From the Commissioner

The NTAs mission is to help taxpayers properly

and smoothly fulfill their tax duties. To fulfill this
mission, the NTA has so far engaged in various
measures.
First of all, from the standpoint of taxpayer services,
the NTA has taken steps to improve the filings and
payments methods that are more convenient for
taxpayers by utilizing ICT, including online national
tax return filing and tax payment system (e-Tax) and
filing assistance on the NTA website.
Especially the use of e-Tax is steadily expanding with the measures taken for
the improvement of user convenience, including omission of certain attached
documents to be submitted, and the support of the parties concerned.

Secondly, in conducting proper examinations and collections, we have strictly

responded to large and vicious fraudulent cases, as well as proactively responded to
the affluent class and internationalization in order to meet with changes in society
and the economy, while protecting taxpayers interests.
Particularly in order to cope with international tax avoidance cases, we utilize
the statement of foreign assets that were submitted after January 2014 and promote
international information exchange based on tax treaties for transactions whose
facts cannot be fully understood with information obtained in Japan. We are
also taking measures to encourage large enterprises to enhance their corporate
governance in tax administration.

Regarding the consumption tax rise, we provide information, consultation and

guidance to enable business operators to properly make filings and payments with
full understanding of the consumption tax system and the content of amendment.

1
We are also taking measures properly in cooperation with relevant ministries to provide
consultation on special provisions for the obligation to indicate the total price with tax and
the refusal of shifting consumption taxes.

I consider it is important that taxpayers make filings and payments with understanding
and trust toward tax administration, and hope to promote a tax administration that
responds to the public trust through different efforts as above.
To gain taxpayers understanding of various measures taken by the NTA, I also consider
it is important to improve the external communication.

We have so far done our best to provide easy-to-understand information on the NTAs
creation and implementation of effective plans for various issues, measures, policy
initiatives and on evaluation and verification of the results of their implementation through
websites, press releases, etc.
The National Tax Agency Report (annual report) is one of such efforts and
describes the NTAs activities of the past year, including the topics of the year in clearly
understandable terms.

The National Tax Agency Report 2014 provides easy-to-understand explanations of the
NTAs activities, sometimes using statistic data, etc. as in the past issues.
We hope this report helps deepen your understanding.

September 2014

Nobumitsu Hayashi
Commissioner
National Tax Agency, Japan

2
CONTENTS
From the Commissioner 1

About the NTA 5

1 Assignment and missions of the NTA 5 (4) Promotion of administrative work efciency
(1) Assignment of the NTA 5 and enhancement of organizational
(2) Missions of the NTA 5 foundations 8
2 Concepts for management of (5) Policy evaluation and improvement of tax
tax administration 7 administration 8
(1) Enhancement of services for taxpayers 7 3 Overview of the national tax
(2) Proper tax examination and collection organization 9
and remedy for taxpayer rights 7 (1) National revenue and taxes 9
(3) Proper management of liquor (2) NTA budget and number of personnel 9
administration 8 (3) Organizational structure of administrative
authorities for national tax 10

Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers 11

1 Providing information, etc. 11 4 Proper withholding tax system
(1) Information provided on the NTA website 11 operation 20
(2) Tax education 13 5 Certied Public Tax Accountants
(3) Briengs for taxpayers 14 (CPTAs) system 20
(4) Advance inquiries 14 (1) Promotion of document attached by
(5) Tax consultation 15 CPTAs to tax returns 21
2 e-Tax (online national tax return ling (2) Promotion of e-Tax usage 21
and tax payment system) 16 6 Cooperation with private organizations 22
3 Filing for tax return 18 ColumnResponse to the Great East
(1) Promotion of ling using ICT 18 Japan Earthquake 23
(2) Response to diverse taxpayer needs 19 ColumnActions taken for the amended
Consumption Tax Act 25

Proper Tax Examination and Collection 26

1 Promotion of proper and fair 3 Addressing international transactions 37
tax administration 26 (1) Changes in the environment
(1) Priority matters addressed in the tax concerning international transactions 37
examinations 27 (2) Addressing international taxation 38
(2) Information collection 28 (3) Examination of international taxation
(3) Criminal investigation 28 cases 40
(4) Approaches to enhance the corporate (4) Transfer pricing issues 40
governance concerning tax administration 29 (5) International cooperation in
ColumnA variety of efforts to ensure tax collection 41
compliance 31 4 Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) 42
2 Reliable tax payment 33 5 Cooperation and coordination with
(1) Establishment of voluntary tax payment 33 foreign tax authorities 43
(2) Reduction of tax delinquency 34 (1) Technical cooperation for developing
(3) Ofce of Tax Collections Call Center 36 countries 43
(4) Auction by Internet 36 (2) Participation by tax authorities in
(5) Accurate and efcient management of international conferences 44
claims and liabilities 36

About the NTA

Remedy for Taxpayer Rights 45
(1) Request for reinvestigation 46
(2) Request for reconsideration 46
(3) Litigation 46
(4) Trend in remedies for taxpayer rights 46

Services for Taxpayers

ColumnOutline of revision of the request

Enhancement of
for review system for national tax 48

Proper Management of Liquor Administration 49

(1) Initiatives to ensure safety of liquor and (5) Providing information to liquor business
enhance quality levels 49 operators 50
ColumnApproaches to develop the

Examination and
(2) Measures for appropriate labeling of

Proper Tax
Collection
liquors 50 environment for export of Japanese liquors 51
(3) Response to social demands 50
(4) Initiatives to develop a fair trading
environment in liquor 50

Revision of Operations and Systems 52

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
ColumnIntroduction of the Social Security
and Tax Number System 54

Evaluation of Policies 55

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Statistics 56
Tax revenues and budget 56 Criminal investigation 59
Tax returns and taxation 57 Remedy for taxpayer rights 59
Tax examinations 58 Tax consultations 60
International taxation 58 Taxpayer satisfaction 60

Revision of Operations
Delinquency 58

and Systems
* The scal year ranges from April 1 through March 31 of the following year (i.e. scal year 2013: April 1, 2013
to March 31, 2014), while the operation year is from July 1 through June 30 of the following year (i.e. operation
year 2012: July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013).

Evaluation of
Policies

Statistics

4
 About the NTA
The NTA is the administrative agency in charge of the assessment and collection of internal taxes. The Agency
was organized in 1949 as an external organ of the Ministry of Finance.
The NTA supervises 12 Regional Taxation Bureaus (including the Okinawa Regional Taxation Office,
and the same applies hereinafter) and 524 Tax Offices throughout Japan. The NTA Head Office plans the tax
administration, and supervises and oversees the administration of the Regional Taxation Bureaus and the Tax
Ofces. Each of the Regional Taxation Bureaus, which are supervised and overseen by the NTA, supervises and
oversees the assessment and collection administration of Tax Ofces in its jurisdiction. In addition, the Bureaus
directly assess and collect taxes from large taxpayers. The Tax Ofces under the guidance and oversight of the
NTA and Regional Taxation Bureaus serve as the frontline organizations which assess and collect national taxes,
and as the administrative bodies maintaining the closest relationships with taxpayers.
There is also the National Tax College which trains tax ofcials, while the National Tax Tribunal serves as a
special body engaged in examining requests for review from taxpayers.

1Assignment and missions of the NTA

(1) Assignment of the NTA
Article 19 of the Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Finance provides that the NTA achieves its
duties of Realizing proper and fair assessment and collection of internal taxes.To fulll these duties, the
NTA provides public relations activities and tax education (taxpayer services) to help taxpayers understand
and perform their tax obligations, and reliably corrects taxpayers who fail to fulll their tax obligations by
providing proper guidance and tax examinations (promotion of the proper and fair tax administration) in
order to prevent good taxpayers from feeling that taxation is unfair.
In addition, the NTA works to carry out its duties as set forth in Article 19: Sound development of the
liquor industryandEnsure proper administration of services by Certied Public Tax Accountants (CPTAs).

(2) Missions of the NTA

The NTA believes that in carrying out these duties, it is critically important to gain the understanding and
condence of citizens, who are the taxpayers.
To this end, the NTA puts together standards of assigned duties and its code of conduct, which are
provided to tax ofcials and released to the public as the Missions of the NTA (see page 6 on right).

NTA

 Missions of the NTA

About the NTA

Mission: Help taxpayers properly and smoothly fulfill their tax duties
Assignment
To achieve the above mission, the NTA carries out its duties as stipulated in Article 19 of the Act for
Establishment of the Ministry of Finance, while keeping in mind transparency and efciency.

Services for Taxpayers

Enhancement of
1Achieving proper and fair assessment and collection of internal taxes
(1) Development of tax payment environment
Provide and publicize easily understood accurate information on legal and regulatory interpretations
and procedures concerning tax ling and payment.
Respond quickly and accurately to inquiries or consultations from taxpayers.
Make efforts to obtain broad cooperation and participation of the related ministries, agencies, and

Examination and
citizens in order to build cooperation with tax administration and understanding of the roles of taxes.

Proper Tax
Collection
(2) Promotion of proper and fair tax administration
To achieve proper and fair taxation,
(i) Properly apply the relevant laws and regulations.
(ii) Work to achieve proper tax filing, and reliably correct errors by conducting examinations and
guidance for people who led improper returns.
(iii) Work to help taxpayers pay taxes by the due date, and implement procedures to collect taxes from

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
delinquent taxpayers.
Respond properly and promptly to taxpayersrequests for review, to address infringements of
taxpayerslegitimate rights and interests.
2Sound development of the liquor industry
Stabilize the business foundations of the liquor industry, and ensure brewing technology research and

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
development and the quality and safety of liquor.
Work for effective use of resources related to liquor.
3Proper administration of services by Certied Public Tax Accountants (CPTAs)
Work for proper administration of CPTA services, to ensure that CPTAs play important roles in the
proper and smooth administration of the self-assessment system, based on the missions assigned.
Code of Conduct

Revision of Operations
The above duties shall be carried in accordance with the following Code of Conduct.

and Systems
(1) Code of Conduct for performing duties
Maintain tax administration transparency, so that taxpayers are knowledgeable of the legal and
regulatory interpretations and administrative procedures.
Work to improve taxpayer convenience in ling and payment.
Work to improve the administrative processes in order to improve efciency in tax administration.
Work to actively collect and use information and data, to accurately implement tax examinations and
Evaluation of
Policies

procedures against tax delinquencies.

Take strict action against taxpayers who engage in malicious tax evasion and tax delinquency.
(2) Code of Conduct for ofcials
Respond to taxpayers in good faith.
Maintain condentiality about information acquired on the job, and maintain ofcial discipline.
Work to gain the specialized knowledge required to accomplish assigned tasks.
Statistics

Challenges
The NTA correctly and flexibly copes with changes in an economic society faced with the advanced
use of ICT and globalization, etc., while continuously reviewing and improving the organization and tax
administration operation in order to meet taxpayer needs.

6
 About the NTA

2Concepts for management of tax administration

The NTA's mission is toHelp taxpayers properly and smoothly fulll their tax duties.
To fulll this mission with the people's understanding and trust, the NTA manages its tax administration
based on these basic concepts:
Improve services, so taxpayers can dosimple, convenient and smoothling and payment
Do proper examinations and collections, while protecting taxpayer rights and interests
Provide easily understood information on NTA's various initiatives, and improve tax administration
based on evaluation and verication of the results of implementing various measures
The NTA carries out the following initiatives based on these basic concepts.

NTA Initiatives

(1) Enhancement of services for taxpayers

Use websites etc. to provide tax information needed for ling etc., so taxpayers make correct tax ling
and payment themselves.
Work to provide excellent ling and tax payment means that are highly convenient for taxpayers, using
ICT such as e-Tax and ling assistance on the NTA website.
Respond to advance inquiries and advance pricing arrangement of transfer pricing tax system, so the
taxpayer can predict in advance the tax treatment of its own economic activities.
For the withholding tax system, provide more thorough information and publicity to withholding agents, to
work for its proper administration.
CPTAs play important roles in proper ling and payment by taxpayers. Therefore, work on cooperation
with tax accountants' associations, for wider use and establishment of e-Tax, use of the system of
document attached by CPTAs to tax returns, etc.
Based on the thinking that tax education should be worked on by the entire society, provide support for
its enhancement, and cooperate with related ministries, agencies, educators, and private organizations
such as tax accountants' associations.

(2) Proper tax examination and collection and remedy for taxpayer rights
Perform proper examination and collection, such as taking a strict stance against malicious taxpayers,
while protecting taxpayer rights and interests.
Be fully aware that dispositions for taxation and delinquent tax are forcible procedures against taxpayer
rights and interests. At the examination stage, correctly understand what the taxpayer asserts,
objectively scrutinize it, and accurately conrm the facts, then apply the laws and regulations.
Systematically work in response to increasingly complex economic transactions, etc. Work to enhance
the system to collect information, and accurately prioritize issues such as response to the increasing
diversity of asset investments and fraudulent refunds for consumption tax.
For international transactions, exchange information with foreign tax authorities based on tax treaties,
and take a strict stance towards tax avoidance etc. in which taxation problems are found.

About the NTA

Corporate governance on tax matters is important for maintaining and enhancing tax compliance of
large enterprises. Therefore, advance initiatives such as exchanging opinions with executive ofcers,
etc., and describing effective examples. At the same time, prolong the intervals of examinations for those
corporations with enhanced corporate governance based on the mutual trustful relationship, and allocate
more examination work to those corporations in need of improvement.

Services for Taxpayers

Achieve proper and speedy processing of a request for review, which plays an important role in securing

Enhancement of
the execution of proper tax administration, as well as develop environment for more user-friendly request
for review system.

(3) Proper management of liquor administration

Examination and
Make efforts to assure the safety and to enhance the quality level of liquor in cooperation with the

Proper Tax
Collection
National Research Institute of Brewing (NRIB), in every step involved from its production to consumption.
To respond to social demands, such as preventing underage drinking, work to ensure proper sales
control of liquor, so there is proper compliance with the duty of assigning liquor sales managers and
signs in liquor display locations.

Implement a survey on actual trade practices based on the Guidelines on Fair Liquor Trade, to

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
encourage of liquor business operators to push forward voluntary activities to ensure a fair trade
environment for liquor. If transactions such as setting irrational prices are found, provide guidance for
improvement, and work together with the Fair Trade Commission when necessary.

(4) Promotion of administrative work efficiency and enhancement

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
of organizational foundations
To appropriately perform the NTA's duties under harsh scal conditions, work to secure the necessary
structure, staff and budgets, appropriately allocate them, and take the taxpayers viewpoint in working to
boost efciency and cut costs.
Constantly review to simplify and boost efciency, for example by computerization of clerical processes.

Revision of Operations
Especially for the income tax return ling period when lings are concentrated in a short period of time,

and Systems
focus to encourage use of e-Tax which contributes to enhanced taxpayer convenience.
Accurately assign personnel corresponding to their experience and abilities, while paying attention to
hiring and promoting female staff. To enhance needed specialized knowledge, provide excellent guided
development policies such as training.
Thoroughly control administrative documents and information.
Evaluation of
Policies

(5) Policy evaluation and improvement of tax administration

To gain the people's understanding and trust, provide easily understood information on the NTA's creation

and implementation of effective plans for issues the national tax authorities should work on, about policy
initiatives and various measures, and on evaluations and verications of results of their implementation.
Statistics

Work to improve tax administration, based on evaluation and verication of the results of implementation
of various measures.

8
 About the NTA

3Overview of the national tax organization

(1) National revenue and taxes
National revenue (initial budget for general account revenues) in scal 2014 stands at 95,882.3 billion,
of which 50,001 billion is from taxes and stamp revenues. Deducting from them customs tax revenues and
stamp revenues from Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., leaves 42,379.5 billion (about 85%)1 as national tax
revenues.
The income tax, corporation tax, and consumption tax account for about 80% of tax revenues.

National revenuegeneral account revenue budget National expenditures

FY2014 general account revenuesinitial budget 1.8%
Tobacco tax 0.9 FY2014 expendituresinitial budget
Motor vehicle Customs duty 1.02.1% 8.5%
Others 8.2 Social security-related
Others
0.8%
tonnage tax 0.4 expenditures
4.64.8% Gasoline tax Others Government 31.8%
30.5
5.1%
2.5 2.0%
1.0 bonds, etc.
Stamp 24.3%
23.3
Construction
revenue 1.1 Withholding
bonds Public
2.1% income tax
6.06.3% project-related
Total 12.324.5% Interest and Total
Total Liquor discount expenditures
Tax tax 50.0 95.9 6.2%
6.0
Government
95.9 revenues fees
2.7%
1.3 (trillion) 10.110.5% (trillion)
bonds (trillion) 50.0
41.343.0% 52.1%
Consumption Corporation Grants of Expenditures for
Inheritance
tax 15.3 tax 10.0 local education
tax
30.7% 20.0% Self-assessment allocation tax, etc.
3.1%
1.5 and science
Special income tax 16.116.8% 5.7%
5.4
deficit-financing bonds 5.1%
2.5 Economic Defense-related
35.236.8% cooperation expenses Energy counter measure expenditures
0.50.5% expenses 1.01.0% 4.95.1%

* Government bonds are revenues generated by special deficit-financing bonds issued to compensate for the revenue shortfalls and
construction bonds to nance public project-related expenditures. All are debts which are to be repaid in the future.
The total amount of each item and the amount indicated asTotaldo not exactly match, due to rounding of fractional gures.

(2) NTA budget and number of personnel

The NTA budget (initial) in scal 2014 stands at 708.6 billion, and general expenses excluding salary
cost amount to 143.3 billion. As for general expenses, priorities are placed on Kokuzei Sogo Kanri (KSK)
System (hereinafter called KSK system. See page 53 for detailed information on the KSK system.) to
improve administrative efciency and e-Tax (see page 16 for detailed information of e-Tax) to enhance
taxpayer services.
The headcount at the NTA stayed at around 52,000 from the 1970s through the rst half of the 1980s.
Thereafter the number increased, as the consumption tax was introduced in scal 1989. After hitting a
peak in scal 1997, the headcount decreased by more than 1,000 over the 9 years until scal 2006.
The headcount turned to increase during the period from scal 2007 to scal 2011. However, it turned
to a net decrease in scal 2012 and the latest number is at 55,790 in scal 2014.
In the face of the tough scal situation of today, the NTA is trying to cut administrative expenses and
streamline the headcount, while securing the budget and headcount necessary to perform the NTA's
duties.

(Reference)
FY1975 FY1997 FY2014
FY2014 / FY1975
Budget ( billion) 236.0 654.8 708.6 300.3%
Headcount (persons) 52,440 57,202 55,790 106.4%
Number of income tax returns led (1,000 persons) 7,327 20,023 21,434 292.5%
Number of corporations (1,000 cases) 1,482 2,793 2,985 201.4%
Number of establishments subject to commodity tax (1,000 cases) 117
Number of enterprises subject to consumption tax (1,000 cases) 2,521 3,247
(1,000 cases) 8,926 25,337 27,666 309.9%
Number of income tax returns led in scal 2014 shows the gure for 2013.
Number of corporations in scal 2014 shows the gure as of June-end 2013.
This shows the number of submissions of Notification of Opting to Taxable Status for Consumption Tax. The figure in fiscal 2014
shows the gure as of March-end 2014.
(Reference) indicates the percentage for scal 2014, with scal 1975 as 100.

1Tax revenue of the national tax organization is calculated based on the ratio of the NTA revenue nal account amount divided by the taxes and
stamp revenue nal account, from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.

About the NTA

(3) Organizational structure of administrative authorities for national tax
The NTA supervises 12 Regional Taxation Bureaus throughout Japan (including Okinawa Regional
Taxation Ofce) and 524 Tax Ofces throughout Japan to process tax administration.1

Ministry of Finance Tax Bureau Planning and drafting of the tax system

Services for Taxpayers

Enhancement of
(Local Branch Offices)

Regional Taxation
National Bureaus (12) Tax Offices (524)
Tax Agency
Sapporo, Sendai, Kanto-Shinetsu, Tokyo,
Kanazawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima,
Takamatsu, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Okinawa

The NTA plans and draws up Tax Offices are points of contact with
programs to implement tax The Regional Taxation Bureaus taxpayers, working as first-line bodies to
(including Okinawa Regional Taxation

Examination and
administration, standardizes the process tax administration (42,666
way to interpret tax laws, and Office) direct and supervise the Tax persons, 76.5%).

