Japan Master Tax Guide 2019/20 (17th Edition)

The Japan Master Tax Guide 2019/2020 provides an informative framework of Japanese taxes in English and includes insightful commentary on the Japanese tax statutes, regulations and National Tax Agency circulars. Using non-technical language and illustrative examples, flowcharts and relevant citations to Japanese laws and regulations, it allows non-Japanese tax practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese tax laws.

With abundant citations to the underlying authorities and with Japanese translations provided for topic headings and technical terms, the Japan Master Tax Guide 2019/2020 has been updated to reflect legislation promulgated through 31 March 2019.

New in this edition:

• 所得税法等の一部を改正する法律（平成 31 年法律第 6 号）

Law to Partially Revise the Income Tax Law, etc., Law No 6 of 2019, 27 March 2019 (generally effective from 1 April 2019 with other effective dates for some provisions).

• 社会保障の安定財源の確保等を図る税制の抜本的な改革を行うための消費税法の一部を改正する等の法律等の一部を改正する法律（平成28年法律第85 号）

Law to Partially Revise the Consumption Tax Law in Order to Fundamentally Reform the Tax System to Secure Stable Financial Resources for Social Security, etc., Law No 85 of 2016, 28 November 2016).  This law delayed implementation of an increase in the rate of the Japanese Consumption Tax from 8% to 10% rate until 1 October 2019 at which time the new rate is scheduled to take effect unless there is an intervening economic crisis.  Despite concerns that the rate increase could negatively affect the nation’s economy, Prime Minister Abe has indicated that only “an event with the magnitude of the Lehman Brothers shock” would deter him from implementing the rate increase as scheduled on 1 October 2019.

Legislative items which have not been approved by the Diet are identified in the text of this edition of the Japan Master Tax Guide as proposed legislation.

Key features of the guide include:

• Expert commentary written in clear and concise English, with headings in Kanji character.
• Easy to use flowcharts, tables, including up-to-date withholding tax tables reflecting the latest tax law changes.
• Detailed references to the original Japanese statutes and regulations.
• English translation of commonly-used forms.

Key benefits of the guide include:

• Concise and easy-to-read, the guide gives readers a clear and current understanding of their tax liabilities and entitlements.
• Assists with the preparation of income tax returns and allows for quick location of answers to tax questions.
• Practical worked examples help illustrate how the law is applied in practice.
• Provides complete coverage of Japan’s tax requirements that helps mitigate the risk of non-compliance and unnecessary penalty exposure.