What Is a Tax Return Filing (Kakutei Shinkoku)?

A tax return filing (kakutei shinkoku) is the Japanese procedure of calculating one's income and tax for the year and reporting and paying it to the tax office.

This is a procedure under Japan's tax system. If you are not a Japanese tax resident, a different filing procedure will apply to you in your own country.

How it works

For salaried employees, tax is often settled through the employer's year-end adjustment. However, if you want to use loss offsetting or a tax loss carryforward (see related pages) on gains from selling stocks or on dividend income, you generally need to file a tax return yourself.

Stock investing and tax return filing

If you use only a "with withholding" specific account, filing a tax return is, in principle, unnecessary. However, filing may be required if you want to offset gains and losses across different accounts, use a loss carryforward, or if you traded through a general account. Please confirm the exact requirement with the tax office or a qualified tax accountant.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not recommend or solicit the purchase or sale of any specific investment method or security. Final investment decisions are your own responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I invest in stocks, do I always need to file a tax return?
Not necessarily. For example, if you only trade through a 'with withholding' specific account, filing may be unnecessary. However, filing is generally required to use loss offsetting, a loss carryforward, or if you traded through a general account. Please confirm your own situation with the tax office or a qualified tax accountant.
When is the tax return filing period?
It typically runs from mid-February to mid-March, but the exact dates can vary from year to year, so please check the latest announcements from Japan's National Tax Agency (NTA).