Proper Tax
Collection
directs and supervises the Regional Offices in their jurisdiction. The
Taxation Bureaus and Tax Offices Bureaus also carry out front-line
(818 persons, 1.5%). operations, including the provision of Co-ordination Division
tax consultations and other services to
taxpayers, carry out tax examination
(Internal Subdivisions) on large-scale, wide area and difficult-
to-process cases, and conduct
Special Officer
Commissioners disposition for delinquent taxes (Public Relations)
Secretariat (11,508 persons, 20.6%).

Management and Revenue Management

Co-ordination Department and Processing Group
Taxation

Taxpayer Rights
Department This Group receives tax returns,

Remedy for
issues certificates of tax payment,
Taxation Department receives cash for tax payment,
general consultation on taxation,
This Department directs and
Collection supervises divisions within the
etc. It also inputs tax returns,
manages national tax claims, and
Department Taxation Groups of Tax Offices, and
administers refund procedures,
conducts difficult tax examinations
postponements of tax payment, and
such as on large-scale and
payments in-kind.
malicious taxpayers.
Large Enterprise
Examination and Collection Group
Criminal Collection Department

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Investigation This Group provides consultation
Department This Department directs and on tax payments, and executes
supervises the Revenue procedures against tax
Management and Processing delinquencies.
Groups and the Collection Groups
(Councils, etc.) within the Tax Offices, and initiates
procedures for large-scale Individual Taxation Group
delinquent taxpayers.
National Tax Council 2 This Group carries out consultation
on income tax and sole proprietors
consumption tax, and related
Large Enterprise examinations.
(Facilities) Examination Department

Revision of Operations
Property Taxation Group
National Tax College This Department carries out

and Systems
examination of large-enterprises This Group carries out consultation
and others. on inheritance tax, gift tax, income
The National Tax College trains new tax imposed when land, buildings,
recruits and provides important job or stock were transferred, and
training to tax officials working in the related examinations. The Group
field so that they can keep pace with Criminal Investigation also determines road price ratings,
the most recent changes (326
persons, 0.6%).
Department which are used as reference in
calculating inheritance tax, etc.
This Department investigates
malicious tax evaders and pursues
criminal responsibility. Corporation Taxation Group
(Attached Institutions) This Group provides consultation on
Evaluation of

corporation tax, consumption tax on

Regional Tax Tribunals (12)
Policies

corporations, withholding income

National Tax Tribunal & Branches (7) tax, and other taxes including stamp
tax and gasoline tax, as well as
(Regional Tax Tribunals): Sapporo, related examinations.
The National Tax Tribunal makes
decisions on requests for reconsideration Sendai, Kanto-Shinetsu, Tokyo,
Kanazawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima,
from taxpayers regarding decisions made
by the Regional Commissioners or Takamatsu, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Chief Examiner
District Director of the Tax Office, Okinawa (Liquor Tax and Industry)
pursuant to the laws/regulations about (Branches of Regional Tax Tribunals):
Niigata, Nagano, Yokohama, Shizuoka, The Examiner carries out
national tax (472 persons, 0.8%). consultation on liquor tax, related
Kyoto, Kobe, Okayama
examinations, and back office work
for liquor sales licenses.
Statistics

1The headcount and percentage indicated in each department represents the prescribed number of personnel in scal 2014, and its percentage of the
overall number of personnel in the NTA (as of the end of May 2014).
2The National Tax Council addresses the following: deliberation on matters requested by the NTA Commissioner and the Director-General of the
National Tax Tribunal, where the Director-General of the National Tax Tribunal determines the case by interpreting laws differently from the notication
issued by the NTA Commissioner; implementation of CPTAs examination and decision on the disciplinary actions applied to CPTAs; and
deliberations on the establishment of labeling standards for liquor, and other matters.

10
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers
Enhanced taxpayer services achieved by public relations activities, tax education, tax
consultation, etc.
Japan adopts a self-assessment system for most of national taxes. Under this system, taxpayers themselves
determine the amount of tax and pay it. On the other hand, for local taxes, the official assessment system is
generally adopted.
For national taxes, the official assessment system was used before World War II, in which tax authorities
calculated income, and notied taxpayers of the tax amount. In 1947, in order to democratize the tax system, the
self-assessment system was adopted for three taxes (income, corporation, and inheritance), and this method has
since been adapted to many of the national taxes.
In order for the self-assessment system to function properly, it is necessary for taxpayers to have a high level
of awareness regarding tax payment, and to proactively and properly fulfill the obligation of tax responsibilities
as provided by the constitution and law. To this end, the NTA is working to enhance a variety of services for
taxpayers to help them correctly le and pay taxes by themselves. These include (1) public relations activities and
tax education relating to the signicance and function of taxes and knowledge about the tax law, (2) clarication
of legal interpretation and of practices and procedures, etc., and (3) centralization of taxpayer contact points, (4)
efforts to improve taxpayer convenience in tax consultation and ling returns.
In order to check that the tax returns led by taxpayers, and to guide them to le correctly, there is a need
to provide accurate tax examinations and guidance, and cooperation and coordination with Certied Public Tax
Accountants (CPTAs) and relevant private organizations. Furthermore, if national taxes are not paid by the due
date, the NTA encourages voluntary tax payment, and if they are still not paid, then it is necessary to work on
certain collection of national taxes, e.g. by implementing disposition for delinquent tax. To this end, the NTA works
to promote proper and fair tax administration, giving appropriate instructions and conducting examinations on
taxpayers who need to be corrected in order to have accurate lings, as well as conducting strict and appropriate
delinquent tax collection based on laws and regulations, while considering the actual situation of each delinquent
taxpayer.

1Providing information, etc.

Various public relations activities to improve taxpayer services
For taxpayers to proactively and properly le and pay taxes, they rst of all must understand their tax
payment duty.
To this end, the NTA carries out public relations activities to enhance a variety of services for taxpayers
to help them correctly le and pay taxes. These include signicance of tax payment, provision of information
regarding tax law and procedures, tax education and efforts to enhance convenience of tax consultations and
tax procedures.
As specific public relations, focused on the NTA website www.nta.go.jp (accessed 166,410,000 times
in scal 2013), the NTA provides a variety of information on the signicance and roles played by taxes, and
on the tax system. The information is provided through mass media such as TV and newspapers, public
relations media such as pamphlets made available at the Tax Ofces as well as municipal ofces, and various
explanatory meetings.
The NTA also responds to general inquiries and consultations related to taxes on the telephone, while
providing information on the interpretation and handling of general tax law through the NTA website, etc.
Furthermore, it responds to advance inquires where there are questions in tax application to transactions
taxpayers are going to make. The NTA thus works for proper self-assessment by taxpayers.

(1) Information provided on the NTA website

The NTA website is designed with a focus on taxpayer convenience
The NTA website provides information on tax ling and payment procedures, etc. To enable anyone to
easily use it, the NTA is working to enhance the website's guidance functions according to user aims, and
pays attention to convenience for the visually disabled and elderly by providing text enlargement, voice
reading functions, etc.
To give people easy access to the information they want to know, the NTA website's top page is
designed to give entry to various information as shown below.
The NTA also has a website for cellular phones, etc. (http://www.nta.go.jp/m), which you can access
through a cellular phone or smart phone.

11

About the NTA

Overview of the NTA website* The following diagram is as of April 2014.
Tax Answer System Filing assistance on the NTA website Online national tax return filing and tax
Portal to the FAQ where frequently asked In this system, if a taxpayer follows the screen payment system (e-Tax)
inquiry and general answers are posted guidance and inputs monetary amounts etc., Information to support filing tax returns and

taxes are automatically calculated, and tax payment using e-Tax for Prior preparation,
returns for income tax, consumption tax and gift Advanced registration, Flow of procedures, etc.
Search for Regional Taxation Bureaus and tax can be prepared

Services for Taxpayers

Tax Offices Prepared tax returns can be submitted by e-Tax Road price rating map

Enhancement of
Portal to the pages of each Regional Taxation Printouts can be submitted by postal mail

Road price rating information for 3 years
Bureau throughout Japan

Examination and
Proper Tax
Collection

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration

Revision of Operations

and Systems

Auction information Tax learning section Introduction
Provide information on properties for public Section to have fun learning about taxes, with The role of taxes and the work of tax offices
Evaluation of

auction (selling of seized properties by bidding, games and quizzes for both children and adults Explain the role of taxes and the work of tax
Policies

etc.) executed at Regional Taxation Bureaus and offices by using movie and illustration for easy
Tax Offices throughout Japan, information on Provides tax education learning materials for
school teachers understanding
auction procedure, etc.

See on video clip Text enlargement/voice readings Email magazine

The tax Information and the work of tax Support functions for the elderly and those Registration of Whats new? and Email

offices who have visual disorders magazine delivery service
Specific explanations of tax procedures, how
to prepare tax returns, e-Tax use, etc.
Shows the NTA activities like tax examination
and collection, in an easily understood drama
Statistics

format

*1 Newly created to provide information on the Great East Japan Earthquake.

*2 The NTA website and the free video sharing site YouTubedeliver videos with information on the NTA activities (including publicity activities of each
Regional Taxation Bureau and Tax Ofce) and support for self-assessment procedures.

12
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

(2) Tax education

Developing the environment for, and providing support for enhanced tax education
The NTA works on developing the environment
for, and providing support for enhanced tax
education, based on the thinking that tax education
needs to be provided continuously in stages in
basic school education and be worked on by the
entire society. The NTA is working to develop the
environment for, and provide support for solid tax
education, so that children and students who will
serve as the next generation correctly understand
the signicance and roles of taxation which forms
the country's basis, and to foster sound taxpayer
consciousness.
Furthermore, the Council for Promoting
Tax Education among related ministries, etc.
TaxSpace UENO
(consisting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and Communications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the NTA, etc.)
continuously meets to discuss effective support measures.
Past work includes dispatching teachers to tax education classes on the request of schools,
development and distribution of tax education supplementary materials, organizing tax essay contests,
via cooperation from the relevant private
organizations, mainly by councils for promoting
tax education established in each prefecture
(members comprised of government, local
authorities, educational leaders, etc.).
Also, a Tax learning sectionis provided on
the NTA website, http://www.nta.go.jp/shiraberu/
ippanjoho/gakushu/index.htm (in Japanese
language), to enable students and those who are
interested to study taxes on their own. Pages
that describe the purpose and role of taxes are
provided for easy understanding, as well as
tax education materialin electronic form for
educational leaders such as school teachers to
use for educational purposes.
Also, Tax Space UENO, facility for
tax education, is set up in the Tokyo-Ueno Tax
Ofce, where Tax Ofce TourandExperiential Tax learning section
Learningevents are held.
For detailed information, please see the NTA website, http://www.nta.go.jp/tokyo/shiraberu/gakushu/
taiken/01.htm (in Japanese language)
TaxSpace UENO contacts for questions or to apply to use it
Special Ofcer (Public Relations), Tokyo-Ueno Tax Ofce
Tel 03-3821-9001 (Representative) (Ext 361, 362)

Number of lecturers dispatched to Tax Education Class, etc. Number of essays entered for Tax Essay Contest

Fiscal year 2011 2012 Fiscal year 2012 2013

Ofcials 8,199 8,551 Received from
182,736 181,500
high-school students
Non-ofcials 15,031 17,542 Received from junior
584,661 583,142
Total 23,230 26,093 high-school students

* The number for 2012 includes the number of lecturers dispatched to

universities and vocational schools.

13

About the NTA

Providing tax knowledge through the Tax Museum
The Tax Museum, located on the Wako
campus of the National Tax College has
valuable collections of historical documents
and materials regarding national taxes.

Services for Taxpayers

The Museum displays the large number of

Enhancement of
collections throughout the year and is open to
a wide variety of visitors from specialists on
tax history to high school students and other
people.
Besides, specialized staffs at the Museum
engage in research of archives and past tax
system.
For further information, please visit the

Examination and
Tax Museum

Proper Tax
Collection
National Tax College section within the NTA website,www.nta.go.jp/ntc/english/

(3) Briefings for taxpayers

Organizing various educational sessions to provide information about taxes

To help taxpayers better understand the tax

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
procedures and tax system revisions, the NTA holds Frequency of briengs and number of
briengs at Tax Ofces throughout Japan. participants
Specically, a variety of briengs are held to provide
information on taxes, including: 1) briefings on the Operation year 2011 2012

necessity of bookkeeping and maintaining accounting Frequency 23,443 23,918

held times times
books, with guidance on how to prepare tax returns and

Proper Management of
1,087 1,155

Liquor Administration
Number of
nancial statements, 2) year-end adjustment briengs for participants
thousand thousand
people people
withholding agents, 3) briefings on revisions to the tax
laws, and 4) briengs for newly established corporations.

(4) Advance inquiries

Enhanced predictability for taxpayers

Revision of Operations
In case taxpayers have some doubts regarding

and Systems
tax treatment of any transaction conducted or to be Number of Advance Inquiries received
by written reply procedure
conducted, Tax Offices receive advance inquiries as a
part of taxpayer services, and the inquiries and answers Fiscal year 2012 2013
that can serve as reference for other taxpayers are Number of Advance
147 160
disclosed as Q&As on the NTA website in order to help Inquiries Received

other taxpayers to make ling.
In advance inquiries, a written answer may be
Evaluation of

Number of Q&A examples posted on website

Policies

provided under certain conditions, if so requested, and

the NTA also discloses such inquiries and answers on the Fiscal year 2012 2013
NTA website in order to help other taxpayers to improve Number of Q&A posted 1,756 1,784
predictability.

Examples of answers provided in writing
Statistics

Handling of income tax on daily allowance paid to sailors on board

Handling of expenses incurred for the installation of ballast water treatment apparatus

14
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

(5) Tax consultation

General tax consultations are handled at centralized telephone consultation centers
Tax consultations are provided as part of taxpayer services, so that taxpayers can do proper self-
assessment and tax payment themselves. These provide information on taxation, and answer general
questions on taxation. The NTA established Phone Consultation Centers in Regional Taxation Bureaus to
answer taxpayer questions and provide consultation on taxes. These provide centralized handling of general
tax consultations.
For foreigners, there are also Tax Counselors who can handle tax consultation in English, who are
assigned to Phone Consultation Centers at Regional Taxation Bureaus in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.
Also, the NTA website provides information in its Tax Answer,which posts general answers to
frequently asked questions (it also provides a mobile phone site.).
For further details, please refer to the NTA website, http://www.nta.go.jp/taxanswer

Phone Consultation Center: Number of consultations

and number of timesTax Answerwas accessed
Number of times Tax Answer accessed

Number of Phone Consultation Center consultations

thousands
70,000

60,000
65,275
48,035
50,000 53,338
40,760
35,969
40,000 33,372
31,993

30,000

20,000
3,647 4,877 5,136 5,039 5,302 5,006 5,190
10,000

0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
fiscal year
The number of access to the Tax Answer
system has increased since FY2008.

Phone Consultation Center

Frequently asked questions toTax Answersystem

(scal 2013)
Mobile site of Tax 1. When taxpayer has paid medical-care expenses
Answer can be
accessed from the (medical expenses deduction)
code on the right. 2. Income tax rate
3. Medical expenses covered by tax deduction

Tax Ofces will provide individual and specic tax consultation services on a prior
appointment basis
When consultation by interview is required, for example if it is necessary to check specic documents
or facts, there is an appointment system at the Tax Ofce with jurisdiction. This serves to eliminate wait time
at the Tax Ofce, as part of our efforts for effective and efcient operation which matches the content of
consultations.

15

2e-Tax (online national tax return ling and tax payment system)

About the NTA

Strongly promote various measures in order to encourage and stabilize the use of e-Tax
e-Tax enables users to file income tax and special income tax for reconstruction, corporation tax,
consumption tax, gift tax, stamp tax and liquor tax returns, as well as submit statutory records, apply for blue

Services for Taxpayers

return ling, etc. via internet instead of submitting paper-based documents. All tax items can be paid via direct

Enhancement of
payment, the Internet, Pay-easy1 compatible ATMs, etc.
e-Tax enables taxpayers and CPTAs to file and pay
from homes and ofces without actually visiting tax ofces
or banks. Also, when taxpayers use tax and accounting
software compatible with e-Tax, they will reduce paperwork

Examination and
as the set of work from data preparation to filing can be

Proper Tax
Collection
done digitally.
e-Tax also directly reduces administration work such
as receiving tax returns at the counter or by postal mail,
and inputting data. It also indirectly reduces document
management costs for tax authorities, thereby promotes the

Taxpayer Rights
efciency of tax administration.

Remedy for
In order to encourage and stabilize the use of e-Tax,
the NTA has shortened tax refund period for filings made
via e-Tax, enabled the submission of a certain attachment
documents such as medical receipts by individuals to claim medical deduction to be omitted2 and enabled
digital signature by the taxpayers to be omitted in cases where CPTAs file returns online on behalf of the

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
taxpayers.

e-Tax Sending data

(tax returns,
etc.)
Obtain digital certificates Internet Receiving
ceiving
Obtain IC card stem
system
readers/writers Direct

Revision of Operations
payment
Taxpayers CPTAs instruction

and Systems
Direct
payment
information T a x Offic e

Sending data
(payments etc )
(payments, etc.)

Evaluation of
Policies

Internet Mullti--pa
Multi-payment
network
ne
n etw w
Online tax payment using Remit to
Internet banking or ATM government
ATM Financial
F
Fin
nancial institutions deposit
BOJ
BO
OJ revenue agencies
OJ Bank of Japan
Statistics

Pay-easyis a service where taxpayers can pay taxes, public utility charges and other charges through PCs, cellular phones or ATMs without queuing
1
at the counters of nancial institutions or convenience stores.
2In case submission of attachment documents are omitted, the entries of descriptions of the attachment documents are required to be inputted and
transmitted together with tax returns.
In order to check on the entries of descriptions, if it is necessary, the Tax Ofces may ask taxpayers to submit or present original copies during a ve-
year period from the legally required due date for ling.

16
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

The NTA has also promoted various measures which have been incorporated in theBusiness Process
Reengineering Plan(revised in March and September 2013) of NTA which was established in May 2012
based on theNew Plan for the Utilization of Onlinewhich was decided in August 2011.
In fiscal 2013, we continued to work in
the same areas as in fiscal 2012, such as the Number of applications, etc. which used e-Tax
provision of 24-hour service to receive final
3 procedures which depend on prevalence rate, etc.
income tax returns, extension of business hours of the Public Certification Service for Individuals
thousands
on weekdays, and omission of digital signature 12 procedures other than above
20,000
when requesting a tax payment certificate online
17,710
17,300
and receiving it at the counters of Tax Ofces, as 16,630 17,020

well as reviewed the tax refund period of filings

15,000
made via e-Tax.
10,010
Based on the Declaration to be the World's 9,220 9,510 9,720

Most Advanced IT Nationwhich was decided on

10,000
June 2013, the Policy for the Improvement of
Convenience of Online Procedures(hereinafter
the Improvement Policy) was decided in April
5,000
2014 to promote measures for the improvement of 7,410 7,510 7,580 7,690

online procedures in consideration of user needs.

The NTA will make an Improvement Action
Planbased on the Improvement Policy and 0
FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013
implement various measures for wider use and * The figures are the number of utilization of focused
procedures in Business Process Reengineering Plan.
establishment of e-Tax as well as work for the
The number of utilization of e-Tax increases steadily.
improvement of taxpayer convenience and more
efcient administration in a planned manner.

Actual values, etc. of performance criteria ofBusiness Process Reengineering Plan

Baseline
Results Results Target
Criteria of Performance (Actual result of
(FY2011) (FY2012) (FY2013)
FY2010)

Criteria relating to improved user convenience

e-Tax user satisfaction 66.4 68.0 70.6 70

User satisfaction of theling assistance on the NTA

80.1 80.1 81.3 85
website.

Criteria relating to efciency of administrative management

Decrease from the

Cost per application received online 581 508 473
previous year
99,729 hours Increase from the
Paperwork processing time (Actual result of 99,729 hours 102,860 hours
FY2011) previous year

Percentage of online use, etc.

Percentage of online use

3 procedures which depend on prevalence

rate, etc. of the Public Certification Service for 41.1 44.2 46.9 50
Individuals

12 procedures other than above 70.1 73.1 75.7 76

Utilization rate of ICT 57.3 61.9 65.5 65

17

About the NTA

3Filing for tax return
The number of taxpayers who led tax returns totaled 21.43 million. More than half
led for tax refunds
Tax ling is a procedure under the self-assessment tax system, in which the taxpayer calculates income

Services for Taxpayers

and tax amount for a one year period, and files and pays taxes. In addition to persons obligated to file,

Enhancement of
there are people who file taxes to obtain an income tax and special income tax for reconstruction refund,
for example because they paid large medical bills. 21.43 million people led their income taxes and special
income taxes for reconstruction for 2013, thus one out of five residents filed taxes. Of these, over 12.40
million people led for refunds, comprising over half of people ling income tax and special income tax for
reconstruction returns.

