Taxation
8 items
Is the Childcare Support Levy a 'Bachelor Tax'? — The Logic and Contradictions of Social Insurance Funding
In April 2026, Japan began collecting a "Childcare Support Levy" as a surcharge on health insurance premiums — payable by all enrollees, including singles and childless households. Dubbed a "bachelor tax" on social media, this article examines the structural debate over social insurance vs. tax-based funding through international comparison with France's CNAF model.
The Structure of Japan's 55% Inheritance Tax — What the World's Highest Rate Really Means
Japan's top inheritance tax rate of 55% is the highest among OECD nations. In 2024, the share of decedents subject to inheritance tax exceeded 10% for the first time, signaling that this is no longer a tax affecting only the wealthy. Through international comparison and policy analysis, this article examines the structural issues that raw rate figures alone cannot reveal.
Is Babysitter Pay a 'Business Expense'? — The Structural Fault Line in Childcare Tax Deductions
Japan does not allow babysitter costs as a tax-deductible expense. While the US, UK, France, Germany, and Canada all provide tax benefits for childcare expenses, Japan's Income Tax Act classifies childcare as a "household expense" and excludes it from deductions. Ahead of the government's summer 2026 policy review, this article compares international systems and examines the design trade-offs.
The Paradox of Population Decline and Record Tax Revenue — How Much Has Per Capita Tax Burden Increased?
Japan's FY2026 tax revenue is projected at ¥83.7 trillion — a seventh consecutive record — while the population continues to decline. By visualizing per capita tax burden trends, this article examines the structure behind "record revenue yet fiscal strain."
How Many Income Walls Are There? — The Break-Even Points at ¥1.03M, ¥1.30M, ¥1.50M, and ¥2.01M
Japan's 'income walls' cause 56.7% of part-time workers to deliberately cap their earnings. This article systematically maps the mechanics behind the ¥1.03M, ¥1.06M, ¥1.30M, ¥1.50M, and ¥2.01M thresholds, the take-home pay reversals each triggers, and how the 2025–2026 reforms are—and are not—addressing the structural problem.
The Four Layers of "Stealth Tax Increases" — How the End of Flat-Rate Cuts, Rising Social Insurance, the Invoice System, and Defense Surtax Erode Take-Home Pay
The end of Japan's ¥40,000 flat-rate tax cut, rising social insurance premiums, the invoice system, and a new defense surtax — four mechanisms that avoid the word "tax increase" while steadily eroding disposable income. An analysis of the four-layer structure behind Japan's 46.2% national burden rate.
A 5-Million-Yen Salary in One Chart — Where ¥1.1M Goes, and How It Compares to 10 Years Ago
Take-home pay on a ¥5 million (approx. $33,000) annual salary is roughly ¥3.9 million. Where does the missing ¥1.1 million go? This article visualizes the breakdown — employee pension, health insurance, income tax, and resident tax — and traces how 'invisible deductions' have grown over the past 10 to 20 years, including the impact of the 2025 tax reform.
The Structure of Gasoline Double Taxation — The 'Tax on Tax' Problem That Persists After Provisional Rate Abolition
The provisional gasoline tax rate was abolished at the end of 2025, halving the gasoline tax to ¥28.7/L, but the double taxation structure — applying 10% consumption tax on top of gasoline taxes — remains untouched. Tracing 50 years of tax policy and the structural dynamics leading to the March 2026 subsidy restart.