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相続税
[sozokuzei] - inheritance tax

相続税 (sozokuzei), inheritance tax, is a tax imposed on the transfer of assets from a deceased person to their heirs. The tax is calculated based on the total value of the deceased's estate after deducting any debts and funeral expenses. This value is then reduced by a basic exemption amount, which is 30 million yen plus 6 million yen multiplied by the number of statutory heirs.

The calculation of inheritance tax involves several steps. First, the total value of the estate is determined. Then, the basic exemption is subtracted to find the taxable estate value. The remaining amount is divided according to the statutory inheritance shares, and each share is taxed at progressive rates ranging from 10% to 55% based on the size of the share. After this, any applicable tax credits or deductions are subtracted to find the final tax amount due.

Special provisions exist for business succession, which can defer or reduce the inheritance tax burden to help maintain family-owned businesses. These provisions include measures to defer tax payments or reduce the taxable value of business assets under certain conditions.


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See Also

経費   [keihi] - expenses or business expenses

In Japanese, the term 経費 (keihi) refers to "expenses" or "business expenses." These are the costs incurred in the process of running a business. Keihi can include a wide range of expenditures such as rent for office space, utilities like electricity, water, and internet, employee salaries and wages, office supplies, travel expenses, marketing and advertising costs, and depreciation of assets. Properly tracking and managing keihi is essential for maintaining accurate financial records, budgeting, and ensuring compliance with tax regulations. In Japan, businesses must be meticulous in documenting and categorizing their expenses to maximize tax deductions and maintain transparency with the tax authorities.

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滞納   [tainou] - the failure to pay taxes

滞納 (tainou) refers to the failure to pay taxes or other required payments by the due date. This can lead to several consequences depending on the type of payment and the length of the delay.

For example, if national health insurance premiums are overdue, the individual might initially receive reminders and then a "資格証明書" (qualification certificate) instead of a regular insurance card, requiring them to pay medical costs upfront and seek reimbursement later. Continued non-payment can result in loss of benefits, such as high-cost medical expense coverage, and potentially lead to asset seizure if the overdue amounts remain unpaid​.

In the case of local taxes like resident tax, late payments result in additional charges called 延滞金 (entairyou), which accumulate daily based on the amount owed and the length of the delay. Persistent non-payment can lead to more severe actions, including the seizure of assets like bank accounts or property.

For fixed asset taxes, the penalties are similar. An initial interest rate is applied for the first month of delay, which increases significantly after this period. If payments are not made even after receiving several reminders, the authorities may ultimately seize assets to cover the unpaid taxes​

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特段   [tokudan] - special

特段 (tokudan) is a Japanese term that translates to "special" or "particular" in English. It is used to describe something that is out of the ordinary or requires specific attention. For example, you might hear it in phrases like 特段の事情 (tokudan no jijou), meaning "special circumstances," or 特段の理由 (tokudan no riyuu), meaning "particular reason."

In business contexts, 特段 might be used to refer to exceptional conditions or considerations that need to be addressed separately from the usual procedures or rules.

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Frequently Asked Questions

相続税 (sozokuzei), inheritance tax, is a tax imposed on the transfer of assets from a deceased person to their heirs. The tax is calculated based on the total value of the deceased's estate after deducting any debts and funeral expenses. This value is then reduced by a basic exemption amount, which is 30 million yen plus 6 million yen multiplied by the number of statutory heirs.


Inheritance tax is 相続税 (sozokuzei) in Japanese.




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