In response to diverse needs of taxpayers who file tax returns, the NTA is working to provide diverse

Examination and
Proper Tax
services, to reduce the burden of ling.

Collection
Trend of individual tax return lers
millions
25

20
21.43

Taxpayer Rights
15

Remedy for
Since 1999, the number of taxpayers who filed tax returns
10 totaled to over 20 million (one fifth of Japans population).
5

0
67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
calendar year
Various services are provided to meet with various needs of taxpayers
Implemented systems to enable easy and convenient filing process

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
(1) Promotion of filing using ICT

e-Tax and ling assistance on the NTA website Filers who used ICT to le an income tax return
Number of filers using ICT
The NTA is actively using the advances in

Revision of Operations
thousand people Number of filers not using ICT

and Systems
ICT in recent years to provide taxpayer services, 25,000
23,674
23,150
using ICT to enable filing from home, etc. By
21,853 21,525 21,434
using ICT such as filing assistance on the
NTA website and e-Tax, taxpayers can file tax 20,000 The users of ICT increased 1.2 times in 4 years.
returns conveniently without visiting Tax Ofces,

anytime and without calculation errors. 14,070 12,754
11,163 9,796
Evaluation of

10,453
To this end, the NTA carries out various
Policies

15,000

activities such as publicity and briefings etc.,

so more taxpayers file using ICT. Also, at
consultation sites of Tax Offices, there are
10,000
PCs where people can use filing assistance

on the NTA website, and taxpayers who came
11,638
to consult about filing use the PCs to prepare
Statistics

10,396 10,690 11,071

9,604
5,000
tax returns and transmit them using e-Tax,
experiencing the convenience of ling using ICT.

0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
calendar year

18
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

Income tax and special income tax for reconstruction returns prepared at the ling
assistance on the NTA websitetotaled 8.52 million cases
With the ling assistance on the NTA website, if a taxpayer enters the amounts and other necessary

information according to guidance on the PC screen, income amounts and tax amounts are automatically
calculated, and it allows taxpayers to complete their tax returns for income tax and special income tax for
reconstruction, consumption tax and local consumption tax for private business operators, and gift tax as
well as nancial statements for blue returns.
e-Tax can be used to le the prepared data directly from this website area, or it can be printed and
submitted to the Tax Ofce by post, etc.
The number of users has increased each year since the ling period for 2002. In the ling period for
2013, the number of people who submitted income tax and special income tax for reconstruction returns
prepared with ling assistance on the NTA website reached 8.52 million cases including those prepared via
PCs set up at consultation sites. This comprised over 40% of all people who submitted returns. About 61%
of these submitted their returns via e-Tax.
We will continue our efforts to improve the system to make it easier to use based on feedback from
users, so that it can be used by as many taxpayers as possible.

Trend in income tax return submissions prepared in ling assistance on the NTA website
thousand people Persons filing tax returns (website) Persons filing tax returns (Tax Office)
10,000
8,518
7,794 7,902 8,127
8,000 7,297

6,144
6,000
4,842 4,878 4,994
4,957
4,692 4,660
3,808
4,000 3,370
2,765
1,924 1,664
2,000 602 3,060 3,249 3,524
2,336 2,637 2,837
1,705 1,927
1,323
695
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
calendar year
The use of filing assistance on the NTA website increased
by approximately 12 times in 9 years.
* Figures represent those submitted by the end of March of the following year.
The use of ling assistance on the NTA website at PCs installed in the Tax Ofce started from tax returns for 2004. However,
the number of taxpayers who submitted returns using this method remains unaccounted for.
The number of taxpayers who submitted tax returns for years before 2003 remains unaccounted for.
The number of taxpayers who submitted tax returns for years since 2007 includes cases using e-Tax.

(2) Response to diverse taxpayer needs

Opening tax ofce on Sunday during ling period
Taxpayers said that It's a problem that ling consultations can only be handled on weekdays; I would
like it if they were also provided on days when government offices are closed.In response, the NTA
receives tax returns and provides ling consultations on two Sundays during the tax return ling period at
some Tax Ofces, inside the Tax Ofces and at joint meeting sites outside the Tax Ofces.
For the 2013 tax return ling period, the ofces were open on February 23 and March 2, 2014, during
which 283,000 income tax and special income tax for reconstruction returns were led.
Also, to enable taxpayers and their agents to obtain necessary information and forms without visiting
Tax Ofces, the NTA provides various ling information via the NTA website, as well as arranging various
information sessions relating to ling and free consultation sessions by CPTAs for small business owners.
The NTA plans to implement filing administration smoothly and efficiently by the limited number of staff,
while meeting the various needs of taxpayers.

19

About the NTA

Cooperation with the local tax authorities
Among local taxes, tax mechanisms and taxpayers subject to local taxes are often the same as
for national taxation. Therefore, in an effort to simplify taxpayer filing procedures, the NTA is working on
close cooperation between national taxation (the NTA) and local tax (authorities) in system aspects and
implementation aspects. For example, in the case of income tax lings, the NTA provides such information to

Services for Taxpayers

local tax authorities, so there is no need to le for individual enterprise tax and individual inhabitant tax, which

Enhancement of
are local taxes.
Also as an initiative for much more efficient national and local tax operations, income tax filing data
and other data are mutually provided between national government and local public bodies. Such increased
use of ICT is an effort to boost efficiency and reduce the costs of administrative operations of national
government and local public bodies.

Examination and
4Proper withholding tax system operation

Proper Tax
Collection
Providing more through information and publicity to withholding agents
In the withholding tax system, withholding agents finalize the taxation process by doing year-end

adjustments, which eliminate the procedures for tax returns for a large portion of the over 50 million wage and

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
salary earners. The withholding tax system is as important in tax administration as smooth operation of the
self-assessment system.
To have withholding agents properly process withholding tax procedures and pay taxes, the NTA provides
information and publicity about the withholding tax system by holding briengs about year-end adjustment,
distributing guidebooks and pamphlets, etc.

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
5Certied Public Tax Accountants (CPTAs) system

Missions of Certied Public Tax Accountants (CPTAs)

Certied Public Tax Accountants (CPTAs) and CPTAs Corporations (hereinafter referred to as CPTAs

Revision of Operations
etc.) are professional specialists on taxes. Their public mission is to respond to the trust of a person with a

and Systems
tax obligation in line with the principles of the self-assessment system, and achieve proper tax compliance as
provided for in the tax laws and regulations, based on their independent and fair standpoint.
As of March-end 2014, 74,501 persons are registered as CPTAs, and 2,748 CPTAs corporations are
established.

Services provided by CPTAs

Evaluation of
Policies

CPTA services are tax proxy, preparation of tax documents, tax consultation service. These
operations must not be performed by persons other than CPTAs etc., even at no charge. At the same time,
CPTAs etc. are required to fulll various obligations and responsibilities. For example, they are prohibited from
providing tax evasion consultation and engaging in conduct which harms the credibility or dignity of CPTAs etc.

Taxpayers are able to use CPTAs etc. services (tax return preparation or professional advice) to properly
Statistics

le returns and pay taxes. In addition, because corporations and sole business proprietors often ask CPTAs
etc. to process accounting books or seek advice on accounting, they also play important roles in promoting
correct bookkeeping that constitutes the basis for ling tax returns.

20
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

Ensuring proper services are provided by CPTAs

In order to ensure public trust in the CPTA system, the NTA utilizes every opportunity to alert people and
prevent violation of the Certied Public Tax Accountant Act by CPTAs etc. Also, the NTA conducts appropriate
examinations of CPTAs etc., and take strict
action against CPTAs etc. who violate the Number of disciplinary actions against CPTAs etc.
Certied Public Tax Accountant Act and so called
fake CPTAswho conducts CPTA services (cases)

without licenses, by applying disciplinary actions Fiscal year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
and ling accusations seeking prosecution. Number of
The NTA discloses the names of disciplined disciplinary 29 37 34 41 50
actions
CPTAs etc. in the official gazette and via the
NTA website.
Coordination and cooperation with Certied Public Tax Accountants' Associations, etc.
(1) Promotion of document attached by CPTAs to tax returns
The documents attached by CPTAs etc. to tax returns as provided for in the Certified Public Tax
Accountant Act clarify the roles played by them in ling tax returns. The NTA is respecting such roles played
by them. Specifically, this system allows CPTAs etc. to attach to tax returns the documents regarding
the calculation, information arrangement, or consultation service that they provided for the preparation
of tax returns. If the Tax Office intends to provide notification of the date, time and place it will conduct
a tax examination to a taxpayer who led a tax return along with such documents, then the CPTAs etc.
possessing the certicate evidencing the authority of tax proxy must be given the opportunity to state an
opinion on the items written in the attached documents, before the taxpayer is notied.
Because this system contributes to the correct preparation and filing of tax returns, facilitation and
simplification of tax administration, and eventually establishment of a trusted CPTA system, the NTA is
actively consulting with Certied Public Tax Accountants' Associations and Japan Federation of Certied
Public Tax Accountants' Associations (hereinafter referred to as CPTAs' Associations etc.) with an aim to
enhance the content of attachments and raise the percentage of returns with attachments. The NTA is also
respecting this system. It is thereby further promoting and establishing this system.

(2) Promotion of e-Tax usage

CPTAs etc. play important roles in promoting use of e-Tax. The NTA requests CPTAs' Associations etc.
for cooperation to promote the use of e-Tax, as well as dispatching lecturers to training sessions arranged
by CPTAs' Associations etc. (see page 16 for detailed information of e-Tax).

Revision of the Certied Public Tax Accountant Act

For the amendment of tax system in scal 2014, the Certied Public Tax Accountant Act has been revised
to develop tax payment environment. To contribute to the smooth and proper management of tax ling and
payment system, this revision amends the services and qualication of CPTAs etc. for the improvement of
trust in CPTAs etc. and taxpayer convenience. The amended items are being implemented sequentially from
April 2014.

CPTAs' Associations and Japan Federation of CPTAs' Associations

In order to improve the work of CPTAs, CPTAs' Associations are designated in the Certied Public Tax
Accountant Act as organizations which provide guidance, liaison and supervision to CPTAs and CPTAs
corporations. There are now 15 CPTAs' Associations throughout Japan. CPTAs' Associations engage in a
wide range of activities, including Training to enhance the qualities of CPTAs, Dispatch of lecturers for
tax workshops in elementary, junior and senior high schools, universities, etc. to fulll the tax education
Free tax consultation for small taxpayers.
The Japan Federation of Certied Public Tax Accountants' Associations is the only organization in Japan
specied in the CPTA Act, consisting of member CPTAs' Associations. The Federation provides guidelines,
liaison, and supervision for CPTAs' Associations and their members. It also handles the administration to
register members, and conducts research on the CPTAs etc. system. For further details, please visit the
website of the Federation at www.nichizeiren.or.jp

21

About the NTA

6Cooperation with private organizations
Provide necessary tax information to taxpayers in cooperation with relevant private
organizations
The NTA is implementing measures not only to provide information on taxes directly to taxpayers
but also to convey information on taxes via cooperation from the relevant private organizations, such as

Services for Taxpayers

Enhancement of
blue return taxpayers' associations and corporations associations. These relevant private organizations are
playing a large role through various explanatory meetings held by each organization in achieving a proper self-
assessment system and in spreading knowledge about taxes.
The NTA is working to strengthen coordination and cooperation between these relevant private
organizations, for example by promoting measures for wider use and establishment of e-Tax and by holding
various joint events inThink About Tax Week.

Blue return taxpayers' associations

Examination and
Proper Tax
Collection
Blue return taxpayers' associations are organized to widen participation in the blue return system and promote
the submission of proper tax returns through honest bookkeeping. They are formed mainly by sole business
proprietors who use the system. There are about 3,100 associations nationwide, and the total number of members
is about 850,000 (as of April 2014). Each blue return taxpayers' association performs a wide range of activities
including the guidance on bookkeeping, holding seminars, and encouraging ling of blue returns. For further details,
please contact the nearest blue return taxpayers' association.

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
Corporations associations
Corporations associations are organized for the purpose of spreading knowledge of tax and establishing
a proper self-assessment system. There are 483 corporations associations as incorporated associations, and
membership stands at about 840,000 corporations (as of December 2013). Corporations associations organize tax

education, tax awareness campaign, seminars on tax and management, etc. For further details, please visit the

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
website of the National General Federation of Corporations Associations at www.zenkokuhojinkai.or.jp

Indirect tax associations

Indirect tax associations are organized for the purpose of contributing to the spreading of knowledge about
indirect taxes, and achieving fair taxation and proper administration in the self-assessment system. There are

564 associations nationwide with about 90,000 members (as of March 2013). Indirect tax associations make

Revision of Operations
suggestions to the government on ways to enhance the tax system and to improve tax implementation. They also

and Systems
perform activities to spread knowledge about the consumption tax and to prevent tax delinquency. For further
details, please visit the website of the National Federation of Indirect Tax Associations at www.kanzeikai.jp

Savings-for-tax associations
Savings-for-tax associations are organized by taxpayers aiming at continually completing payment of tax within

the due date by means of savings. The associations are established pursuant to the Tax Fund Saving Partnership
Evaluation of

Act, and there are now about 34,500 associations (as of March 2013). Savings-for-tax associations conduct
Policies

activities to promote payment of tax by the due date and coordinating tax essay contests for junior high school
students. For further details, please visit the website of the National Federation of Savings-for-Tax Associations at
www.zennoren.jp

Tax payment associations

Statistics

Tax payment associations are organized under the jurisdiction of the Tax Offices of the Osaka Regional
Taxation Bureau, for the purpose of aiming to spread knowledge about taxes, promote proper ling of returns and
uplift tax payment morality. There are 83 tax payment associations, and about 170,000 members belong to these
associations (as of March 2014). The associations carry out activities which have large public benets, such as
holding various briengs, conducting publicity activities, working on tax education, etc. For further details, please
visit the website of the Federation of Tax Payment Associations at www.nouzeikyokai.or.jp

22
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

ColumnResponse to the Great East Japan Earthquake (As of end of March, 2014)
1Measures taken for the termination of extension of ling and payment deadlines
for national taxes
After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the NTA notication dated March 15, 2011 announced
the extension of ling and payment deadlines for national taxes that would arrive on or after 11th day
of the same month in ve prefectures, which are Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki.
Later this measure to extend the deadlines has been terminated gradually based on the
conditions of each area. Regarding the last remaining 12 municipalities of Fukushima Prefecture,
namely Tamura City, Minamisoma City, Kawamata Town, Hirono Town, Naraha Town, Tomioka Town,
Kawauchi Village, Okuma Town, Futaba Town, Namie Town, Katsurao Village and Iitate Village, the
NTA notication dated January 31, 2014 announced the termination of extension of the deadlines on
March 31, 2014 in consideration of the situation of voluntary lings and payments.
However, considering the fact that the termination of extension of the deadlines requires
taxpayers of these 12 municipalities to make filings and payments for a period of multiple years,
the one-year procedure period is established and the taxpayers are required to make filings and
payments by March 31, 2015. For any taxpayer who continues having difficulty in filing or paying
taxes by this date, further extension of deadline can be permitted on application. The NTA will ask the
taxpayers to take necessary procedures in consideration of their individual circumstances.
The NTA has developed a system to provide appropriate consultations to the taxpayers taking
refuge in all over Japan at their nearest Tax Ofce.

2Consultation in ling period for nal tax return

With the termination of extension of the deadlines, Tax Ofces anticipated to receive consultations
on ling by the taxpayers who would need time to prepare tax return forms for a period of multiple
years. In order to ensure taxpayer services during the filing period, backup staff from the Sendai
Regional Taxation Bureau and Tax Ofces in the jurisdiction of Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau (about
2,200 staff in total) were dispatched to the Tax Ofces in charge of 12 municipalities of Fukushima
Prefecture. In addition, each Taxation Bureau dispatched their staff (about 1,300 staff in total) to the
Fukushima Tax Office, Koriyama Tax Office, Iwaki Tax Office and Tax Offices in Sendai City for a
period from Thursday, February 13, 2014 to Tuesday, March 18, 2014 as a support given by the entire
NTA to the Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau.
The Soma Tax Office and Koriyama Tax Office which are in charge of 12 municipalities of
Fukushima Prefecture and the Iwaki Tax Ofce in charge of areas having many refugees worked on
ofce holidays in order to develop the environment which would facilitate lings by the disaster-affected
taxpayers.

3Recovery support for liquor industry

In order to ensure safety of liquors against radiation and maintain the environment for export
etc., the NTA continued conducting radioactive examinations in scal 2013 on liquors and brewing
water (2,435 cases) in cooperation with National Research Institute of Brewing. Regarding the import
restrictions introduced after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the NTA issued necessary certicates
on liquors in accordance with the requirement by the countries of export destination. (The NTA issued
1 certicate of date of manufacturing, 5,329 certicates of place of manufacturing, and 865 certicates
on radioactivity examinations.)
The NTA will actively support the recovery of liquor industry through the measures mentioned
above.

23

About the NTA

Special tax measures if damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake
In order to reduce the burdens of victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Earthquake Special
Measures Act entered into force on April 27, 2011.
Besides, in order to reduce the burdens of victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and to promote
policy measures to reconstruct from the Great East Japan Earthquake, necessary revisions were made

Services for Taxpayers

to laws, including the revision of a part of Earthquake Special Measures Act which entered into force on

Enhancement of
December 14, 2011.
Under this Earthquake Special Measures Act, principal tax treatments applicable to those who suffered
damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake are as follows (As of April 1, 2014):

For casualty loss deduction methods determined in the Income Tax Act, and methods of tax reduction or
release determined in the Act on Reduction or Release, Deferment of Collection and Other Measures Related to
Tax Imposed on Disaster Victims, people with housing and household assets damaged by the Great East Japan
Earthquake can choose to receive these reduction measures etc. for either 2010 or 2011.
Besides, in case of Method , for the casualty loss caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the period of

Examination and
Proper Tax
carry-forward deduction concerning the casualty loss amount was changed to 5 years (the Income Tax Act: 3 years).

Collection
For losses of inventory assets and business use assets etc. due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, such loss
amounts can be included in necessary expenses when calculating amounts of business income for 2010.
Besides, for a certain amount of net loss that was caused for inventory assets and business use assets etc., the
Income tax

period of carry-forward deduction concerning the net loss amount was changed to 5 years (the Income Tax Act: 3
years).

If a dwelling was receiving application of special credit for loans relating to a dwelling, but can no longer be lived

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
in due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, application of the special credit for loans relating to a dwelling can
continue to be received, during the remaining application period of special credit for loans relating to a dwelling, for
that dwelling.
In the case of a taxpayer who lost a dwelling as it was destroyed by the Great East Japan Earthquake
subsequently reacquired an alternative dwelling, such a taxpayer may electspecial measures for credit relating to
reacquisition of a dwelling,instead of normal special credits for loans relating to a dwelling.
The above and can be applied simultaneously.

Proper Management of
For corporations designated by an approved local government during the period December 26, 2011 through

Liquor Administration
Corporation tax

March 31, 2016, which were newly established in the industrial park zone for reconstruction, the following special
measures defer the taxation of corporation tax in each business year from the designated date to the date 5 years
after from the designated date:
Tax deduction of reserves for re-investment allowed with the upper limit of income amount.
Special depreciation is allowed with upper limit of reserve balance in the scal year when the corporation invests
in equipment or buildings in the industrial park zone for reconstruction again.

If a vehicle or a motorcycle was damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and scrapped within the valid

Revision of Operations
period of its motor vehicle inspection certificate, then the owner can do the procedure for Permanent Deletion
Registration or for notice of demolishing or dismantling at a Transport Branch Ofce or Light Motor Vehicle Inspection

and Systems
Motor vehicle
tonnage tax

Organization, and submit a request for refund of motor vehicle tonnage tax, and thereby obtain refund of motor
vehicle tonnage tax.

