“I want to buy a home in Japan, but I do not have permanent residency. Can I still get a home loan?” I sometimes receive this kind of question from foreign residents in Japan. The short answer is that it may be possible to get a home loan even without permanent...
For many international visitors to Japan, “Tax-Free” shopping is a familiar part of their trip. However, the system will change significantly from November 1, 2026. Under the current system, travelers can generally purchase eligible goods without paying Japanese...
In Japan, sole proprietors and freelancers may sometimes be asked to pay income tax during the year under a system called yotei nozei(予定納税), or estimated tax payment. This can feel like a fairly heavy burden, especially if your business situation has changed from the...
Thoughts After Reading Apparel from Production Regions The way other industries think can be very helpful when trying to see our own work from a relative point of view. Recently, I read a book called Sanchi-hatsu Apparel, which could be translated as Apparel from...
Points to Consider When Non-Japanese Freelancers Choose a Bank Account When opening a bank account in Japan, many non-Japanese freelancers want to know which banks are relatively easy to use in English. In this article, I will introduce banks that seem relatively easy...
The culture of giving exists everywhere.Donations are often made with policy objectives in mind and are structured to provide tax benefits. However, when applying this donation deduction under Japan’s Income Tax Act, you must verify that you have actually made a...
