for tax purposes.
I'm thinking ahead here although tax time is some way off - I remember it is in March from my previous time in Japan, am I correct? I'm sure that Japan's tax laws for gaijin hold that we are permanent residents for tax purposes if we've been here 5 years out of the last 10 years.
Could somebody verify this? I am in Japan 2nd time around and I'm not looking forward to my visit to the ward office or tax office or both with my control freak boss. Generally the Japanese (not talking about Japanese friends here) will throw gaijin under the bus to maintain good relations and tatemae with other Japanese irrespective of whether it's fair to the gaijin or not.
I am sure my boss will be more than eager to ensure the tax people know just about everything they can about everything to do with me and my life, even things that don't have to be given as information, and keen to assist them in extracting as much tax as they can from the gaijin hired help.
I don't think my tax experience should be that difficult even if I am considered a permanent residence for tax payers depending on the Japanese definition. However, I have noticed a lot of over-reach these days in Japan including being badgered for my passport by a net cafe when I have a resident card and that should be enough for ID. Japanese jobsworths - not important people - want to put conditions they really have no right to on gaijin doing usual, simple things. I don't need my boss running with the definition of permanent residency status taxpayer and interfering in my life.
Does the 5 yrs out of the last 10 yrs residency rule for being treated as a permanent resident for tax purposes kick in from this year when I returned or will they count the last 10 years from March 2014 when I go to get my taxes done?
I am also wondering about how they can determine dates - I lost my old, finished passport some time after I left Japan but when I got back home I photocopied the page that showed my departure stamp. It seems to me that the days of the discreet J authorities not pressing gaijin too hard and asking too many questions has gone and they will want proof I have not lived for their definition of 5 yrs out of the last 10 in Japan.