If a person who was a user of a motor vehicle or a motorcycle damaged by the disaster acquires a replacement
vehicle and obtains a motor vehicle inspection certicate, etc. during the period until April 30, 2016, then by submitting
a notification of tax exemption for motor vehicle tonnage tax to a Transport Branch Office or Light Motor Vehicle
Inspection Organization, the motor vehicle tonnage tax which pertains to the initially obtained motor vehicle inspection

certicate, etc. is exempted.
Evaluation of

Stamp tax on acontract on consumer loanis exempted for a money loan to a person victimized by the
Policies

Great East Japan Earthquake, at conditions which compared to conditions of other money loans are specially
Stamp tax, etc.

advantageous, by a local government or government related nancial institution, etc.

For cases such as a building acquired to replace a building demolished and removed because it was destroyed
or damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and a building located in the area subject to the designation of
evacuation zone, etc. as of the date when such designation of evacuation zone, etc. was made, the stamp tax is
exempted forcontracts on transfer of real estateandcontracts on contracting of construction workmade by
that victimized person. Also, registration and license tax in relation to the registration of transfer of ownership will be
Statistics

exempt.

In cases where a liquor manufacturer whose manufacturing factory was seriously damaged by the Great East
Liquor tax

Japan Earthquake ships some specic type of liquors during a period from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2016, if the
taxable volume of the previous year was 1,300 kl or lower, the liquor tax on up to 200 kl of the taxable volume of the
year is reduced.

*For other measures and details, see the NTA website www.nta.go.jp or visit a nearby Tax Ofce.
24
 Enhancement of Services for Taxpayers

ColumnActions taken for the amended Consumption Tax Act
1Background
I n o r d e r t o s e c u r e s t a b l e Rise of consumption tax rate
financial resources for social security
and achieve fiscal consolidation at April 1, April 1, October 1,
the same time, the Act on Partial Date of application
1997 2014 2015
Revision of Consumption Tax Act for
Comprehensive Reform of Tax System Consumption tax rate 5.0 8.0 10.0
to Secure Stable Financial Resources (Breakdown: National + Local)4.0 +1.06.3 +1.77.8 +2.2
for Social Security (Comprehensive
* Although the Comprehensive Tax Reform Act provides that consumption tax rate
Tax Reform Act) was enacted in August
will be raised to 10% from October 2015, it will be discussed again under Paragraph
2012 and relevant amendments were 2 of Article 18 of the supplementary provisions of the same Act by comprehensively
made to the Consumption Tax Act, taking into account the economic situation, etc.
including a rise of consumption tax rate
in two phases.
With this rise of consumption tax, the Act on Special Measures for Correction, etc. of Actions that
Interfere with Shifting Consumption Taxes to Ensure the Smooth and Appropriate Price Pass-Through
(Act on Special Measures for Shifting Consumption Taxes) came into force on October 1, 2013 in order to
ensure the smooth and appropriate shifting of consumption taxes.
This Act on Special Measures for Shifting Consumption Taxes prohibits any act that refuses the
shifting of consumption taxes and any labeling that interferes with the shifting of consumption taxes and
sets forth exceptions from the obligation to indicate the total price with tax as a special measure for price
indication.
Exceptions from the obligation to indicate the total price with tax
From October 1, 2013 to March 31, 2017, prices excluding tax can be indicated without indicating
prices with tax, if a measure to prevent the misrecognition that the indicated price includes tax is taken
(misrecognition prevention measure), for example, by indicating yen (excluding tax)or yen
(item price only).

2Measures taken for the revised Consumption Tax Act

(1)Provision of information and consultation on the revised Consumption Tax Act
The revision of the Consumption Tax Act affects many business operators, and therefore the NTA
is taking measures for providing information and consultation on the content of revision in close contact
and cooperation with relevant ministries and private organizations so that business operators can make
their lings and payments with full understanding of the amended consumption tax system.

Major public relations and consultation activities

Post a leaet about the revision to the NTA website and also keep it at Tax Ofces.
Post Q&A about transitional measures, etc. to the NTA website.
Explain the content of revision through various explanatory meetings, etc.
Establish the revised consumption tax system consultation deskat each Tax Office to provide
consultations on the revised Consumption Tax Act, etc.

(2)Measures for smooth and appropriate shifting of consumption taxes

The entire government works for the smooth and appropriate shifting of consumption taxes with
this rise of consumption tax rate.
The NTA has created the detailed examples of misrecognition prevention measures, which are
required for the application of exceptions for the obligation to indicate the total price with tax, and
posted them to the NTA website and has also provided information on the exceptions at explanatory
meetings, etc. for business operators on the Act on Special Measures for Shifting Consumption Taxes.
The revised consumption tax system consultation deskat Tax Ofces appropriately provides
consultation on the revised Consumption Tax Act and price indication (exceptions from the obligation to
indicate the total price with tax) as well as carefully provides consultation on the shifting of consumption
taxes.
In addition, the NTA, as the government agency with jurisdiction over the liquor industry, provides
liquor business operators with necessary guidance and advices to prevent and correct any acts that
violates provisions of the Act on Special Measures for Shifting Consumption Taxes, and if any liquor
business operator performs an act that refuses the shifting of consumption taxes or makes an indication
that consumption taxes are not shifted, the NTA will collect a report or conduct on-site inspection to
secure smooth and appropriate shifting of consumption taxes.
The NTA will continue taking appropriate actions for these measures in cooperation with relevant
ministries, etc.

25

 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

About the NTA

1Promotion of proper and fair tax administration
Balanced allocation of tax ofcials and conduct strict examination to fraudulent tax
avoidance cases
In order to achieve proper and fair taxation, the NTA takes care of its administration processes in an

Services for Taxpayers

effective and efficient manner by balancing its allocation of limited human and material resources. For

Enhancement of
example, it makes full use of its organizational strengths to conduct accurate examinations of large-scale and
malicious taxpayers, while making only brief contacts for correcting simple mistakes.
Especially for taxpayers who try to illicitly evade tax burdens, the NTA analyzes information from various
angles, chooses subjects to examine, and conducts strict examinations.

Number of cases related to tax examinations, etc.

Examination and
(thousands)

Proper Tax
Collection
Operation year 2010 2011 2012
Number of examinations 283 289 199
Number of cases by brief contact 710 724 670

* Brief contactmeans correction etc. of tax returns through written documents, telephone call or
request for coming to tax ofce.

Taxpayer Rights
Approximately 870,000 tax examination cases were conducted annually.

Remedy for
Selection of tax examination through the ICT system, development of the
administrative system for efcient data collection
Specifically, the subjects of tax examinations are selected through the KSK system, which contains
data related to income tax returns, corporation tax returns, and a variety of other data and information, from

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
the viewpoints of business type, business form, and business size. Data and information are recognized as
essential to achieve proper and fair taxation, so we have in place a structure to efciently collect data and
information which will be very effective to use.
Additional income identied per tax examination amounting to 8.39 million for self-
assessed income tax and 10.71 million for corporation tax
Tax examinations aim to check
Undeclared income amount of self-assessed income tax

Revision of Operations
the content of tax returns based on and corporation tax found in eld examinations, per case

and Systems
taxpayers' records, and if mistakes million
are discovered, to ask taxpayers 12
Corporation tax
to correct them. We place great
10
importance on the examination Self-assessed income tax
of malicious taxpayers using a
8

sufficient number of days for the
Evaluation of

procedures. 6
Policies

10.71
The field examinations in 8.87 9.11
8.39
operation year 2012 found 8.39 4

million1 of undeclared income per

2
case for self-assessed income tax,
and 10.71 million for corporation
0
tax. 2008 2012 2008 2012
operation year
Statistics

Active promotion of initiatives for

effective examination

1Amount related to special and general eld examinations.

26
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

(1) Priority matters addressed in the tax examinations

Examination keeping in mind of increasingly diverse and international asset management

For taxpayers who expect a high income but who led a low income or did not le, we are addressing
tax examinations keeping in mind diversication and globalization of asset management.

Cases in which the NTA identied overseas assets not reported for Japanese tax purposes
Based on materials provided by foreign tax authorities through information exchange under the tax
treaty (see page 39 for information exchange), the NTA discovered a failure to declare prots that
were acquired from nancial instruments held with overseas nancial institutions.
Based on records of remittance and receipt related to foreign countries (see page 38 for a record
of remittance and receipt related to foreign countries), the NTA discovered the transfer of overseas
assets and the exclusion of the amount of transfer price from inheritance tax declaration.

Prevent fraudulent consumption tax refunds by means of sufcient examination, etc.

Consumption tax is one of the main
taxes, and is similar to a deposit, which Examinations of consumption tax (individual and corporation)
is why it attracts the strong attention Number of examination cases Number of undeclared cases
thousands
of the public. Therefore, proper tax 250
Failure to report income is found in
administration is especially necessary. approximately 60% of taxpayers who
200
In particular, as there are cases where received an examination.
fraudulent consumption tax refunds
150
were claimed through the ling of false
233
returns, we work to prevent the filing 100
172
of fraudulent refunds by instituting 143
sufcient examinations of the facts. As 50 108

a result, if the reasons for a tax refund

0
are not clear, we make contact through 2008 2012 operation year
tax examinations, etc.

Examples of malicious fraud in the consumption tax

Consumption tax refunds were illicitly received by the trick of falsifying books etc., to disguise
domestic sales as tax exempt export sales.
Personnel costs paid by a business are not tax deductible transactions, but by pretending that
the costs were outsourcing costs for afliated companies (temp agencies, etc.) which are deductible
transactions, fraudulent consumption tax refunds were received.
Consumption tax refunds were illicitly received through the trick of falsifying books etc., by
disguising a lease (rental) transaction as a purchase and recording the leased asset as own xed
asset.

Proper Performance of Examination Procedure

In the revision of the tax system of 2011, the Act on General Rules for National Taxes was revised.
From the viewpoints to enhance the transparency of examination procedures and predictability for the
taxpayers, conventional operational handling was legislated concerning the examination procedures, which
came into force in January 2013.
The NTA will endeavor to protect the taxpayers' profits concerning the national taxes, and properly
perform the examination procedures specified in the Act on General Rules for National Taxes, from the
viewpoint of ensuring proper operation of tax administration.
Accurate understanding of claims made by taxpayers and proper tax administration
To build faith in the tax administration, it is important that taxation is applied with the proper
interpretation of laws and regulations upon correct fact nding.
To this end, we always try to properly process taxation after correctly interpreting the assertions made
by taxpayers and studying the laws and regulations based on accurate fact nding. On this occasion, we
are thoroughly adhering to the procedures and processes to ascertain whether all legal requirements are
properly met.
27

(2) Information collection

About the NTA

Collect data and information through every opportunity to use such information for
accurate guidance as well as tax examinations
The NTA, through every occasion, collects a variety
Number of information items collected
of information such off-the-books and fake transactions Information under mandatory submission

Services for Taxpayers

thousands
as found in the course of tax examinations, in addition 300,000
Other information

Enhancement of
to the withholding records of employment income,
payment records of dividend, etc., which are required 250,000
to submit pursuant to the provisions of the tax laws.
The NTA uses such information for accurate guidance 200,000
as well as tax examinations.
The NTA constantly focuses on changes in 150,000 293,760

illicit forms and the increasing globalization and

computerization of business transactions in recent

Examination and
100,000 194,390

Proper Tax
Collection
years. We actively collect information on new asset
investment techniques and transaction forms, 50,000
111,500
92,550
and collect information on overseas investments,
information on transactions with overseas companies, 0
2008 2012 operation year
electronic commerce transactions using the internet,
etc. Information items collected increased
approximately 1.3 times in last 5 years.

Taxpayer Rights
(3) Criminal investigation

Remedy for
Pursues criminal responsibility of malicious tax evaders
The tax criminal investigation system pursues criminal responsibility of malicious tax evaders and
aims to contribute both to realizing proper and fair taxation and to maintaining the self-assessment system
through the effect of punishing one to serve as a warning to all. In order to achieve this goal, the NTA,

Proper Management of
apart from general tax examination, not only imposes correct taxes on taxpayers who intentionally evade

Liquor Administration
taxes through fraudulent acts or other offenses, but also investigates them with the exercise of compulsory
authority, which is equivalent to normal criminal investigation. Based on the investigation results, the NTA
les accusations to prosecutors and seeks for the institution of prosecution.
As business transactions have become broader, globalized, and computerized, the means of tax
evasion are becoming more complex and sophisticated. Tax investigators are making all efforts to expose
malicious tax evaders by appropriately responding to the changes in the economic and social environment.
Tax evasion cases for FY2013 amounting to 14.5 billion in total, of which prosecuted

Revision of Operations
cases accounted for 11.7 billion
and Systems
In scal 2013, the NTA commenced 185 criminal investigations, processing 185 cases including those
carried over from the previous scal year, of which it accused 118 cases to prosecutors. The total amount of
tax evasion was 14.5 billion, with the average at 99 million per accused case.
Methods that were often used for tax evasion include excluding sales and booking ctitious costs or
expenses. It was also identied that the payment of consumption taxes on the amount of food and drinks
received from customers had been evaded by ling no tax returns. Funds obtained from tax evasion were,
Evaluation of

for example, stored as cash, deposits or securities, spent on imported luxury cars and vacation houses, or
Policies

thrown into foreign casinos.

Status of criminal investigations

Total amount of tax Amount of tax evasion
Number of cases Number of cases Number of cases with evasion cases (portion per case (portion with
conducted closed accusation led to the with accusation led to the accusation led to the
prosecutor prosecutor) prosecutor)
Statistics

cases cases cases million million

20,479 107
FY2012 190 191 129
17,466 135
14,458 78
FY2013 185 185 118
11,731 99
* Figures of tax evasion include additional tax.

28
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

In scal 2013, 115 cases were convicted at the court of rst instance, including 9 cases
in which prison sentences without probation were issued
In fiscal 2013, 115 cases among 116 cases were convicted at the court of the first instance, with an
average prison sentence of 12.9 months and average fines of 12 million. 9 persons were sentenced to
prison without probation. Prison sentences without probation have been handed down every year since 1980.

Ruling status in the rst instance of criminal investigation cases

Percentage of Number of Amount of tax Term of prison Amount of nes

Number of Number of cases convicted convictions with evaded per sentence per per person
rulings convictions / prison sentences case person (company)
without probation

cases cases % persons million months million

FY2012 120 119 99.2 3 76 13.0 16
FY2013 116 115 99.1 9 52 12.9 12

* to exclude those combined with non-tax crimes.

Past cases where hidden properties were found in criminal investigations

Cash was found in a black plastic bag hidden inside a cushion in the living room of the residence.

(4) Approaches to enhance the corporate governance concerning tax administration

Establishment of relationship of trust and deliberate selection of examination

From the viewpoint of maintenance and improvement of tax return ling standard of Japan as a whole,
maintenance and improvement of tax compliance of large enterprises is very important. For this purpose,
it's effective to enhance the corporate governance to raise awareness on tax matters to the front line of
organization.
To this end, the NTA, taking the opportunities of examination of large corporations, checks the status
of corporate government on tax matters, exchanges opinions with executive managers, and presents them
effective examples of approaches to promote their spontaneous efforts for the enhancement of corporate
governance.
The NTA will establish the mutual trustful relationship with those corporations under favorable corporate
governance on the tax affairs, and will prolong intervals until the next examinations for them, provided the
NTA has conrmed the proper processing of voluntarily disclosed transactions with high tax risks. Thus, the
NTA will focus its examination work on other corporations in need of improvement to enhance the efciency
of tax administration.

29

About the NTA

(Reference) Strict control of information
The NTA has a variety information such as on personal income. If that information is easily leaked,
taxpayers cannot be expected to cooperate with the NTA, which would hinder smooth examination and
collection.

This is why tax ofcials who have leaked condential information obtained through tax examinations

Services for Taxpayers

Enhancement of
are subject to a criminal penalty (up to two years in prison or up to a 1 million ne) under the tax law,
which is heavier than the penalty (up to one year in prison or up to a 500,000 ne) under the National
Public Service Act. The NTA has given regular training on information security to its ofcials in order to
thoroughly inform them of such penalty provisions. When interviewing taxpayers, tax officials consider
taxpayers' privacy and refrain from interviewing them in their storefronts or in front of their homes.
Based on the purpose of theAct on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Administrative

Examination and
Organs,the NTA is also striving to conduct strict control of taxpayer information by making a periodic

Proper Tax
Collection
inspection of the status of control of administrative documents.

(Reference) Treatment of additional tax and delinquent tax

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
To encourage taxpayers to properly le tax returns and pay taxes, delinquent tax may be imposed in
addition to originally payable national taxes, if tax returns are not properly led or taxes are not paid by
the due date. There are also cases where an additional tax for a decient return, or for no return, or an
additional tax for fraud are imposed.

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
(In the case of 2014)
Up to two months from the day after the due date Annual rate of 2.9%
Delinquent for tax payment (Special Standard Rate* 1.0%)
Tax Starting on the date two months from the day after Annual rate of 9.2%
the due date for tax payment (Special Standard Rate* 7.3%)
*Special Standard Rateis a rate announced by the Minister of Finance by December 15 of the previous year as the rate obtained by dividing
the total amount of average contractual interest rates on bank short-term loan of each month from October of the second preceding year to
September of the previous year by 12, plus 1 % per annum.

Revision of Operations
and Systems
Regular case Fraudulent concealment case

Additional Returns are led by the due date, Additional tax for decient Additional tax for fraud case
Tax but tax amount is understated. returns (10% or 15%) (35%)
Additional tax for no return Additional tax for fraud case
Returns are not led by the due date.
(15% or 20%) (40%)

Where legitimate reasons are recognized with no causes attributable to taxpayers, additional tax for
Evaluation of

decient return or additional tax for no return will not be imposed.

Policies

Also, where certain requirements are met, namely, taxpayers have been granted postponement of tax
payments due to disaster or have failed to le returns or pay taxes due to erroneous guidance by the NTA
ofcials, taxpayers may be exempted from all or part of a delinquent tax. The NTA has set up rules for when
no additional tax is imposed, and has published the rules on the NTA website.
Statistics

30
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

ColumnA variety of eorts to ensure compliance

<Changes of the environment surrounding the tax administration>

To ensure proper and fair taxation within the limited human resources and other resources, the
NTA has made efforts to operate its work effectively and efciently according to priority of cases.
Recently, however, transactions like cross-border transactions and property transfers, as well as
e-commerce transactions, largely increased, which makes it difcult for tax authorities to understand
the whole picture. The environment surrounding the tax administration has become severer.
Under such status, to ensure the taxpayers' compliance (that the taxpayers voluntarily and properly
execute their tax payment duties), we need to promote more efcient tax administration utilizing various
contact methods in addition to on-site inspection and strengthen our efforts in such areas where that tax
evasion tends to occur.

<Efforts in other countries>

Such challenges are common to the tax authorities of not only Japan, but also other countries. In
other countries, while the tax authorities are focusing on eld tax examination to ensure compliance,
they are making efforts to enhance the compliance by combining various measures as follows. These
efforts are shared at international conferences and other occasions to be used as reference to realize
better tax administration.

1Voluntary Compliance Program

Countries such as U.S.A., United Kingdom, and France, have a scheme that tax authorities
species the period and requirements for application of the scheme to taxpayers and the taxpayers
who have voluntarily disclosed their foreign deposit accounts or incomes undisclosed to their tax
authorities and paid additional tax amount going back to the past can accept reduction or exemption
of penalties. Such a scheme has proved to be effective to a certain extent.
Internationally, such efforts to improve transparency of procedures and recommend voluntary
disclosure are evaluated to not only result in a short-term increase in tax revenue, but also lead to a
long-term enhancement of compliance.

2Contact with a wide range of taxpayers by correspondence audits and other simple examinations
In order to conduct effective examinations, analysis on the possibility of occurrence of fault
by taxpayers (compliance risk) based on a variety of information and the selection of appropriate
approach based on the analysis are internationally recognized as important.
In countries such as U.S.A. and Canada, tax authorities conduct examinations that only involve
the dispatch of notices and exchange of written documents (Correspondence Audits) for simple
cases such as a discrepancy of information and contact a wide range of taxpayers, thus obtaining a
certain level of result for enhancement of compliance.

3Support for appropriate tax return ling and establishment of cooperative relationship with taxpayers
In foreign countries, not only for the correction of errors and fraudulent calculations by
examination, etc., but also for the prevention of errors, foreign tax authorities place focus on support
for proper ling, and establishment of cooperative relationship with taxpayers.
For example, the tax authorities of Australia provide careful support about the establishment of
a business, recruitment of employees, incorporation of business, etc. through visits by tax ofce staff
or by telephone in order to make small business operators aware of the performance of their tax
liability and proper booking, as well as is making a series of efforts including the provision of various
information using the website and leaets.

