Harry Potter And The Translator's Haven

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo: Harry Potter translator fails to declare income
The Japanese translator of the global bestseller Harry Potter series, Yuko Matsuoka, is suspected of failing to declare 3.5 billion yen in income in three years to 2004, sources familiar with the case said Wednesday. Matsuoka, 62, has not declared income in Japan saying she has lived in Switzerland, but Japanese tax authorities, recognizing she has often visited Japan and is virtually a resident of Japan, apparently imposed more than 700 million yen in back taxes on her, the sources said. Matsuoka has apparently filed an appeal against the taxation and requested for a consultation between the Japanese and Swiss governments in hopes that she will be recognized as a Swiss resident, they said...more...

[GomiGirl]

She must be on Royalties.. probably why she did the contract overseas as usually translators don't get a cut on royalties here.. Especially not the movie ranslators/subtitlers.

[Greji]

She must be on Royalties.. probably why she did the contract overseas as usually translators don't get a cut on royalties here.. Especially not the movie ranslators/subtitlers.

But it really doesn't matter to the tax office. A Japanese transfering money back into Japan can get dinged at anytime no matter how long it has been. They will also trace any fund trails you provide them and can ding you on that.

Most J-people believe the tabloids and think they can shuttle funds in and out of Japan through offshore banking and as always, the tax office just waits for the return through Japan and makes notes for future assessments.

The reverse also occurs in the states when many of the J-high rollers traveling back and forth to Los Vegas, Reno and Atlantic city during the bubble, were and continue to be surprised when IRS nails them on return visits to the states for not paying taxes from big gaming on previous visits.

[amdg]

Yeah, but she made at least 3.5 billion yen in income over three years - you think she could have hired someone to work out a decent tax plan for her.
I hope she gets hit for punitive and lost interest.

[Taro Toporific]

... you think she could have hired someone to work out a decent tax plan for her. ...

I thought that Swiss taxes are much higher than Japanese. What gives?*:confused:


*(I posted this comment once before, but it seems to have disappeared.)

[Mulboyne]

All accountants need to learn a few new tricks. The tax authorities are a different beast these days as they see it as their job to single-handedly rectify Japan's fiscal woes. This is a similar judgement to the one handed out against Toshiki Takei, the Takefuji heir, who claimed to be resident in Hong Kong.

[Taro Toporific]

All accountants need to learn a few new tricks. The tax authorities are a different beast these days as they see it as their job to single-handedly rectify Japan's fiscal woes.

Also....
Just a reminder to all f'ed gaijin: JAPANESE lawyers and tax accountants are swore servants of the Court and have a responsiblily to the "public good". Meaning: THEY WILL RAT YOU OUT (Client-lawyer privilege is NOT sacrosanct in Japan).

[Taro Toporific]

The Japanese translator of the global bestseller Harry Potter series, Yuko Matsuoka...

I forgot to mention that I have heard nothing but glowing praise from professional Japanese translators about Yuko Matsuoka's translations. UNLIKE the constant complaints made about Natsuko Toda (Japan's No1 subtitler), Yuko Matsuoka is loved by fellow translators (only the freakazoids whine about her flawless work).

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo via JapanToday: 'Harry Potter' translator having tax problems

Japan and Switzerland have determined that the Japanese translator of the global bestselling Harry Potter series, Yuko Matsuoka, effectively resided in Japan through 2005, upholding claims by the Japanese tax authorities over her failure to declare taxable income in the three years up to 2004, sources close to the case said Monday. Matsuoka, 63, had asked for consultations between the Japanese and Swiss authorities over her residency after insisting that she did not declare her income in Japan because she lived in Switzerland. She made the request to avoid having to pay tax in both countries as she had already declared taxable income in Switzerland. Japanese tax authorities have ordered her to pay more than 700 million yen in back taxes over 3.5 billion yen in undeclared income in the three-year period because she was then involved in a publication business in Japan and frequently returned home. Japan taxes resident Japanese on all income, whether it is earned in or outside Japan.

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Takefuji exec ordered to pay 133 billion yen in back taxes

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday ruled that a former executive of Takefuji Corp. has to pay back taxes on stock donations from his parents, reversing a lower court decision that had overturned a government order for him to pay the back taxes. Toshiki Takei, a 42-year-old son of the consumer finance company's founder and former chairman, Yasuo Takei, had earlier filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court seeking exemption from 133 billion yen in back taxes on shares given to him by his parents. In the new ruling, presiding Judge Kozo Yanagida concluded that Takei was living abroad to avoid taxation, and overturned the lower court decision and dismissed Takei's claims. "It was legal [for the government] to impose taxes on Takei, who was legally considered a resident of Japan," the ruling said. Takei plans to appeal to a higher court, sources said.

[ttjereth]

She must be on Royalties.. probably why she did the contract overseas as usually translators don't get a cut on royalties here.. Especially not the movie ranslators/subtitlers.

I'm generally really happy just when I manage to get my name credited.

Royalties... sigh

[American Oyaji]

The reverse also occurs in the states when many of the J-high rollers traveling back and forth to Los Vegas, Reno and Atlantic city during the bubble, were and continue to be surprised when IRS nails them on return visits to the states for not paying taxes from big gaming on previous visits.

It's rather interesting and sad at the same time that governments can display this degree of fiscal responsibility in making sure that the money gets collected and tracked into federal hoards but be wantonly financially irresponsible when using the money to buy $799 toilets in bulk that only cost $200 at the hardware store.

[Mulboyne]

Matsuoka was on hand at the Tokyo launch of her translation of the final Harry Potter book.