Are Training Costs for the President Deductible? Tax Knowledge for Foreigners Starting Businesses in Japan

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

I aim to assist non-Japanese business owners who struggle with reading or writing in Japanese. If you find the Japanese tax return system challenging, I can help you with your tax filings.

This blog may help if you are unclear about training costs for the president in Japan.

Last night, I attended a barbecue party at a restaurant owned by a member of the business meetup group I’m part of. During the event, a fellow member asked if the training costs that the president (referring to himself) incurs are considered deductible expenses.

Business Relevance

One of the major criteria is whether an expense is directly related to the business. For instance, I attend English conversation classes. Given that my accounting firm actively supports English-speaking foreign entrepreneurs in Japan, this is seen as highly relevant to my business. Conversely, attending investment seminars on topics like Bitcoin not be considered deductible since their relevance to the business is minimal.

Reasonableness of the Amount

The reasonableness of the expense amount is essential for deductions. If the cost is significantly higher than similar seminars, it may be disapproved during tax audits.

Lesson Fees for National Licenses like Lawyers and Tax Accountants

It is often said that tax officers reject these deductions as they are strongly tied to individuality.

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