Applying to get a tax refund for previous years.

[jwills79]

I have worked and lived in Japan for 5 years. I still have all the appropriate paperwork regarding my taxes including receipts. I didn't take advantage of the tax deductions that apply to me for previous four years. I am taking advantage of them this year. I was wondering about amending the previous years to get a refund as well.

How many years back can someone apply for a tax refund? Where would I get the forms for previous years? Or can I just used the current form and fill-in the years for tax refund.

I am also wondering how does this affect my Ward tax and ward insurance? Could this reduce my payments? If I amend my previous tax years then could I get a refund for paying too much in taxes and insurance for previous years? Or could I get credit that could be applied towards future tax and insurance?

What would I need to do to make these changes in my payments?

All help will be appreciated

[KansaiBen]

I have worked and lived in Japan for 5 years. I still have all the appropriate paperwork regarding my taxes including receipts. I didn't take advantage of the tax deductions that apply to me for previous four years. I am taking advantage of them this year. I was wondering about amending the previous years to get a refund as well.


which begs the question of why you didnt file your returns each year as you were supposed to, Any reason for that?



How many years back can someone apply for a tax refund? Where would I get the forms for previous years? Or can I just used the current form and fill-in the years for tax refund.

If I'm not mistaken there are deadlines for submitting tax forms each year and failure to do so can mean you forfeit any rebates owing. Best people to talk to are the folks at the tax office as they would have the most reliable information.

[jwills79]

which begs the question of why you didnt file your returns each year as you were supposed to, Any reason for that?

I did file returns each year. I just didn't know about all the tax deductions I qualified for. I should have received decent refunds for those years. I would like to amend those previous with the tax deductions included.



If I'm not mistaken there are deadlines for submitting tax forms each year and failure to do so can mean you forfeit any rebates owing. Best people to talk to are the folks at the tax office as they would have the most reliable information.

I know but I figured that 5 years or so would be the limit like in other countries. I want to amend my previous tax years.

[TJrandom]

AS KB says - better to ask the tax office.... but I seem to recall that it is three years back that you can refile. I don't think that your additional deductions would affect the ward tax, as I believe that it is calculated "pre-deductions".

The tax offices would have all of the forms and booklets that you would need - which are relevant only for those years (hence you cannot just copy this year's forms.)

Good luck

[NorthByNorthwest]

Check out my old question on this board: http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?84385-How-far-back-can-one-file-an-amended-Japanese-tax-return

If you file before February 15th 2011, you can file amended tax returns for FY2005, FY2006, FY2007, FY2008, FY2009, FY2010 ... after February 2011, then FY2006 to FY 2009 only.

You can often get the exact forms used for each year from your nearest National Tax Agency office. However since the format is relatively simple and with only a few exceptions very similar, you can use a FY2008 form (or whatever they have on hand) for all your amended returns. That's what happened to me without any problems.

Things you want to make certain of are thing like your registered addresses matching with the gensencho form that your employer(s) issue to you. If required, you can get them to re-issue it. Also, it is a good idea to make a copy of your Japanese bank account name, account number etc and include that in your return. Others have posted that if your name on the account is off by even one initial (eg John P. Allen versus John Allen or John Patrick Allen) they will hold back on wiring your tax refund.

I am not sure about getting a refund on your previous year's local taxes (10% of taxable income) or on social insurance premiums but it may not hurt to ask after you have filed. That would entail paying a visit to your local ward office and asking them to look up or order your amended national tax returns and figure out what their policy is (and report back what you find). I do know that going forward, both your local residency taxes and also social insurance premiums (calculated as a percentage of taxable income) should drop significantly as a result of your lowered taxable income.

As you have receipts etc., you might be told to file the blue form (ao iro kakutei shinkoku) .. which requires itemized deductions etc However if you listen to the advice on http://www.gaijintax.com (examples set to FY2008), they advise you to go for the white form which does not required itemized deductions ... and is much much easier to fill out and submit.

[jwills79]

Check out my old question on this board: http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?84385-How-far-back-can-one-file-an-amended-Japanese-tax-return

If you file before February 15th 2011, you can file amended tax returns for FY2005, FY2006, FY2007, FY2008, FY2009, FY2010 ... after February 2011, then FY2006 to FY 2009 only.

You can often get the exact forms used for each year from your nearest National Tax Agency office. However since the format is relatively simple and with only a few exceptions very similar, you can use a FY2008 form (or whatever they have on hand) for all your amended returns. That's what happened to me without any problems.

Things you want to make certain of are thing like your registered addresses matching with the gensencho form that your employer(s) issue to you. If required, you can get them to re-issue it. Also, it is a good idea to make a copy of your Japanese bank account name, account number etc and include that in your return. Others have posted that if your name on the account is off by even one initial (eg John P. Allen versus John Allen or John Patrick Allen) they will hold back on wiring your tax refund.

I am not sure about getting a refund on your previous year's local taxes (10% of taxable income) or on social insurance premiums but it may not hurt to ask after you have filed. That would entail paying a visit to your local ward office and asking them to look up or order your amended national tax returns and figure out what their policy is (and report back what you find). I do know that going forward, both your local residency taxes and also social insurance premiums (calculated as a percentage of taxable income) should drop significantly as a result of your lowered taxable income.

As you have receipts etc., you might be told to file the blue form (ao iro kakutei shinkoku) .. which requires itemized deductions etc However if you listen to the advice on http://www.gaijintax.com (examples set to FY2008), they advise you to go for the white form which does not required itemized deductions ... and is much much easier to fill out and submit.

Thanks for info. I picked up the forms for all the years without a problem. I got a lot of work to do.

[evilone]

As an aside, having annual lump-sum premiums for life-insurance/private-pension due in Nov/Dec really sucks because you have to file an amended return every time (you never get your premium certificate in time for filings if your company prepares your return). If you want to avoid the hassle, need to time when you sign up for them.

[jwills79]

As an aside, having annual lump-sum premiums for life-insurance/private-pension due in Nov/Dec really sucks because you have to file an amended return every time (you never get your premium certificate in time for filings if your company prepares your return). If you want to avoid the hassle, need to time when you sign up for them.

Thank you!