Taxes, Pension, and Health Insurance: What to Know Now to Avoid Regrets Later
Some of the most common issues foreign residents bring to us involve taxes and social insurance. We often hear “I didn’t know,” “I thought it was okay not to pay,” or “I quit my job, so I thought I no longer had to pay.”
However, in Japan, your payment history for resident tax, health insurance, pension, and other contributions is kept on record. Unpaid amounts may affect future residence status renewals, Permanent Residence applications, and naturalization applications.
Items to watch carefully
- Resident tax
- National Health Insurance
- National Pension
- Your company’s social insurance
Leaving your job does not automatically end your obligation to pay. It is important to complete the procedures at your city or ward office yourself and to check your insurance and pension enrollment.
In fact, there have been cases where past unpaid amounts delayed Permanent Residence or naturalization applications, or led to a denial.
To live in Japan with peace of mind for the long term, it is important to understand how taxes and social insurance work and to manage them properly. In some cases, “I didn’t know” is not accepted as an excuse.
If anything worries you, we recommend consulting your city office or a professional organization early.
Sincero Global Co., Ltd.
- Foreign Resident Support
- Staffing & Recruitment Services
- Translation & Interpretation
- Visa & Immigration Support
Feel free to contact us.
