Residence Tax （住民税, juuminzei）

Residence tax （sometimes called inhabitants tax, residents tax, juuminzei, etc） is an umbrella term covering both prefectural and municipal individual residents taxes. It is paid by all those residing in a Japanese prefecture and municipality as of January 1. Foreign nationals pay residence tax in the municipality where they have submitted a moving-in notification, and the prefecture in which that municipality is located.

You will not pay residence tax in the year you arrived in Japan, but if you are still in Japan come January 1 of the following year you will be taxed for the previous year. This applies even if you leave the country later in the year.

Residence tax is made up of two portions, one based on the previous year’s income and one fixed portion levied equally to all residents （though not on their cohabitant spouses）.

You can choose to pay your residence tax as a lump sum in June or in 4 installments in June, August, October, and January. It is possible for employees to have the residence tax withheld from their monthly salary, in the same way as income tax. You can also pay the tax directly at a municipal office or financial institution such as a bank.

Prefectural Residence Tax （県民税, kenminzei）	Income portion	4% of taxable income
Prefectural Residence Tax （県民税, kenminzei）	Fixed portion	2,500 yen
Municipal Inhabitant Tax （市町村民税, shichouson minzei）	Income portion	6% of taxable income
Municipal Inhabitant Tax （市町村民税, shichouson minzei）	Fixed portion	3,500 yen