Understand every yen
that leaves your paycheck.
Plain-English explanations of every Japanese tax and social insurance system — with analogies, official rules, and links to primary sources.
How Japan's progressive tax brackets work, reconstruction surtax, and how your taxable income is calculated step by step.
The city/prefecture tax billed every June. Why new residents pay nothing in year one, and how the 10% flat rate is applied.
What Kokuho covers, what it doesn't (plastic surgery, whitening), how premiums are calculated, and tips to lower your bill.
The powerful ¥650,000 deduction for freelancers and sole proprietors who keep proper books — and how to qualify.
The income walls (¥1.03M, ¥1.06M, ¥1.3M…), spouse deduction, overseas dependent rules, and documentation needed.
Employee social insurance components, employer obligations, enrollment thresholds, and how to report an employer who isn't enrolling you.
Contribution rules, foreigner lump-sum withdrawal (脱退一時金), disability and survivor pensions, and deferral options.
Every legal deduction: Furusato Nozei, home mortgage, earthquake insurance, medical expenses, overseas dependents, and more.
The new contribution added to health insurance from April 2026. Often called 'dokushinzei' (独身税) — what it actually is, rate schedule, and what the money funds.