31

About the NTA

<Future measures to ensure compliance>

The NTA, strengthening its efforts to tackle serious tax evasions, is making efforts to enhance
corporate governance on tax matters of large enterprises as mentioned above. From now on, by
referring to other countries' approaches, the NTA, continuing to conduct on-site tax examinations
properly, will promote shift to tax administration which actively incorporates other approaches for
ensuring compliance than eld tax examinations.

Services for Taxpayers

Specically, the NTA will aim at enhancing compliance as a whole, focusing on the following three

Enhancement of
approaches:

1Focus on eld examination

Field examinations are highly effective for the correction of frauds and errors in taxpayers' lings,
and for leading taxpayers to proper lings. Conversely, it requires a large number of human resources
to conduct eld examinations. Therefore, the NTA allocates its examination work on the focused areas
which tend to generate frauds or which give a signicant inuence on the compliance as a whole if

Examination and
such frauds were overlooked (for example, tax evasion by using overseas transactions or fraudulent

Proper Tax
Collection
refund of consumption tax, etc.). Also, in field examination, we will make efforts to enhance the
spillover effect or check-and-balance effect so that the effect of enhanced compliance matches the
input of work.

2Enhancement of information collection and analysis functions

Aiming at analyzing compliance risk of taxpayers with precision, and finding tax evasions

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
effectively and efciently, the NTA aspires to further enhance its information collection and analysis
functions. For this purpose, the NTA will strengthen the international information exchange framework
based on tax treaties. The NTA, in anticipation of introduction of social security and tax number
system, will also promote the system development so that it can utilize data and information such
as information under mandatory submission, which are effective for taxation, more properly and
efciently.

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
3Utilization of various approaches to ensure voluntary and proper tax ling
The NTA will enhance the efforts to promote voluntary and proper filing of a wide range of
taxpayers, by utilizing various approaches other than field examination. Such approaches include
support of self-checking before taxpayer's ling, public announcement of matters with which a large
number of omissions of ling are anticipated, invitation for voluntary review of ling by sending written
inquiry, and strengthening of cooperative relationship with CPTAs Associations and relevant private

organizations.

Revision of Operations
and Systems
Various approaches for securing compliance (Image)
By combining effective field examinations with a variety of approaches,
the NTA aims at enhancing compliance in the aggregate.

Compliance enhancement effect

Field examination Measures to ensure proper filing by various of approaches

Evaluation of
Policies

Enhancement
of spillover effect and
check-and-balance effect Enhancement

Focus on field
examination
Field examination Measures to ensure proper
Enhancement filing by various of approaches Enhancement

Actual field examination Actual various approaches Contact with taxpayers

Statistics

Selection
of appropriate approach
based on risk analysis

Strengthening of information gathering and analysis function

32
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

2Reliable tax payment

(1) Establishment of voluntary tax payment
Approximately 46.3 trillion taxes paid into the national treasury within the scal year
(98.6% paid within the scal year)
Self-assessed national tax becomes revenue when paid into the national treasury. In FY2012, about
46.9 trillion of taxation (amount determined for collection) was self-assessed in Tax Ofces, etc. Of this,
about 46.3 trillion of tax (collected amount) was paid into the national treasury within the scal year, for a
98.6% collection ratio.

Enhanced taxpayer services by offering various payment methods

Under the self-assessment system, national tax is in principle assessed by taxpayers themselves, who
themselves pay that tax amount by the due date. Therefore, the NTA works on publicity so taxpayers do not
forget the due date and make a late payment.
Moreover, to enhance taxpayer services, diverse payment means such as online payment using
internet banking, payment at convenience stores, and direct payment, have been introduced in stages for
taxpayers to be able to choose the payment method of national tax, instead of paying at the counters of
nancial institutions and tax ofces in cash with tax payment slips.
Taxpayers can also use transfer tax payments from a deposit account for self-assessed income tax and
sole proprietors' consumption tax.

Measures to prevent delinquencies

A written notice is sent in advance to taxpayers who paid after the due date the previous time. After the
due date has passed, a phone call is placed to taxpayers before the payment demand letter is sent. The
NTA is thus taking measures to prevent delinquencies.

Direct payment (direct type online payment of national tax)

Direct payment is a procedure that enables taxpayers to pay tax by simple operation after ling tax
returns digitally by e-Tax, by submitting an application indicating bank account information in advance.
Direct payment can only be used at bank accounts held at nancial institution which is compatible with
direct payment. This is why the NTA is working to expand the number of nancial institutions in which direct
payment can be used, by requesting that non-compatible nancial institutions become compatible, etc. As of
the end of March 2014, it was usable in 377 nancial institutions.

National tax payment at convenience stores

For the payment of national taxes, taxpayers are able to make tax payments at night or on holidays at
convenience stores when nancial institutions or the Tax Ofces are closed. Tax payments were made at
convenience stores in about 1.35 million cases in FY2012.
When making a convenience store tax payment, a tax payment slip with bar code is needed, with the
amount limited to 300,000 or less. The bar-coded vouchers are issued by the Regional Taxation Bureaus
and Tax Ofces with jurisdiction, in the following cases:
If the determined tax amount is notied before the due date (estimated income tax prepayment, etc.)
If the tax payment is demanded by letter or telephone (for all tax items)
If the tax payment is under the ofcial assessment system (for various additional taxes)
If the taxpayer requested the issuance of tax payment slips for the determined tax amount (for all tax
items)

33

(2) Reduction of tax delinquency

About the NTA

Amounts under collection process reduced to 45.1% of that of the peak time

Delinquency signies that the national tax was not paid by the due date and a payment demand letter
was sent. At the end of FY2012, the tax delinquency amount was about 1,270.2 billion.

Services for Taxpayers

Trend of collection of delinquent tax, for all tax items

Enhancement of
billion
Newly occurred Collected Under collection process
3,000 2,783.0 2,814.9
2,766.1
2,703.1 2,666.8
2,660.6
2,498.0 2,484.2

2,500 2,328.0
2,251.9

2,051.6
2,022.8

2,000 1,784.4

Examination and
1,704.8
1,684.4
1,867.3 1,615.1

Proper Tax
1,553.8

Collection
1,411.8
1,420.1
1,500 1,495.5
1,169.1
1,361.7
1,270.2

1,000

500

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
0
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
fiscal year
*1Figures are current cases in the process of collection
of delinquent taxes.
Decreased 14 years in a row after hitting a peak
*2Figures for local consumption tax are not included. in fiscal 1998.

Tax delinquency in scal 2012 for each major tax item

Proper Management of
(billion yen)

Liquor Administration
Under collection Under collection
process at the end Newly occurred Collected process at the end of
of the previous year the year
Income tax 635.9 169.6 213.3 592.2
Withholding income tax 261.4 56.2 77.4 240.2
Self-assessment income tax 374.6 113.3 135.9 352.0
Corporation tax 175.4 68.6 80.4 163.5

Revision of Operations
Inheritance tax 130.6 35.7 50.6 115.6

and Systems
Consumption tax 416.9 318.0 339.0 396.0
Other taxes 2.9 1.6 1.8 2.8
Total 1,361.7 593.5 685.0 1,270.2
*1Figures for local consumption tax are not included.
*2Any fraction less than 100 million yen was rounded off, and therefore the sum of gures may not be equal to the total gure.

Amounts under collection process remains high at approximately 1.3 trillion
Continue to work on preventing and reducing delinquencies with cooperation
Evaluation of

of all Tax Bureaus and Ofces.

Policies

The NTA considers it important to rst of all avoid delinquency. In order to work for certain collection of
national tax, the entire national tax organization is working to prevent delinquency and for early collection.
Therefore, for delinquent national taxes, from the viewpoint of fairness with the great majority of
taxpayers who pay within the due date, the NTA is working for early start and early completion, and works to

resolve delinquencies under the following basic policy.
Appropriate action is taken in collection of delinquent tax while considering the
Statistics

individual situation of each delinquent taxpayer

Executing disposition for delinquent tax greatly impacts taxpayer rights and interests. Therefore, in
collection of delinquent tax, appropriate action is taken based on laws and regulations while considering the
actual situation of each delinquent taxpayer, based on an accurate understanding of the facts. Seizure or
auction or other disposition for delinquent tax can be done. On the other hand, tax payment relief measures
can be provided, such as postponement of tax payment, or suspension of conversion into cash.
34
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

Strict and resolute handling of large and malicious delinquent cases

When collecting delinquent tax in a large and malicious delinquency case, strict and resolute action is
taken, such as executing strict and accurate disposition for delinquent tax by search, seizure, auction, etc.
Particularly strict action is taken in especially malicious cases with an attempt to hide assets or
otherwise evade execution of disposition for delinquent tax. This crime of evading disposition for delinquent
tax1 is aggressively referred to the prosecutor.

Organizational response, etc. of difcult-to-handle cases

To handle difficult-to-handle cases, for example where a party subject to examination has a broad
scope of assets, a considerable amount of ofce work and use of sophisticated collection techniques are
required. For that reason, the NTA takes organizational actions such as disposition for delinquent tax by
management over a wide geographic area, with timely project team formation. The NTA also takes legal
action, such as a lawsuit to demand the rescission of a fraudulent act2 and actively uses legal means to
collect delinquent taxes.

Certain handling of consumption tax delinquency cases

The public is strongly aware of delinquent consumption tax, and delinquent consumption tax is an
increasingly large percentage of all delinquencies each year. Therefore, certain handling is executed through
Regional Taxation Bureaus and Tax Ofces in order to conclude delinquency cases containing delinquent
consumption taxes. The NTA is working to reduce the balance of delinquent consumption taxes.

Trend of collection of delinquent consumption tax

Newly occurred Collected Under collection process
billion
800
614.6

700 632.3 629.9

618.3
578.3
600 511.2 529.6
488.5 487.5 465.5 459.2
500 275.2 424.2 453.7 441.9 425.6
335.9 386.1 416.9
396.0
180.4
400

300
98.9
200
54.8

100
14.1

0 0
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
fiscal year
*1Figures are current cases in the process of collection
of delinquent taxes. Decreased 13 years in a row after
*2Figures for local consumption tax are not included. hitting a peak in fiscal 1999.

Revision of grace of payment and grace periods for asset conversion

Under FY2014 tax reform, the Act on General Rules for National Taxes and the National Tax Collection
Act were revised as follows with regard to the grace of payment and grace periods for asset conversion:
1 In order to reduce burdens on taxpayers and secure tax collection early and adequately, a new system
was established to grant grace periods for assets conversion on application by taxpayers in addition to the
existing system of grace periods for assets conversion that are granted under the authority of a District
Director of Tax Ofce.
2 In order to facilitate the use of the system of grace periods for tax payments and assets conversion
under the authority of a District Director of Tax Ofce and to secure adequate tax collection as well, the
procedures was improved, which includes rising minimum amount that requires a security, introducing
provisions on installment payments, and development of application forms and attached documents.
These amendments will come into force on April 1, 2015.

1If actions such as hiding of assets are done to evade seizure or other disposition for delinquent tax, up to 3 years in prison or up to a 2.5 million ne
can be imposed.
2A lawsuit to demand the rescission of fraudulent act is a lawsuit to negate the validity of a legal act (fraudulent act) between the delinquent person and
third party, where such act harms the claimant (country). The lawsuit aims to take back from the third party that asset separated from the delinquent
taxpayer, and return it to the delinquent taxpayer (refer to Act on General Rules for National Taxes, Article 42, and the Civil Code, Article 424).
35

(3) Office of Tax Collections Call Center

About the NTA

Conduct effective and efcient phone notices Collection of delinquent tax at the Ofce
The Ofce of Tax Collections Call Center is of Tax Collections Call Center
broadly in charge of new delinquency cases. This Of 751,023 taxpayers issued reminders for payment by telephone
between July 2012 and June-end 2013, 521,394 have fully paid their taxes.
ofce provides phone notication reminders using Issued reminders

Services for Taxpayers

60,1838.0%
a centralized phone notice system, for effective Paid fully

Enhancement of
521,394
and efcient collection of delinquent tax. 69.4%

Over the year from July 2012 to June 2013, Returned to the
tax offices
Received
75,09810.0%
this ofce provided notications to about 750,000 reminders via
telephone
people, of which about 520,000 people (69.4%) 751,023
fully paid, and 90,000 people (12.6%) pledged Payment
pledged
payment. 94,348
12.6%

Examination and
Proper Tax
Paid fully and Payment pledged

Collection
consist approximately 80% of total.
(4) Auction by Internet
Sold approximately 900 items by internet auctions
The NTA has conducted internet auctions using a private-sector auction website, since June 2007.

Internet auctions are very convenient in such ways as the participants do not need to visit a real auction

Taxpayer Rights
site and can apply for the purchase 24 hours

Remedy for
during the auction period on the internet, and Examples of properties that have been sold
by internet auctions
can attract more auction participants. It is
among the effective means to sell the assets
or goods of high value that have been seized.
Four internet auctions were held in
FY2013. As a result, a total of about 6,000

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
people participated, and about 900 items
such as work of art, precious metals,
automobiles, real estate, etc. were sold, for a
total sales value of about 900 million.

(5) Accurate and efficient management of claims and liabilities

Revision of Operations
Proper and prompt process realized by full use of systems
Tax lings and refund lings create a huge volume of work to manage national tax claims and liabilities. and Systems
Tax Ofces use the KSK System so that these claims and liabilities are managed accurately and efciently.
There are about 39.5 million tax payments each year, which are mainly income tax payments.
To efficiently process this huge amount of payments, the NTA is working on more efficient processing
operations. There is optical character recognition (OCR) processing1 for tax payment slips at the Bank of

Japan, the income tax and sole proprietors' consumption tax payments by transfer account2, online tax
Evaluation of
Policies

payment using internet banking etc., and direct online tax payment. Transfer procedures to pay refunds used
to be performed through written documents from Tax Ofces, but the NTA centralized transfer processing
then adopted online transfer procedures. In these ways, the NTA is pursuing efcient and speedy payment
processing.
Management of national tax claims and liabilities is a cornerstone of taxation and tax collection. We

are working to improve services by conducting procedures speedily and accurately through the advanced
application of ICT systems, delivering refunds to taxpayers as quickly as possible.
Statistics

1OCR processing (optical character recognition processing) converts the characters written on a tax payment slip into electronic data. This electronic
data is communicated between the Bank of Japan and the NTA, providing more efcient information transfer and paperless processing.
2Tax payment by transfer account is a method of tax payment whereby the Tax Ofces send tax payment slips to nancial institutions designated in
advance by taxpayers, and debit the amount of tax payment from their deposits and savings accounts. If it is necessary to send tax payment slips to
nancial institutions in large quantities, the Tax Ofces send magnetic tapes containing data for an account transfer to the nancial institutions in order
to perform the work of account transfer efciently. After the nancial institutions process the data, they record the processing results on the magnetic
tapes and return the tapes to the Tax Ofces.

36
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

3Addressing international transactions

Strengthening examination system and cooperation with foreign tax authorities
Cross-border economic activities by companies and individuals are becoming more complex and diverse.
These changes have brought international tax avoidance, in which revenues received overseas are not
declared, or which use complex international transactions to avoid paying tax to any country on earnings
gained. On the other hand, there is the large problem of double taxation, in which more than one country have
different views and impose taxes on the same income. In response to these problems, the NTA is working on
internal improvements such as in its examination system, and is also building stronger cooperative relations by
sharing information and experience with the tax authorities of foreign countries. The NTA is also in discussions
with the authorities to resolve double taxation.

(1) Changes in the environment concerning international transactions

Cross-border business and investment activities expand

Status of overseas establishments by Japanese corporations
The following is the status of overseas establishments by Japanese corporations. The number of
overseas locally organized corporations increased from 13,875 in FY2003 to 23,351 in FY2012, about a
70% increase, with a particularly rapid growth of establishments in China.

Trend in the number of locally established Japanese corporations by region

All Regions Mid-East China
Oceania NIEs3 Latin America
Europe ASEAN4 North America
(corporations)
25,000
23,351

Trend in the number of locally established

Japanese corporations is on the increase.

20,000
18,599
18,201 19,250
17,658
16,732
16,370
15,850
14,996
15,000
13,875

10,000

5,000

0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
(fiscal year)

*1ASEAN4 signifies Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. (Source: Basic Research on Overseas Business Activities,
by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
*2NIEs3 signifies Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.

37

About the NTA

Trend in the number of foreign corporations
The trend in the number of foreign corporations carrying out business in Japan is shown below.
There were 5,510 corporations in the 2012 operation year, which was 32 more than the previous year.
The number of foreign corporations in the past 10 years has shifted between 5,000 and 6,000.

Trend in the number of foreign corporations

Services for Taxpayers

Enhancement of
corporations
6,000
5,816 5,800
5,890 5,757 5,914

5,614
5,719
5,510
5,478
5,500

Examination and
5,390

Proper Tax
Collection
5,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
operation year
* Foreign corporations ling corporation tax return in Japan

Trend in the number of records of remittances and receipts related to foreign countries

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
A record of remittance and receipt related to foreign countries1 is to be submitted when a large
remittance is sent to a foreign country. The gure below shows changes in the number of these records
submitted. The number of records of remittance in the 2012 operation year was 5.64 million, which was
470,000 more than that of the previous year. It is approximately 2.3 times of increase compared to 2.44
million of the 1998 operation year, when this system was introduced.

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Trend in the number of records of remittance and receipt related to foreign countries
millions of records
600

500

400

300

Revision of Operations
515 517 564
473

and Systems
200 369 391 341
298 311 321
100

0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
operation year
* From April 2009, the base amount for submission wad decreased from more than 2 million to more than 1 million.

(2) Addressing international taxation

Evaluation of
Policies

Enhancement of examination system

The NTA is increasing the number of its Senior Examiners (International Taxation) who are dedicated to
work on international taxation. We also established a department for specialized handling of international tax
avoidance cases. These are parts of our efforts to enhance and strengthen our examination system. The

National Tax College is a training institution for staff, which provides training on international tax related laws
Statistics

and regulations, tax treaties, nancial transactions, language study, etc. This works to enhance staff abilities
for examinations concerning international taxation. The NTA also recruits lawyers and nancial specialists to
handle complex tax problems.
1The record of remittance and receipt related to foreign countries is a report legally required to be submitted to the Tax Ofces by nancial institutions.
These indicate the amount remitted to or received from overseas nations, if exceeding 1 million (statutory statement).

38
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

Actions Taken against Base Erosion and Prot Shifting (BEPS)

In recent years, reduction of tax liability by global companies through tax reduction measures that utilize
a loophole in taxation law is becoming a problem under the situation where countries have worse nancial
condition after the Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and require more public burden.
In order to address this problem, the OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs (see page 44 for the OECD
Committee on Fiscal Affairs) established a project related to Base Erosion and Prot Shifting (BEPS)in
June 2012 and published the BEPS Action Planon July 19, 2013. The BEPS Action Plan was submitted
to the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (held in Moscow from July 19 to 20,
2013) and obtained full support from G20 countries including Japan.
Regarding the implementation of this Action Plan, theOECD/G20 BEPS Projecthas been established
as a framework that allows the eight G20 members who are non-OECD members (China, India, Russia,
Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa) to give their opinions and participate in decision-
making as OECD members do.
To enable each country to eliminate double non-taxation and impose taxes at a place where companies'
economic activities are actually performed, OECD is required to make recommendations, etc. on new
measures for securing international harmonization of tax system with respect to each item of the Action
Plan during a period from September 2014 to December 2015. The NTA, as the executive authority, is also
actively involved in the preparation of such recommendations, etc.

Exchange of information under tax treaty and tax information exchange agreement
There are cases in which the NTA cannot sufciently clarify international transactions by individuals and
corporations only with the information obtained in Japan. In such a case, the exchange of information under
a bilateral tax treaty and tax information exchange agreement makes it possible to acquire the necessary
information.
The NTA actively involves itself in exchange of information with foreign tax authorities in the context of
recent expansion and strengthening of the
Trend in number of information exchange
tax treaty network. Japan now has 60 tax
(thousands)
treaties in force, which cover 80 countries
Fiscal year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
or regions and the number of information
Number of information
exchange amounts to some hundred 260 500 291 556 231
exchange
thousand cases per year. * Number of information exchange is the total number of cases in which
In addition, the NTA is making every information was received plus cases sent each scal year.

effort to implement exchange of information

in an effective and efcient manner by holding face to face meetings, when necessary, with tax ofcials of
foreign tax authorities, which would enable us to explain and talk the examination cases in detail and the
points to be claried.

