit more hopeless on this kind of thing? Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I didnt pay some city tax once and moved cities. When I registered my gaijin card in the new city, the previous city started sending the bills to my new address. Im all square with them now, but yeah the city tax is a real killer. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 It's silly of them to expect folks to pay for services over a year after they have moved away. I think they check if you apply for permanent res, other than that you'll probably get away with not paying. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 You would think that they will only get better at 'linking up' info. Computers are becoming popular these days! Link to post Share on other sites
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