Main Documents Required for Corporate Tax Filing in Japan

Hi, my name is Taisei Koshida, and I am a certified public accountant and tax accountant in Japan.

I assist foreign business owners who may have difficulty dealing with Japanese accounting and tax procedures. If you find the Japanese tax system challenging, I can help you with your tax filings.

If you operate a company in Japan, you need to prepare and file several documents after the end of each fiscal year.

What documents are generally required for a corporate tax filing in Japan? Let’s look at the main ones.

Corporate tax filings in Japan involve both national and local taxes. Corporate tax returns are generally filed with the tax office, while local corporate tax returns are filed with the relevant prefecture and municipality.

The filing deadline is generally within two months after the end of the company’s fiscal year.

Because Japanese corporate tax returns require specialized knowledge and include many forms and schedules, many small companies ask a tax accountant to prepare and file them on their behalf.

1.  Corporate Tax Return Forms

These forms are used to calculate the company’s corporate income tax and other related national tax amounts.

The forms include various schedules for calculating taxable income based on the company’s accounting profit and making the necessary tax adjustments.

2.  Local Corporate Tax Return Forms

Companies generally also need to file local corporate tax returns with the prefecture and municipality where they have an office or place of business.

These forms are used to calculate taxes such as corporate inhabitant tax and enterprise tax.

3. Consumption Tax Return Forms

If the company is required to file a Japanese consumption tax return, it must also prepare the applicable consumption tax forms.

These forms calculate the amount of consumption tax payable or refundable based on the applicable rules.

4. Financial Statements

The company’s financial statements generally include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement, statement of changes in shareholders’ equity, and notes to the financial statements.

These financial statements provide the basic accounting information used to prepare the corporate tax return.

5. Detailed Statements

Companies may also need to prepare detailed statements of account balances (勘定科目内訳明細書).

These statements provide details of major accounts and transactions, such as bank deposits, accounts receivable, accounts payable, loans, executive compensation, and rent.

6.  Corporate Business Overview Report

The Corporate Business Overview Report (法人事業概況説明書) provides basic information about the company and its business activities.

It includes information such as the nature of the business, accounting methods, major shareholders, and certain financial and transaction information.

7. Corporate Tax Filing Requires More Than One Tax Return

A corporate tax filing in Japan is not just one tax return. It may include national and local tax returns, financial statements, detailed account information, and other supporting forms.

The exact documents required depend on the company’s circumstances, including whether it is subject to consumption tax.

Preparing accurate accounting records throughout the year makes the year-end corporate tax filing much easier.

Koshida Accounting and Tax Office assists foreign business owners in Japan with accounting and corporate tax filings.

If you need help preparing your company’s financial statements or corporate tax returns in Japan, please feel free to contact us through the inquiry form.