Establishment of foreign assets statement system

Since the assets held overseas by taxpayers tend to increase, the foreign assets statement system
has been enforced from January 1, 2014 as a mechanism to require taxpayers themselves to declare their
assets held overseas in order to secure proper taxation of income tax and inheritance tax on them.
With the establishment of this system, those who have assets in foreign countries equivalent to a total
of over 50 million as of December 31 of the year are to be required to submit a statement describing the
type, quantity, price, etc. of the foreign assets by March 15 of the following year.

39

(3) Examination of international taxation cases

About the NTA

Examination focusing on those who conduct cross-border transactions or those who
hold assets in foreign countries
As cross-border business and investment activities have been expanded, the NTA has focused on
examining taxpayers who conduct transactions with foreign companies or hold assets in foreign countries.
The NTA is performing deep examinations which effectively use the records of remittances and receipts

Services for Taxpayers

related to foreign countries, and information exchange systems based on tax treaties and tax information

Enhancement of
exchange agreements.

Actual examinations related to international taxation (Corporation tax)

Undeclared cases related to overseas transactions, etc.
Amount of undeclared income related to overseas transactions, etc.
Amount of fraudulently omitted income related to overseas transactions, etc.
billion cases
4,000
1,000

Examination and
3,666
3,578

Proper Tax
Collection
800 3,500
3,297 3,309
3,256
600 3,000

400 801.4 2,500

242.3 287.8
200 218.7 245.2

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
23.8 27.0 28.6 18.8 16.9
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
operation year

Addressing international tax avoidance, one of the most problematic issues in

international taxation

International tax avoidance problems are arising, as revenues gained overseas are hidden, and as

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
people cleverly use differences between each country's tax system and tax treaties to avoid paying taxes to
any country, despite gaining earnings. International tax avoidance, often involved by nancial, legal and tax
specialists, often uses complex transactions which combine shell companies or cooperatives, derivatives
(derivative nancial instruments), etc., and makes it difcult to clarify the whole picture of the transactions.
Recently, such problems are not only found among large companies, as it has also spread to small- and
medium-sized companies and wealthy individuals.
Chief Examiners established in the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Taxation

Revision of Operations
Bureaus and the International Examination of Large Enterprise Division, etc. play central roles in collecting

and Systems
and analyzing information, planning examinations and clarifying facts on international tax avoidance
conduct.
Furthermore, nine countries of Japan, the U.S.A., the U.K., Germany, France, Canada, Australia, China
and South Korea participate in the Joint International Tax Shelter Information Centre (JITSIC). JITSIC works
to exchange information relating to international tax avoidance conduct and wealthy individuals, and to share
knowledge on examination methodologies, etc. through tax ofcials dispatched from member countries.

(4) Transfer pricing issues

Evaluation of
Policies

Enhancing predictability for taxpayers corresponding to the change in the environment

surrounding transfer pricing
Transfer pricing taxation1 was introduced in the FY1986 tax reform. From the perspective of working to
achieve proper international taxation, this prevents transferring income overseas through transactions with

foreign afliated companies.
As company activities become increasingly global, more transactions are becoming subject to
Statistics

the transfer pricing system, and transactions are becoming more complex, with growing importance of
transactions involving intangible assets. It is necessary to appropriately handle such changes, increase
predictability for taxpayers, and achieve proper and fair taxation.
1If a Japanese company does a transaction with a foreign afliated company, and that transaction price differs from the transaction price between third
parties (this price is called an arm's length price), resulting in lower taxable income for the Japanese company, then that transaction is deemed to
have been done at an arm's length price, and income is recalculated under this system.
40
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

Initiatives to clarify the administration of transfer pricing taxation

In order to increase predictability for taxpayers, it is important that the NTA publishes and works to
clarify its administration policy for the system's operation, and its application criteria. In 2012, with the
addition of provisions on prot level indicators used to calculate an arm's length price to laws, the NTA added
examples of its application to the reference case studies, which was a supplement of the administrative
guidelines to further clarify the administration of the rules.
Development of an environment in which taxpayers can use the Advance Pricing
Agreement(APA) system smoothly
In an APA on transfer pricing taxation, based on the Japanese taxpayer's request, the tax authorities
give advance conrmation of the method for calculating the arm's length price in transactions with a foreign
afliated company. The number of requests for APA was showing a slight decrease since the peak of the
2009 operation year, but it has increased for the rst time in three years, achieving a number comparable to
the largest number in the past. In order to respond to these many requests, the NTA is working to improve
its administration system and quickly process APAs by, for example, establishing a division dedicated to
the review of APA requests in the Tokyo
Regional Taxation Bureau and the Trend in the number of cases requesting an APA,
Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau, where and number of cases closed
there are many companies which do Requested cases Closed cases
cases
international transactions. 150
Also, a contact point is set up in
each Regional Taxation Bureau, which 120
handles advance consultations with
national tax authorities before requesting 90
a n A PA . T h i s c o n t r i b u t e s t o o u r
113 127 111 115 127 138
development of an environment enabling 60
103 101
taxpayers to smoothly use APAs. 72 75
APAs ensure predictability and 30

legal stability for taxpayers. They

0
also contribute to proper and smooth 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
operation year
operation of the transfer pricing taxation.
This is why the NTA will continue to * The number of requests for APA includes both those accompanied by and
provide them appropriately. those not accompanied by the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP).

(5) International cooperation in tax collection

Mutual assistance in tax collection under tax treaties

The avoidance of tax collection by means of transfer of assets to overseas can be coped with mutual
assistance in tax collection,which enables each country's tax authorities to mutually enforce tax claims of
each other in cooperation under tax treaties, while the collection of tax claims is subject to the restrictions of
executive jurisdiction1.
In Japan, international tax collection is promoted by mutual assistance for tax collection under the
Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters2, which became effective in
October 2013.
Framework of assistance in tax collection

Country A Country B
Request for assistance
in tax collection
Tax authorities Tax authorities
of Country A Remittance of Country B

Tax
Taxation col

lec Tax collection
tion

Taxpayers Transfer of assets

1It means that a country's tax authorities cannot exercise its public authorities outside the country's territory unless the other country approves it.
2It is a multilateral convention on mutual assistance for the exchange of tax-related information, tax collection and service of documents and has been
signed by 37 countries including Japan (as of May 5, 2014).
41

About the NTA

4Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP)
MAP cases processed properly and promptly in order to resolve international double taxation issues
With the globalization of the Japanese economy, where the Japanese taxpayers move in on foreign
markets or foreign taxpayers do the same on the Japanese market, they may encounter the international

Services for Taxpayers

double tax situation, in which both Japan and the foreign country impose tax on the same income. The

Enhancement of
aforementioned transfer pricing taxation is one of the major areas of the international double taxation. We
exert ourselves to resolve such double taxation problems, including transfer pricing, by negotiating with foreign
tax authorities through the Mutual Agreement Procedures1 prescribed in tax treaties.
The number of MAP requests that the NTA has received and closed remains at a high level, and more
than 90% are related to transfer pricing. Among such MAP requests, almost 80% are of Bilateral Advance
Pricing Arrangements ( BAPA: APAs accompanied by MAP) to ensure predictability of transfer price issues.
The number of MAP cases closed in 2012 operation year was 170, hitting a record high.
In recent years, MAP is becoming more difcult as the number of MAP cases with emerging countries

Examination and
having less experience in MAP is on the increase. The NTA has been making every effort to resolve MAP

Proper Tax
Collection
cases appropriately and promptly by ensuring stafng and conducting more swift and smooth negotiations
through promoting cooperative relationship with relevant foreign tax authorities.

The number of MAP cases requested and closed

Number of MAP requests received Number of MAP cases closed Number of people in charge of MAPs
Number of BAPA cases among that of MAP requests received Number of BAPA cases among that of MAP cases closed persons
cases
50
200

Taxpayer Rights
183
174

Remedy for
164 41 157 167 41 170
154 153 154 157 143
150 40
129 127 35
125
115 31
93 29 29
100 30

24 24 135
130 149 135 131 129

Proper Management of
128

Liquor Administration
113 112
92 105 105 20
50 82 91
84
65

0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
operation year
*The number of MAP requests consists of both cases where the NTA received such requests from taxpayers and cases where the
NTA received such requests from foreign tax authorities.
MAP cases related to compensating adjustments and amendments to previously agreed APAs are included in the years when MAP

Revision of Operations
requests on those issues were made.

and Systems
Treaty partners with which the NTA has MAP inventory (as of June 30, 2013)

Europe Asia / Pacic North America (Note)

As of June 30, 2013,
OECD countries

Belgium Italy * Australia * Canada * the number of treaty

Czech Republic *Luxemburg * South Korea * United States * partners with which the
Denmark *The Netherlands * NTA had MAP inventory
France *Sweden * was 23. The symbols*
Evaluation of

Germany *Switzerland * indicate a treaty partner

Policies

Ireland *United Kingdom * with which the NTA had

B A PA i n v e n t o r y ( 2 1
China * countries/economies).
Hong Kong *
Non-OECD
economies

India *
Indonesia *
Malaysia
Singapore *
Thailand *
Statistics

12 countries 9 countries/economies 2 countries

1 Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAP)are a formalized set of procedures between tax authorities of treaty partners which are provided in tax treaties
to resolve international tax disputes such as those represented by double taxation cases arising as a result of taxation not in accordance with the
applicable tax treaties imposed or to be imposed on the taxpayers.

42
 Proper Tax Examination and Collection

5Cooperation and coordination with foreign tax authorities

(1) Technical cooperation for developing countries

Technical cooperation for developing countries mainly in Asia

Under the framework of technical
cooperation by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) etc., the NTA
is actively providing technical cooperation
to developing countries, focused on Asian
countries. The aims are to improve tax
administration of developing countries, and
to foster people who understand Japan's tax
administration.
International Seminar on Taxation

Overview of technical cooperation

1Dispatch of tax ofcials to developing countries
Based on the requests of the foreign tax authorities, the NTA has dispatched its officials as
lecturers in fields such as taxpayer services, international taxation and staff training. In fiscal 2013,
ofcials were dispatched to give lectures, etc. to China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet Nam, etc.
With a view to giving continuous advice on tax administration to developing countries, the NTA
has dispatched tax ofcials in the capacity of long-term experts from JICA. In FY2013, our tax ofcials
remain in Indonesia and Viet Nam.
2Lectures and other training in Japan
1International Seminar on Taxation (ISTAX)
ISTAX is a seminar for tax ofcials in developing countries on the tax system and tax administration
of Japan, providing lectures, etc. It has 2 courses: the general course for mid-career officials, and
the senior course for upper management-level ofcials. Adding up the number of participants in both
courses, 29 tax ofcials participated in FY2013.
2Country-Focused Training Courses in Tax Administration
The courses are provided to tax ofcials from specied developing countries at their request. 116 tax
ofcials from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Tanzania and Viet Nam participated in the courses
in scal 2013.
3Training Course of International Taxation for Asian Countries
This course is targeted at tax ofcials in Asian countries on the subject of international taxation.
16 persons from 5 countries (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam) participated in scal
2013.
4Practicum at the NTA
This course is targeted at tax officials from developing countries who are studying at Japanese
graduate schools (master's courses) on a scholarship from the World Bank, etc., and provides lectures
on Japan's tax system and tax administration. A total of 20 students studying at graduate schools
of Keio University, Yokohama National University and National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies
participated in FY2013.

43

About the NTA

Status of training conducted in Japan (number of countries, people)
FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013
International Seminar on Taxation Countries 19 18 20 15 16
(ISTAX) general course People 20 18 20 15 16
International Seminar on Taxation Countries 11 14 12 11 13

Services for Taxpayers

(ISTAX) senior course People 11 14 12 11 13

Enhancement of
Country-Focused Training Courses in Countries 8 4 6 7 6
Tax Administration People 100 54 51 95 116
Training Course of International Taxation Countries 6 4 3 5 5
for Asian Countries People 11 9 7 11 16
Countries 9 12 12 12 11
Practicum at the NTA
People 21 20 19 19 20

Examination and
Proper Tax
Collection
(2) Participation by tax authorities in international conferences

Cooperation in countries for resolution of problems on double taxation and tax avoidance
As globalization and advanced technology of the economy brings an increase in new forms of

transactions, there is the double taxation problem of more than one country imposing taxes on one

Taxpayer Rights
income, and the taxation loophole problem of tax avoidance in which tax is not imposed in any country.

Remedy for
These issues should be addressed by each country's tax authorities. In order to solve such problems and
to cooperate and share experience among each country's tax authorities, the NTA actively participates in
various international conferences. The main conferences are described below: OECD Forum on Tax
Administration (FTA), Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR), and OECD
Committee on Fiscal Affairs (CFA).

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
OECD Forum on Tax Administration (FTA)
The OECD Forum on Tax Administration is a forum for sharing each country's knowledge and
experience on a wide range of elds in tax administrations. In May 2013, the 8th Forum was held in
Moscow, Russia with discussions about countermeasures against international tax avoidance utilizing
cross-border transactions (offshore non-compliance), action plan on the issues of Base Erosion and

Prot Shifting (BEPS)and improvement of tax compliance of businesses, etc.

Revision of Operations
Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR)

and Systems
The Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR) is comprised of tax
authorities of 16 countries and regions in Asia. This is a forum for discussions on cooperation and
sharing of knowledge in the region. In October 2013, the 43rd meeting was held in South Korea, with
discussions about promotion of international cooperation in the area of tax administration and common
problems the countries are facing.

OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs (CFA)

Evaluation of
Policies

The OECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs is a forum where the Model Tax Convention and Transfer
Pricing Guidelines are reviewed, and the tax authorities share their knowledge and experience.
Currently CFA is working particularly for the preparation of rules for automatic exchange between
countries of information such as the balance of bank accounts of non-residents as well as preparation
of measures against BEPS, which is a problem that multinational companies try to reduce their tax
liabilities globally by using complex transactions that combine each country's tax break system and tax
Statistics

treaties, etc. and transferring their income to a country that imposes smaller or no tax liability. The NTA
has been actively participating in such activities of CFA. For further details, please refer to the NTA
websiteOECD Committee on Fiscal Affairs (CFA) . www.nta.go.jp/sonota/kokusai/oecd/oecd.htm

44
 Remedy for Taxpayer Rights
When the District Director of Tax Ofce etc. does a disposition for taxation or disposition for delinquent tax,
if the taxpayer objects to that disposition, the taxpayer can le a request for review, for example to cancel that
disposition. This system of request for review is a procedure to simply and quickly protect taxpayer rights and
interests. In principle, a taxpayer who objects to a disposition shall rst le a request for review before bringing a
lawsuit in court.
A request for review can be a request for reinvestigation to the District Director of the Tax Ofce, etc., or a
request for reconsideration to the Director-General of the National Tax Tribunal, and in principle, a request for
reconsideration can be done after a request for reinvestigation was done.
Laws related to this request for review system were revised in June 2014. (See page 48 for the outline of
revision and the date of commencement of application.)

Overview of the request for review system for national tax

If dissatisfied with the If dissatisfied with the If dissatisfied with

decision made by the
decision by the District decision by Regional Registrar or Minister
Director of the Tax Office Commissioner of Land, Infrastructure
and Transport and
Tourism, etc. regarding
registration and license
Within 2 months Within 2 months tax and/or motor

Direct request for reconsideration by choice

Direct request for reconsideration by choice

vehicle tonnage tax

Request for reinvestigation

to District Director of Request for

Direct request for reconsideration

Tax Office (to Regional reinvestigation to
(correction to blue returns, etc.)

Commissioner if based Regional

on tax examination by
officials of the Regional Commissioner
Taxation Bureau)

If no decision on a
request for
reinvestigation is
made within 3 months

Decision on request Decision on request

for reinvestigation for reinvestigation
Within Within Within
2 months 2 months 2 months
Within 1 month Within 1 month

Request for Reconsideration to the Director General of National Tax Tribunal

If no decision on a
request for reconsideration
is made within 3 months

Decision on request
for reconsideration

Within 6 months

Litigation for invalidating the original decision (district court), etc.

45

(1) Request for reinvestigation

About the NTA

Simplied, prompt and appropriate remedies for taxpayer rights
A request for reinvestigation is the rst stage in the administrative appeal led with regard to national
taxes. In case the District Director of the Tax Office etc. took action for a correction, determination, or
seizure with which a taxpayer is dissatised, this is a procedure to request to the District Director of the Tax
Ofce (a government agency) etc., that the ruling be revoked or changed.

Services for Taxpayers

As cases requesting reinvestigation are becoming increasingly complicated due to greater geographic

Enhancement of
scope and globalization of economic transactions, and an increasing number of cases involve difculties
in grasping the facts and in the interpretation and application of law. Under these circumstances, the NTA
addresses the uniform enforcement of tax laws across the country based on correct interpretations mainly
through the Rulings and Legal Affairs Divisions and the Special Ofcers (Legal Affairs) established in each
Regional Taxation Bureau. In addition, the NTA provides various training to develop tax ofcials who are
skilled in reviewing and endeavors to properly and promptly handle taxpayer requests for reinvestigations.

Examination and
(2) Request for reconsideration

Proper Tax
Collection
Remedy for taxpayer rights by a fair third-party institution
Taxpayers who are dissatisfied with the determination made in relation to the above request for
reinvestigation are entitled to file a request for reconsideration with the Director-General of the National
Tax Tribunal. The National Tax Tribunal, of which missions are to remedy the legitimate rights and interests
of taxpayers, and to contribute to ensure proper operation of tax administration, makes its decisions on

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
requests for reconsideration as a fair third party between the claimant and the District Director of the
Tax Ofce etc. Important posts such as the Director-General for the National Tax Tribunal, as well as the
Directors of the Tokyo and Osaka Regional Tax Tribunals, are appointed from among those who have been
justices or public prosecutors.
Appeals judges for the National Tax Tribunal are also appointed as ofcials with xed terms of ofce
from among those who have been specialists such as CPTAs and lawyers in the private sector.
In handling a request for reconsideration, the National Tax Tribunal contacts the claimant and the District

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Director of the Tax Office etc. early on to have a good grasp of claims made. It clarifies their arguments
early on, for example by drafting a conrmation chart outlining the points of the dispute. The Tribunal fully
investigates the content of documentary evidence etc. presented by both parties, conducts its own tax
examinations, and strives to properly and quickly handle the request for reconsideration from the taxpayer.
Decisions by the Director-General of the National Tax Tribunal will not be more disadvantageous to
taxpayers than those made by the District Director of the Tax Ofce. The decision is a nal ruling given
within the NTA, against which the District Director of the Tax Ofce etc. are not entitled to le litigation,

Revision of Operations
even if dissatised.

and Systems
(3) Litigation
Remedy by law
Even after the decision by the Director-General of the National Tax Tribunal, taxpayers who remain
dissatised are entitled to le litigation with the judiciary seeking a legal remedy.
Evaluation of
Policies

(4) Trend in remedies for taxpayer rights

The NTA is working to nish processing requests for reinvestigation within 3 months
and requests for reconsideration within one year in principle

a. Request for reinvestigation
Target
Statistics

The NTA is striving to nish processing requests for reinvestigations within 3 months in principle.
Result
In FY2013, 97.0% of requests for reinvestigation were closed within 3 months.
2,534 reinvestigations were requested in the scal year (2,183 in taxation and 351 in tax collection).
Of these, 10.0% of taxpayer claims were approved in whole or in part due to new facts, etc.

46
 Remedy for Taxpayer Rights

b. Request for reconsideration

Target
With respect to requests for reconsideration, the NTA is working to nish processing within one year
in principle.
Result
In FY2013, 96.2% of requests for reconsideration were closed within one year.
There were 3,073 requests for reconsideration in the scal year (2,907 in taxation and 166 in tax
collection). Of these, 7.7% of taxpayer claims were approved in whole or in part.
c. Litigation
For litigation, 328 cases were closed in FY2013 (267 in taxation, 57 in tax collection and 4 in the
National Tax Tribunal). Of these, about 7.3% of taxpayer claims were approved in whole or in part.

