Contents: Tax Information

Hello Everybody,

It's been a while, and I am sure you have been missing my mass emails dreadfully. So, my Valentine's present to you all comes not in the form of tomo-choco, but rather in tax information.

Here is my obligatory LOOK IN THE GENERAL INFORMATION HANDBOOK and THE TOYAMA JET SITE TAX GUIDES http://www.toyamajets.net/index.php/TaxGuide/TaxGuide for information plea.

Now, for the meat of the email.

Are you an Aussie?

It appears that Japan has a special dual taxation deal with you, and there is ample info in the General Info Handbook. Tax information can also be found at www.consular.australia.or.jp/tax.html or from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) www.ato.gov.au

Canuck?

You are apparently considered "factual residents" of Canada and are required to report their world income by April 30th. The rest confuses me. Look here for tax forms... Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/menu-e.html or if you have other questions www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/contact/tso/international-e.html

Chinese?

Depending on the province in which you lived before coming to Japan you may be required to declare in China your monthly earnings in Japan. Be sure to confirm this with your place of work in China and the provincial tax office before coming to Japan (uh oh... hope you did that). 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year ALTs will be exempt from income and local inhabitants' tax in Japan, but CIRs and SEAs will be liable (your salary will be altered to help you out with this)

Irish?

Irish ALTs who have been in Japan for less than 2 years must pay taxes in Ireland but are exempt from Japanese income tax. For all CIRs, SEAs, and ALTs in Japan for 3 years or more, there is no tax liability in the home country, but they are required to pay income taxes in Japan. Irish Revenue homepage www.revenue.ie

Korean?

If you have been here for less than a year, you will be regarded as residents of Korea but may be exempted from Korean income tax upon declaration of tax deducted at source in Japan to your tax office in Korea. 2nd or 3rd year participants will be exempt from income tax in Korea. CIRs, SEAs, and 3rd year ALTs will be liable for income and local inhabitants tax in Japan (your pay will also be adjusted to help) Korean National Tax Service homepage www.nts.go.kr

Kiwi?

You may become a non-resident for tax purposes if you are absent from New Zealand for more than 325 days in a 12 month period and you do not have an enduring relationship with New Zealand, and thus will not be liable for NZ income taxes (salary will be adjusted) Inland Revenue has the answers you desire www.ird.govt.nz

Saffer?

You pay tax in Japan, but are exempt back home. You should obtain a record of the amount of tax paid in Japan for tax and currency control purposes. South African Revenue Service www.sars.gov.za (sars!?!)

Limey?

Liability to the UK or Japanese income tax depends on the length of vist and timing of your stay in Japan. Under domestic rules, both Japan and the UK may be able to charge Income Tax on your earnings but income will only be taxed in one country (huh?) UK Inland Revenue www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/menus/officesmenu.htm

Manx?

What do you folks do over there? Do you have real money?

Sexmex?

I hope you know what to do, cause the book reveals nothing of your country's secret taxing scheme.

Yankee? (if you are from the south, shhhh... we won the war)

Everyone must file US Federal Income tax returns. The following forms are necessary for US JETs when filing: form 1040---US Individual Income Tax Return form 2555 (EZ)---Foreign Earned Income Exclusion form 4868---Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US Individual Income Tax Return form 2350---Application for Extension of Time to File

If you filed last year with a Japanese address, you will be sent the following year's tax forms automatically. First year JETs who, on the JET Participant Data Input & Confirmation form, request to have forms for the 2007 tax year sent, will automatically have their tax forms sent directly to them. All others MUST REQUEST the standard overseas filling package (the 1040-7 package) from the IRS Forms Distribution Center, P.O. Box 25866, Richmond, VA, 23260 USA. This package provides the forms most JETs will need to file their taxes from overseas. You could alternatively just download and print from www.irs.gov I recommend following the link at the top of the email that will take you directly to these forms online and help you fill them out step by step.

Most US taxpayers must file their taxes by April 15th, but taxpayers who are living abroad on April 15th receive and automatic two-month extension and need not file until June 15th. First year JETs must pass the "physical presence test", which basically means you have to be in Japan for a full year (past July) before you can pay your taxes. That is why you had to have that form I emailed you about last year when you arrived. I am not gonna type out all of this, because it's available in several forms online and off already.

THAT IS IT! If you have any specific questions, the sites I have provided will likely be much more help than I will, but I will try my damnedest. Hope you guys are enjoying the snow that KEEPS coming down today, I know I will this weekend! Don't let the winter get you down, get out there and have fun in the mountains or get naked in the nearest onsen and pamper yourself.

More information coming your way in the next few weeks about regional meetings an other fun. Till then, see you on the slopes!