* The NTA and the National Tax Tribunal provide information such as overviews of the requests for
reinvestigation, the requests for reconsideration and litigation, and cases of decisions on requests for
reconsideration, to deepen understanding about remedy for taxpayer rights. These are on the NTA website
and on the National Tax Tribunal website www.kfs.go.jp

Percentage of processed requests for Percentage of processed requests for

reinvestigation within 3 months, and number reconsideration within one year, and number
of processed requests for reinvestigation of processed requests for reconsideration
Percentage of processed cases Percentage of processed cases

Number of cases (tax collection-related) Number of cases (tax collection-related)

Number of cases (taxation-related) cases Number of cases (taxation-related)
cases % %
10,000 100 5,000 100
92.6 92.2 93.2
96.9 97.7 99.0 97.0 96.9 96.2 96.2
95.4
92.6
Shifting Over 90%
8,000 80 4,000 80
3,717
3,618
Shifting Over 90% 462 230
3,073
2,967
6,000 60 3,000 166 60
2,814
5,313 297 2,593 421
4,997
700 4,746 282 P
4,511
916 822 393
4,000 40 2,000 40
3,286 3,255 3,388
2,907
423
2,534 2,517 2,546
2,311
4,613 351
4,081 3,924 4,118 1,000 20
2,000 20
2,863
2,183

0 0 0 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
fiscal year fiscal year
*These figures are provisional numbers as of the end of April 2014. *These figures are provisional numbers as of the end of April 2014.
Percentage of processed cases is calculated excluding MAP cases,
public prosecution-related cases and international taxation cases.

Response to complaints from taxpayers

The NTA receives from taxpayers such reactions as complaints, requests, criticism, or consultation
on problems they have, not only with regard to requests for review of decisions by the NTA, but also about
tax administration in general including the attitude of ofcials or the methods of tax examinations, etc. The
NTA believes it essential to sincerely respond to a variety of opinions from taxpayers in order to obtain their
understanding and condence and endeavors to give a prompt, accurate response from the perspective
of taxpayers. In July 2001, the NTA appointed Taxpayer Support Ofcers to properly respond to taxpayer
complaints on decisions made in relation to taxpayers' rights and interests, for example by explaining the
procedures to remedy taxpayer rights.

47

About the NTA

ColumnOutline of revision of the request for review system for national tax
1Purpose of revision
In June 2014, the Administrative Appeal Act was comprehensively revised from the viewpoint of
improving fairness and usability, and the request for review system for national tax was also revised by
the Act on Arrangement of Relevant Acts Incidental to Enforcement of the Administrative Appeal Act.

Services for Taxpayers

2Outline of revision

Enhancement of
(1)Revision of the principle of a request for reconsideration after a request for reinvestigation
If a taxpayer is discontent with any disposition made by a District Director of Tax Office, such
taxpayer can, at his or her option, make a request for reconsideration directly to the Director-General
of the National Tax Tribunal without making a request for reinvestigation to a District Director of Tax
Ofce, etc.
The Japanese name of a request for reinvestigation is changed fromIgi MoshitatetoSaichosa

no Seikyu.

Examination and
(2)Extension of the request for review period

Proper Tax
Collection
The period in which a taxpayer can make a request for review has been extended towithin three
monthsfrom the day following the date on which such taxpayer learns that a disposition was made.
(3)Inspection and copy of evidence in connection with a request for reconsideration
The persons concerned with review (the person requesting reconsideration, participants, District
Director of Tax Ofce, etc.) can inspect or request a copy of the item collected under the authorities of
the reviewer in charge in addition to the items voluntarily submitted by a District Director of Tax Ofce,

Taxpayer Rights
etc.

Remedy for
(4)Determination of standard review period and deliberate performance of review procedures
for a request for reconsideration
The revision has developed rules for efforts made to determine the standard review period and
the deliberate performance of oral opinion statement and other review procedures.
These revisions will become applicable on the date of enforcement of the Administrative Appeal Act

Proper Management of
(a date designated by Cabinet Order within two years after the date of promulgation [June 13, 2014]).

Liquor Administration
3Measures taken for the enforcement of law
The NTA and the National Tax Tribunal will prepare for the inspection and copying of evidence
and the deliberate performance of review procedures in order to achieve the proper and smooth
implementation of the request for review system for national tax.

Outline of revision of the request for review system for national tax

Revision of Operations
and Systems
Before revision After revision
If dissatisfied with the decision by If dissatisfied with the decision by
the District Director of the Tax Office the District Director of the Tax Office
Within 2 Within 2 Within 3 Within 3
months months months months
choice (If correction to
reconsideration by

Request for reinvestigation to Request for reinvestigation to

blue returns, etc.)
Direct request for

Direct request for

reconsideration

Option
District Director of Tax Office,etc. District Director of Tax Office,etc.
Evaluation of
Policies

Decision on request Decision on request

for reinvestigation() for reinvestigation()
Within 1 Within 1
month month

Request for Reconsideration to the Request for Reconsideration to the

Director General of National Tax Tribunal Director General of National Tax Tribunal

Inspection of Inspection and copying of evidence by
evidence by the
person requesting Decision on request the persons concerned with review Decision on request
Statistics

reconsideration for reconsideration() (the person requesting reconsideration, for reconsideration()

District Director of Tax Office, etc.)
Within 6 Deliberate performance of review Within 6
months procedures months

Litigation Litigation

()If no decision or determination is given by a District Director of Tax Office, etc. or the Director-General of the National Tax Tribunal within
three months, a request for reconsideration or litigation can be filed without the decision or determination.

48
 Proper Management of Liquor Administration
Conducted various initiatives in order to secure liquor tax revenues and achieve sound
development of the liquor industry
Both land tax and liquor tax were large revenue sources after the Meiji era. Liquor tax revenues even exceeded
land tax revenues at one time, becoming the largest revenue source. Thereafter, there was an increase in the
relative weight of direct taxes such as income tax and corporation tax, and in FY2012, liquor tax comprised only 2.9%
(1,349.6 billion) of all tax revenues. However, liquor tax is not affected much by the economy, and is expected to
provide stable tax revenues. Therefore, the liquor tax fullls an important role for national nance even today.
In contrast to general food items, a high rate of liquor tax is imposed on liquor. From the viewpoint of securing
liquor tax revenues, there is a system of licensing for manufacture and sale of liquor in order to secure stable
collection of liquor tax and smoothly shift the tax burden onto consumers. The NTA properly operates this system.
In addition, the NTA, as the government agency with jurisdiction over the liquor industry, takes various actions
in order to secure liquor tax revenues and work for sound development of liquor industry, based on comprehensive
perspective of both consumers and the industry, while considering changes in the environment faced by the liquor
industry, such as the arrival of decreasing population, the people's increasing awareness of health and safety, and
diversifying lifestyles.
In recent years, the entire government has been developing environment for exporting liquors produced in
Japan.

(1) Initiatives to ensure safety of liquor and enhance quality levels

For the purpose of providing consumers with safe and good quality liquors
The NTA works to ensure safety and enhance quality levels in all stages, from production through
consumption of liquors.
Specifically, the NTA provides the liquor manufacturers and distributors with technical guidance and
consultation concerning the safety of liquors, examines safety, quality and labeling of commercially sold
liquor. The results of examination are published for consumers on the NTA website.
Responding to the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant accident, the NTA is also conducting
measures to ensure the safety of liquors with regard to radiation in alliance with the National Research
Institute of Brewing, in such ways as radioactive examination on liquors.

National Research Institute of Brewing (NRIB)

National Research Institute of Brewing
(NRIB) performs advanced analyses and
appraisals of liquors required for proper and fair
taxation of liquor tax, and conducts researches
and studies to theoretically support its analyses
and appraisals, such as researches and studies
concerning the judgment of liquor items. It also
conducts researches, studies, and information
services contributing to the sound development of
the liquor industry, such as development of ways
to reduce harmful substances in liquors.
For further details, please visit the NRIB
Analysis being conducted
website: www.nrib.go.jp/English/index.htm
The NRIB distributes the latest information concerning liquor information
magazines and event information through its e-mail magazine. To register, please send
a blank e-mail to ssn@m.nrib.go.jp (Registration is also available with the QR code on
the right).

49

(2) Measures for appropriate labeling of liquors

About the NTA

For providing consumers with reliableness on purchasing liquors
In recent years, there were some inappropriate cases that affected consumer trust, for example, a sake
containing distilled alcohol has been labeled asJunmai-shu
.
The NTA endeavors to work for appropriate labeling of liquors so that consumers can purchase liquors

Services for Taxpayers

with reliableness.

Enhancement of
Specifically, the NTA provides liquor business operators with information and guidance on proper
indication based on laws and conducts inspection and examination on the labeling of liquors that are
purchased from the market by using the analysis method of the National Research Institute of Brewing.

(3) Response to social demands

For the prevention of inducement to improperly drink liquors

Examination and
Proper Tax
Collection
To prevent of inducement to improperly drink liquors such as underage drinking, the NTA provides
guidance to ensure labeling on liquor containers, obligatory indication where liquor is exhibited, and
appointment of liquor sales managers where liquor is sold.

For effective use of resources such as liquor containers

In order to ensure effective use of resources, the NTA also works to build awareness of systems,

Taxpayer Rights
to support liquor business operators' initiatives for liquor container recycling and reducing food waste

Remedy for
generated in liquor manufacturing processes, etc.

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Poster for the prevention of underage drinking Poster for the promotion of
(For public facilities, liquor shops etc.)
3R for liquor containers

Revision of Operations
(4) Initiatives to develop a fair trading environment in liquor
and Systems
For more fair liquor trade
For the promotion of voluntary initiatives of liquor business operators to secure fair liquor trade,
the NTA has established the Guidelines on Fair Liquor Trade and is working to build the awareness and
understanding of such guidelines.
The NTA also surveys actual trade practices according to the guidelines, and if it nds cases in which
Evaluation of

trading does not comply with the provided rules, it provides guidance for improvements, etc. As a result of
Policies

examination, if there is suspicion of violating the Anti-Monopoly Act, it takes actions such as reporting the
cases to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and cooperates with the FTC to take appropriate action.

(5) Providing information to liquor business operators

To stimulate the liquor industry

Statistics

The NTA organizes seminars by experts on management to introduce cases of management

innovation, provides information on measures for small- and medium-sized companies, and supports the
establishment of local brands. It also examines and analyzes the industry trends based on various surveys
conducted on manufacturers and distributors, and provides these results on the NTA website.

50
 Proper Management of Liquor Administration

ColumnApproaches to develop the environment for export of Japanese liquors
Communicate Japanese attractiveness to the world through Japanese
liquors
1Status of export of liquors Trend in the export amount of sake
In 2013, Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 million
12,000
Olympic Games and Japanese cuisine was registered 10,524
as a world's intangible cultural heritage. There was an 10,000
encouraging trend to introduce and develop Japanese 8,500
8,776 8,946

culture to overseas. 8,000

7,676

While domestic consumption of liquors tends to 7,048 7,184

reduce due to the decrease of drinking population 6,000 5,339

6,105

and the aging society, the export amount of Japanese 4,534

liquors tends to increase these years, thanks to the 4,000

3,922

Japanese food boom overseas, resulting in the record-

high export amount (approximately 25.1 billion) in 2,000
2013. Sake accounted for almost 40% of the export
amount (approximately 10.5 billion). Not only major 0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
sake manufacturers, but also small- and medium-sized year
* Data are based on the Foreign Trade Statistics
manufactures in various regions of Japan export sake. by the Ministry of Finance.

2Approaches to development of export environment

As well as developing the liquor industry, the expansion of export of Japanese liquors is expected
to bring spillover effects to related industries such as agriculture, food and liquor vessels, introduce the
traditional Japanese culture to the world and stimulate the regional economies through the promotion of
sightseeing tour centering on visiting sake breweries, which may lead to the development of Japanese
economy. From these viewpoints, development of export environment of Japanese liquors is positioned
as a part of Cool Japan Strategywhich means to elevate the brand value of Japan by introducing the
attractiveness of Japan to the world. Relevant ministries are working for it in cooperation with each other.
The NTA is taking the following initiatives:
(1)Support for liquor industry
The NTA regularly exchanges opinions with liquor industry organizations and organizes seminars
for individual liquor business operators to provide knowledge on international trade and other general
export transactions with the support of regional offices of the Japan External Trade Organization
(JETRO) and local branch ofces of relevant ministries, etc. The NTA has also prepared jointly with
JETRO theJapanese Sake Export Handbookfor liquor manufacturers.
(2)Efforts for abolishment and mitigation of trade barriers
Where the regulations or systems of the export destinations are the barriers, the NTA is making
efforts to remove such trade barriers by utilizing the government-level talks for the Economic
Partnership Agreement (EPA) or the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO).
Also, with the accident of Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant by the Great East Japan
Earthquake, some export destinations are imposing import restrictions, such as the import ban or
obligatory attachment of certicates to liquors made in specic prefectures. The NTA is urging them to
lift or mitigate the restrictions in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In such occasions, the
NTA is utilizing the results of radioactive examination and studies conducted in cooperation with the
National Research Institute of Brewing as scientic data. As the result, restrictions on Japanese liquors
have been lifted or mitigated in the EU, Brazil, Malaysia and Russia.
(3)Responses to international events, etc.

In order to effectively present the attractiveness of
Scene of the
Japanese liquors to the world, the NTA is taking various Japan Lunch
occasions to make the following approaches: at the Davos
In order to enhance the recognition of Japanese liquors Forum
overseas, the NTA supports to serve Japanese liquors with
cooperation of related industry organizations at various
events, including international conferences held overseas
(for example, Japan Lunch held at the Davos Forum in
January 2014).
In addition, as an overseas liquor education institution
Scene of the
for wine experts decided to organize a Japanese sake education of
course, the NTA supports an education of sake teachers in sake teachers
order to develop foreign promoter for sake.

51

 Revision of Operations and Systems

About the NTA

Promotion of administrative work efciencies using ICT
In order to improve convenience for people and achieve more simple, efcient, reliable and transparent
administrative operations by utilizing ICT in administrative areas and reviewing operations and systems, the
e-Government Establishment Planwas decided in July 2003. In addition, the Declaration to be the World's
Most Advanced IT Nationwas decided in June 2013 to realize the society that utilizes IT at the best level in

Services for Taxpayers

the world, and the entire government is promoting various measures.

Enhancement of
For implementing various measures, ministries and agencies created a medium term plan to optimize
operations and ICT systems aiming at overall optimization, and are working according to that plan.

Promotion for optimization of operations and systems

The NTA adopted the basic principles of Simplication and improvement in operational efciency

for appropriate performance, Improvement in the convenience of taxpayers by utilization of ICT,

Examination and
Proper Tax
Collection
Sophistication of the system related to examinations and collections of tax delinquency through the utilization
of ICT, Ensuring stability and reliability of ICT system and information security, and Reduction of ICT
system related expenses and ensuring transparency of procurement. The NTA used these principles to form
the Optimization Plan of Operations and Systems related to National Tax Administration,which was decided
in March 2006 (revised in February 2012) and has worked on optimization of operations and systems in

accordance with this plan.

Taxpayer Rights
The NTA has moved towards unifying internal operations, turning the KSK System into open systems1 and

Remedy for
integrating the equipment so far. In scal 2012, the NTA expanded the scope of tax information data linkage
with local public authorities and promoted more efcient processing of operations utilizing electronic data.
By completing all the measures mentioned in the optimization plan, we estimate annual reduction of
approximately 17.3 billion in costs, and approximately 137,000 man-days in total operation processing time.

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Implementation ofOptimization Plan of Operations and Systems ICT related to National Tax
related to National Tax Administration(diagram) Administration
e-Tax (online tax return
Phone Consultation
Center filing,etc.)
2 Use of ICT to improve taxpayer convenience
Taxpayers

Improvement of functions
and operation of e-Tax
Functional improvement of the

Revision of Operations
NTA website
NTA website

and Systems
Promotion of
Centralization of one-stop
tax consultation service

Processing of customer Reduce operations

Centralization of operations contact related tax returns, processing time
Promotion of outsourcing etc. Unification of in-office work
Simplification of operations
KSK system, etc.
Evaluation of

1 Simplification and improvement

in operational efficiency for
Policies

appropriate performance
Tax Office

Examinations and collections

Enhancement
of tax delinquency

3 Use of ICT for a more 4 Ensuring stability and

advanced system related reliability of ICT system and
information security
to examinations and
collections of tax
delinquency 5 Reduction of expenses
related to the ICT system, and
Statistics

ensuring transparency of
procurement

1Turning into open systems means to shift to the use of systems with a high degree of interchangeability that can accept multiple widely available
products rather than relying on specic manufacturer.

52
 Revision of Operations and Systems

Ensuring stability and reliability of ICT system and information security

Because the national tax-related operations are closely connected to public rights and obligations,
failure in its ICT system is likely to have a large impact on citizens and impair the credibility of tax
administration. Therefore, the NTA is working to maintain stable operation of ICT systems related to national
taxes by regularly updating ICT equipment.
Since ICT systems related to national taxes holds and accumulates a large amount of taxpayer
information, the NTA takes great care for prevention of their improper use and leakage. Therefore, the NTA
has allowed the ofcials to use only necessary information for work, has decided instructions on information
security and has made efforts to keep everyone informed about the instructions. The NTA further conducts
security audit regularly and takes necessary measures to ensure the information security.
At the computer center which stores data for e-Tax and the KSK System, the NTA built an information
security management system (ISMS)1 which complies with international standards, and in 2007, obtained
certication based on the ISMS compliance evaluation system (certication based on ISO/IEC27001:2005
and JISQ27001:2006)2. Obtaining certification led to development and strengthening of the information
security management system for the entire national tax system. This also enhanced staff awareness of
information security, as they work to operate the system with awareness and sense of mission.

Kokuzei Sogo Kanri (KSK) System

The KSK System, which links all Regional Taxation Bureaus and Tax Ofces, is a computer system
introduced to handle a variety of different administrative tasks. The entry of tax returns, tax payment records,
and a variety of information enables the centralized administration of national taxes receivable. Analyzed
data are used in tax examination and collection of delinquent tax. The computer system centralizes
information management across geographical regions and items of taxes, to achieve sophisticated, efcient
administration constituting the basis of tax administration.
The full-fledged development of the KSK System was started in 1990. The NTA phased in the
introduction of the KSK System starting in 1995, and nationally in 2001.

KSK System Taxpayers/CPTAs

Nationwide Online Processing
sing Tax
returns
T ax O f f ic es Sapporo

OCR entry of tax return

OCR Equipment PC

On
line

Sendai

Kanazawa e -Tax

Kanto-Shinetsu
Tokyo
Hiroshima Nagoya Internet
Fukuoka Takamatsu Computer
Osaka centers
On
line Kumamoto

Okinawa Office

1An Information Security Management System(ISMS) is an organizational initiative to implement the planning, operation, review and improvement
which are required in order to maintain a situation of appropriate management for condentiality and completeness and usability of information assets
which should be protected.
2ISO/IEC27001:2005 is one of the standards created by the International Organization for Standardization. This became a global standard for
information security management systems in October 2005. JISQ 27001:2006 is a Japanese domestic standard published in May 2006, corresponding
to ISO/IEC27001.

53

About the NTA

ColumnIntroduction of the Social Security and Tax Number System

1Purposes of the number system
In May 2013, the Act on Use of Numbers to Identify Particular Individuals in Administrative
Procedures(so-called The Number Act) and other bills related to The Number Act were promulgated.
Thus the social security and tax number system is introduced.
The social security and tax number system is the base of a more fair social security and tax system,

Services for Taxpayers

Enhancement of
and contributes to the people's convenience and a higher efciency of administration as infrastructure of
information society.
Personal numbers are rst introduced in limited areas such as the social security and tax elds.
On the other hand, corporate numbers shall be widely and generally disclosed. Both the public and
private sectors shall be able to make various uses of them.
2Introduction schedule
At present, introduction of the number system is scheduled as follows: Personal numbers and
Corporate numbers will be notied around the autumn of 2015. The numbers will start to be used from

Examination and
Proper Tax
January 2016 in the elds of social security, taxes and disaster measures, one after anothernote.

Collection
Based on the above, in accordance with the Act for Introduction of the Number Act,the numbers in
the tax area will start to be used from the tax returns of the year 2016 for income tax, from the tax returns
of the business year starting in or after January 2016 for corporate tax, from statutory statements for the
payment of money, etc. made in or after January 2016, from applications, etc. that should be submitted in
or after January 2016.
(Note)The date of enforcement of the Number Act is specified in the supplementary provision of the Act to be

Taxpayer Rights
enforced as from the date specied by Cabinet Order.

Remedy for
3Outline of the number system
(1)Notication of numbers
Personal numbers are designated by converting Resident Register codes and notied by mayors
using notication cards. Demanding that others provide the personal number is prohibited, except for
cases provided for in the Number Act.
Corporate numbers are designated by the Commissioner of the NTA based on the corporate

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
registration numbers held by the Ministry of Justice and are notied in writing. Three types of basic
information items ((1) trade name or name, (2) location of headquarters or main office, and (3)
corporate number) can be searched and viewed on the Internet, in principle.
(2)Utilization in the national tax eld
In the tax eld, the NTA considers that entry of the numbers on tax-related documents (such as
final tax returns and statutory statements, etc.) will facilitate name-based aggregation of statutory

statements and matching with tax returns. This is considered to improve the accurate grasp of income

Revision of Operations
and thus, contribute to proper and fair taxation.

and Systems
On the other hand, even with the use of the numbers, there are limits to how much information on
business income and foreign assets and transactions can be obtained. Some transactions are difcult
to recognize and verify only with statutory statements bearing the numbers, so we have to note that
recognition of all incomes is difcult.
(3)Improvement of convenience of taxpayers, etc.

With the introduction of the numbers, convenience of taxpayers can be expected, for example,
attachment of certificates of residence can be omitted in final tax return procedures by utilizing
Evaluation of
Policies

the Basic Resident Registration network system, and electric lings can be submitted to only one
address for the payment records and withholding records of salary/pension which the taxpayers are
required to submit with the same entries to both the national and the local governments.
The supplementary provision of the Number Act provides for establishment of the Disclosure of
Information System(so-called My Portal). To improve of people's convenience, the NTA considers

using this system to post some reference information in ling returns, for example, information related
to one's past tax returns and payments.
Statistics

4Approaches by the NTA

For the introduction of the number system, the NTA is preparing for smooth utilization of the numbers
in the national tax eld. This is, for example, to establish The Corporate Number System, for which
the NTA assigns Corporation numbers, and to remodel the existing systems such as Kokuzei Sogo
Kanri (KSK) System, and e-Tax.
54
 Evaluation of Policies
The purpose of policy evaluation is to fulfill accountability, realize results-based
administration and revitalize the organization
The purpose of the Results Evaluation for the Targets to Be Achieved by the NTA(policy evaluation)
is to clarify the NTA's missions and objectives to be achieved and fulll accountability to citizens and
taxpayers, continue promoting more efcient, high-quality and results-based administration that meets the
needs of the times and improve operations, enhance the motivation of staff, and revitalize the organization.
The Minister of Finance provides and releases theResults Evaluation Implementation Planand theResults
Evaluation Reportevery year.
The NTA's missions and assignment and the structure of results evaluation targets
In operation year 2012, the NTA's three duties provided in Article 19 of the Act for Establishment of the
Ministry of Finance were set as the targets to be achieved (Results Target 1 through 3). The Results Target 1
has four sub-results targets and six performance targets.

Concept ofthe NTAs missionsandresults evaluation targets(for operation year 2012)

The NTAs missions
Help taxpayers properly and smoothly fulfill their tax duties

Results evaluation targets

(Results Target 1)
Results targets

Proper and fair assessment and (Results Target 2) (Results Target 3)

collection of internal taxesB
(Results Target 1-1) Promotion of Ensuring proper
Proper tax (Results Target 1-2) (Results Target 1-3) (Results Target 1-4)
administrationB sound administration of
Proper examination
Actions taken in development of services by
accordance with Enhancement of and collection and Measures for
liquor industryA CPTAsB
the revision of the
Act on General Rules taxpayer servicesB remedy for taxpayer internationalization
for National Taxes, rightsB [Focused]A
Focused
etc.

Performance Target 1-2-1Enhancement of public hearing and public relations Performance Target 1-3-1Achieving of proper tax filing and conducting
B B
Performance

activities, etc. examinations and guidance

Performance Target 1-2-2Appropriate response to consultations, etc.B Performance Target 1-3-2Tax collection by the due date and strict and appropriate
targets

Performance Target 1-2-3Promotion of filings and payments utilizing ICT such B

implementation of disposition for delinquent tax
Focused
as online tax filing A Performance Target 1-3-3Measures for the request for reviewA

(Note) 1 The targets, etc. marked with [Focused] are those to be promoted more actively.
2 The achievement level of each target is evaluated with the following five grades.
S: Achieved.A: Considerably progressed for achievement.B: Progressed for achievement.
C: Only partially progressed for achievement.D: Not progressed for achievement.

Results of evaluation and improvement of operations

The following shows the major results of evaluation of each target for operations year 2012. The NTA is
working to improve tax administration in consideration of these results of evaluation and verication.
Regarding the Results Target 1, considerable progress has been made for the promotion of e-Tax, etc.
and measures for internationalization; however, we need to continue reviewing the implementation of
examination and collection for more effective and efcient management. In consideration of such matter, it
has been evaluated asB: Progressed for achievement.
Regarding the Results Target 2, appropriate measures have been taken to meet social needs such
as the prevention of underage drinking, and efforts have been made to develop export environment for
Japanese liquors. In consideration of such matter, it has been evaluated as A: Considerably progressed
for achievement.
Regarding the Results Target 3, appropriate guidance and supervision are provided to CPTAs, etc.,
but we still need to promote and establish the system of document attached by CPTAs, and conduct
appropriate examinations of CPTAs, etc. In consideration of such matter, it has been evaluated as B:
Progressed for achievement.

Ministry of Finance Round-table Conference for Policy Evaluation

In order to secure objectivity for the evaluation of results and improve the quality of evaluation, theMinistry
of Finance Round-table Conference for Policy Evaluation,which consists of experts, is held to obtain expert
opinions at the phase of implementation planning and evaluation.
Opinions on the evaluation of results for operation year 2012 include the following: We need to discuss
the use of tablet terminals and other devices for examination, etc. in order to prevent a loss of documents.
As national tax administration handles a large number of documents, e-Tax should be promoted from the
viewpoint of document management. The NTA adopts the method that sets specific target values and
objectively conrms the level of achievement. This is easy to understand.
* For details, please visit theNTA's Results Evaluationon the NTA website. (http://www.nta.go.jp/kohyo/katsudou/jissekihyoka/01.htm)

55

 Statistics

About the NTA

Tax revenues and budget 56 Tax revenues and budget
Budget and final accounts of taxes and stamp
revenues for scal year 2012
Tax returns and taxation 57 Item
Budget after
Actual
correction
Million yen Million yen

Services for Taxpayers

Withholding income tax 11,204,000 11,472,513

Enhancement of
Tax examinations 58 Self-assessed income tax 2,397,000 2,519,974
Corporation tax 8,992,000 9,758,311
Inheritance tax 1,504,000 1,503,946
Consumption tax 10,316,000 10,350,429
International taxation 58 Liquor tax 1,339,000 1,349,638

General Account
Tobacco tax 945,000 1,017,942
Gasoline tax 2,611,000 2,621,915
Liqueed petroleum gas tax 11,000 10,713
Delinquency 58

Examination and
Aviation fuel tax 44,000 49,360

Proper Tax
Collection
Petroleum and coal tax 546,000 566,946
Power resources 329,000 328,049
development promotion tax
Criminal investigation 59 Motor vehicle tonnage tax 417,000 396,894
Customs duty 910,000 897,230
Tonnage due 10,000 9,829

Other
Remedy for taxpayer rights 59 42

Taxpayer Rights
Stamp revenue 1,032,000 1,077,676

Remedy for
Subtotal 42,607,000 43,931,407

Tax consultations 60 Local gasoline tax 279,300 280,534

Liqueed petroleum gas tax 11,000 10,713
(transferred)
Aviation fuel tax (transferred) 12,600 14,103
Taxpayer satisfaction 60 Motor vehicle tonnage tax

Proper Management of
286,200 272,404

Liquor Administration
(transferred)
Special tonnage due 12,500 12,286
Special local corporation tax 1,658,700 1,669,821
Special tobacco tax 146,200 157,462
Special income tax for reconstruction 49,500 51,139
Special corporate tax for 506,200 649,372
reconstruction
Total 45,569,200 47,049,242

Otherincludes collection of delinquent tax, such as the commodity

Revision of Operations
The time period of gures is indicated in tax and land value tax, etc.

and Systems
its title or at the top right of individual tables. NTA initial budget for scal year 2014
The fiscal year is from April 1 through
Item Budget
March 31 of the following year (i.e. fiscal Million yen
year 2013: April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014), ICT-related expenses 39,765
while the operation year is from July 1 Expenses to improve convenience for taxpayers 1 10,019
Expenses related to internationalization measures 940
General Expenditures

through June 30 of the following year (i.e.

General operating expenses, etc. 2 58,655
operation year 2012: July 1, 2012 to June Expenses to improve work environment and ensure safety 3 9,735
Evaluation of
Policies

30, 2013). The calendar year ranges from Expenses related to tax reforms 10,343
January 1 through December 31 of the Expenses for National Tax College 2,305
same year for which income tax and other Expenses for National Tax Tribunal 331
Expenses for National Research Institute of Brewing 956
returns are led.
Common number system related costs 10,201
The amount of sub-total in each item of
Subtotal 143,251
accounts may not accord with the amount Salary costs 565,367
indicated in the grand total, due to rounding Total NTA budget 708,619
Statistics

of fractional gures. 1 Expenses to improve convenience for taxpayersincludes

expenses related to maintenance of the e-Tax and the filing
assistance on the NTA website.
2 General operating expenses, etc.includes expenses for tax
forms and correspondence, wage expenses for part-timers, travel
expenses, honoraria for hired bookkeeping instructors, and PR
expenses.
3 Expenses to improve work environment and ensure safety
includes expenses to improve facilities and health care.

56
 Statistics

Tax returns and taxation

Income tax Inheritance tax
Calendar year 2013 (Calendar year 2012)
Thousand people Number of deceased 1,256,359People
Total population 127,520 Number of deceased subject
52,572People
Number of persons engaged 62,700 to taxation
Number of taxpayers
Number of nal returns for income tax 21,430 147,920People
(number of heirs)
Refund 12,400 Taxable amount 10,771,800Million yen
Tax payment 6,220 Amount of tax 1,244,600Million yen
Business income earners 1,610
Gift tax
Other income earners 4,610
income earners

(Calendar year 2012)

Breakdown by

Real estate income earners 1,070 Number of people subject to taxation 355,924People
Employment income earners 2,360 Value of properties acquired 1,579,800Million yen
Miscellaneous income Amount of tax 128,800Million yen
earners 840
Figures include the taxation system for settlement at the time of
Other 340 inheritance.

Total populationand Number of persons engagedare gures

as of 2012.
Consumption tax
Withholding agents and withholding income tax
(Fiscal year 2012)
(Operation year 2012)
Category Payment Refund
Income etc. category Number of Amount of tax Thousand cases Thousand cases
tax returns
Number of

withholding agents
Individuals 1,143 31
Employment income Thousands Million yen
(wages and salaries) 3,561 9,061,300 Corporations 1,843 107
Retirement income - 240,000 Total 2,986 138
Interest income, etc. 41 436,700 Amount of tax 9,313,500 1,918,100
Million yen Million yen
Dividend income 129 2,138,900
Capital gains on listed
shares etc. kept in 11 44,900
special account
Liquor tax and liquor production
Income from
2,827 1,163,100
remuneration, etc. (Fiscal year 2012)
Income paid to non- Volume of
residents and foreign 28 268,700 Type Amount of tax
production
corporations, etc. Thousand kl Million yen
Total - 13,353,600 Sake 439 67,066
1The gures of withholding agents are gures as of the end of June Sake compounds 39 3,889
2013. Continuous distillation
2The amount of tax imposed on the income obtained on and after
399 89,918
Japanese spirits (Shochu
January 1, 2013 includes special income tax for reconstruction. Single system distillation
498 121,041
Japanese spirit (Shochu)
Mirin (rice cooking wine) 90 2,050
Number of corporations and corporation tax Beer 2,803 607,479
(Operation year 2012) Fruit wine 87 7,719
Number of corporations 2,985Thousands Sweet fruit wine 4 490
Number of tax returns led 2,761Thousands Whisky 84 30,127
Percentage of corporations ling 89.7% Brandy 5 1,850
Percentage of returns declaring a Sparkling liquor 626 104,609
27.4%
surplus
Alcohol for material & Spirits 326 26,775
Amount of self-assessed income 45,187,400Million yen
Liqueurs 1,891 154,755
Amount of self-assessed loss 16,822,600Million yen
Other brewed liquors
Amount of tax 10,010,500Million yen Powder liquor & 660 53,217
miscellaneous liquor
The number of corporations is the figure as of the end of June
2013. Total 7,949 1,270,984

57

About the NTA

Tax examinations
Examination of self-assessed income tax Examination of consumption tax
(Operation year 2012) (Operation year 2012)
Amount of Additional tax Number Number of Additional tax revenue
Number unrecorded
revenue collected Category of undeclared collected
Category of income cases cases Per case
cases

Services for Taxpayers

Per case Per case
Billion Thousand

Enhancement of
Field Billion Thousand Billion Thousand Thousands Thousands yen yen
examination Thousands yen yen yen yen Individuals 84 58 21.1 250
Special, 1 46 389.4 8,390 66.1 1,420
General Corporations 88 50 47.4 540
Focusing 2 24 65.6 2,790 4.3 180
Brief contact 3 612 402.8 660 29.6 50 Field examination of inheritance tax
Total 682 857.8 1,260 100.1 150 (Operation year 2012)
1Special, Generalrefers to a deep examination focused on the Number Number of Amount of Additional tax
large amount and serious violations. of
2Focusing refers to a quick examination to nd unrecorded
undeclared unrecorded inheritance revenue collected

Examination and
income, etc. cases cases Per case Per case

Proper Tax
3Brief contactmeans correction etc. of tax returns through written

Collection
documents, telephone call or request for coming to tax ofce. Thousands Thousands Billion Thousand Billion Thousand
yen yen yen yen
Field examination of withholding income tax 12 10 334.7 27,410 61.0 5,000
(Operation year 2012)
Number of illegal Additional tax Collected number of statutory information
Number of cases
cases revenue collected (Operation year 2012)
Thousands Thousands Billion yen Number
Name of statutory information
136 33 28.5 collected

Taxpayer Rights
Remedy for
The amount of additional tax revenue collected in connection with Payment record of dividends, distribution of Thousands
the income obtained on and after January 1, 2013 includes special surplus, and interest paid on guaranty capital 67,578
income tax for reconstruction.
Annual transaction report of special account 50,969
Field examination of corporation tax Withholding record of public pensions, etc. 38,939
(Operation year 2012) Payment record concerning transactions of 30,114
futures
Amount of Additional
Number unrecorded income tax revenue Payment record of remuneration, fees,
Category 21,908
of cases contracts and prize money
Per case collected

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Withholding record of employment income 19,429
Thousands Billion yen
Thousand
Billion yen Record of remittance and receipt related to
yen 5,636
foreign countries
All corporations 93 999.2 10,710 209.8
Other 59,188
Of which,
corporations Total 293,761
handled by the
large enterprise 3 462.9 159,090 101.1
examination
department
Delinquency

Revision of Operations
International taxation

and Systems
Tax delinquency cases of 100 million yen or more, by
industry
Fraudulent income through overseas transactions
(As of the end of scal year 2013)
(Operation year 2012)
Industry Number of persons Amount of tax
Number of examinations of corporations 12,506 Cases
conducting overseas transactions People % Million yen %
Manufacturing 30 3.3 5,964 2.3
Number of undeclared cases related to
overseas transactions 3,309 Cases Distribution 58 6.5 18,101 6.9

Of which, cases of overseas Real estate &

234 26.1 60,195 22.9
Evaluation of

470 Cases construction

fraudulent calculations
Policies

Amount of undeclared income related to Food & beverage 58 6.5 9,890 3.8
overseas transactions 245.2Billion yen
Financial 22 2.5 12,203 4.6
Of which, amount of overseas Other
16.9Billion yen 280 31.2 70,149 26.7
fraudulently omitted income industries 1
Other 2 215 24.0 86,470 32.9
Transfer pricing taxation
Total 897 100.0 262,972 100.0
(Operation year 2012)
1Other industriesrefers to hospitals (doctors), service industry,
Number of taxation cases 222 Cases leisure industry, etc.
Statistics

Amount of taxable income 97.4Billion yen 2Otherrefers to wage earners, pensioners, etc.

Cases of advance pricing arrangement related to

transfer pricing
(Operation year 2012)
Number of cases requested 127 Cases
Number of cases processed 138 Cases

58
 Statistics

Criminal investigation
Criminal investigations Filed accusations to the prosecutor, by tax item
(Fiscal year 2013) (Fiscal year 2013)
Number of Amount of tax Amount of tax evasion Number of Tax evasion
Number Number cases with evasion (led accusation to the prosecutor) Tax item cases Per case
of cases of cases accusation
Cases Billion yen Million yen
conducted closed led to the Per case Per case Income tax 18 2.0 113
prosecutor
Cases Cases Cases Billion yen Million yen Billion yen Million yen
Corporation tax 64 5.4 84
185 185 118 14.5 78 11.7 99 Inheritance tax 6 1.9 321
Consumption tax 16 0.9 57
Large-scale cases Withholding income
14 1.5 108
tax
(Fiscal year 2013) Total 118 11.7 99
Number of cases Cases of 300 million Cases of 500 million
with accusation led yen or more tax yen or more tax
to the prosecutor evasion evasion
Cases Cases Cases
118 4 2

Remedy for taxpayer rights

Request for reinvestigation

(Fiscal year 2012)
Number of new
Number of requests Number of cases Number of requests
Category requests for
for reinvestigation processed approved Percentage /
reinvestigation
Cases Cases Cases Cases
Taxation-related 3,631 3,033 2,863 322 11.2
Collection-related 471 391 423 3 0.7
Total 4,102 3,424 3,286 325 9.9
Request for reconsideration
(Fiscal year 2012)
Number of new
Number of requests requests for Number of cases Number of requests
Category
for reconsideration reconsideration processed approved Percentage /

Cases Cases Cases Cases

Taxation-related 6,076 3,384 3,388 443 13.1
Collection-related 330 214 230 8 3.5
Total 6,406 3,598 3,618 451 12.5
Litigation
(Fiscal year 2012)
Number of cases led Number of Number of lost cases
Category Number of litigations for rst instance cases closed and partial defeats Percentage /
Cases Cases Cases Cases
Taxation-related 594 142 300 20 6.7
Collection-related 117 43 76 4 5.3
National Tax
9 4 7
Tribunal-related
Total 720 189 383 24 6.3

The gures for cases for litigation are the total numbers for each level of trial.

59

About the NTA

Tax consultations
The five tax items most frequently the subject of Number of consultations at Phone Consultation
consultation Centers, by tax category
[Phone Consultation Centers] (Fiscal year 2013)
(Fiscal year 2013) Thousand cases

at Phone Consultation
Number of consultations

Services for Taxpayers

Tax Thousand Income tax 2,564

Centers, by tax category

Rank Items
category cases

Enhancement of
Corporation tax 272
Property tax 951
1 Income tax Obligations & procedures to le 423
tax returns, etc. Consumption tax 277
Special credit for loans relating Other indirect taxes 187
2 Income tax 275
to a dwelling General rules, collections 250
3 Income tax Medical expenses deduction 234 Other 688
4 Income tax Year-end adjustment 230 Total 5,190
5 Income tax Filing returns for refund 155

Examination and
Proper Tax
Collection
[Tax Answer System]
(Fiscal year 2013)
Tax Thousand
Rank Items
category cases
When have paid medical
1 Income tax expenses 2,597

(medical expenses deduction)

Taxpayer Rights
2 Income tax Tax rate of income tax 1,928

Remedy for
Medical expenses eligible for
3 Income tax 1,464
medical expenses deduction
When have built a new house or
purchased a newly built house
4 Income tax 1,385
(special credit for loans relating
to a dwelling)
5 Income tax Exemption for dependents 1,242

Proper Management of
Liquor Administration
Taxpayer satisfaction

(Fiscal year 2012)

Percentage
Items of Responses
Highly Rated
%

Revision of Operations
Attitude of ofcials in providing services 84.3
Satisfaction with guidance display in Tax

and Systems
77.6
Ofce, and use of reception & service
Satisfaction with use of facilities in Tax Ofce 67.0
PR activities 75.4
Satisfaction level at Phone Consultation
94.5
Center

The percentage of responses highly rated shows responses rated

as goodand somewhat goodon a ve point scale from good
tobadin the questionnaire survey.
Evaluation of
Policies

Statistics

60
NATIONAL TAX AGENCY REPORT
2014

Issued in September 2014

3-1-1 Kasumigaseki,
Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo,100-8978
Japan
TEL.03-3581-4161(Representative)
NTA Website (English)
http://www.nta.go.jp/foreign_language/index.htm


Online Tax Return Filing and Tax Payment System

Your taxes help to sustain our community