Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Pajak dan Asuransi untuk Visa Tokutei Ginou
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Employees working under the Tokutei Ginou Specified Skilled Worker visa must comply with the tax and insurance regulations in Japan.
In Japan, every resident between the ages of 20 and 60, including foreign residents, is required to participate in the pension system (年金 – Nenkin) and to enroll in the respective insurance programs by law. Workers holding the Tokutei Ginou visa are also obligated to comply with these requirements.
Japan's pension system (年金) includes two types: National Pension (国民年金) and Employee’s Welfare Pension (厚生年金). The National Pension is designed for all residents in Japan aged 20 to 60, regardless of nationality, occupation, or gender. The monthly contribution (年金保険料) is based on an individual's income and helps to ensure a stable life after retirement. The Employee’s Welfare Pension, on the other hand, is mandatory for those working in companies.
Regarding insurance, when employed by a company, you are required to contribute to Social Insurance (社会保険).
How much do you need to pay?
The amount for insurance and pension contributions is legally mandated and not arbitrarily set by any company or organization. The contribution depends on the residence status and job, proportionate to the individual's income, typically around 17.828% of the monthly salary. This amount is equally shared between the employer and the employee.
Participation in pension and insurance systems is a responsibility of every worker in Japan. If you fail to contribute, the administration may contact you via phone or send written notifications. If you continue to miss payments, they will send warnings and could potentially levy or freeze your assets (directly from your bank account). Therefore, you must fulfill your pension and insurance obligations to receive rightful benefits later.
Procedures to reclaim pension contributions after returning to your home country:
When you participate in the pension system, monthly payments are made upon retirement. However, many foreign workers do not stay in Japan until retirement to claim these benefits. To address this, the Japanese government has the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment system (脱退一時金の請求) which allows foreigners to reclaim their pension contributions after returning to their home countries, provided the process is completed within two years of departure.
Necessary documents for reclaiming pension contributions are:
- A copy of your passport (including the page with the last departure stamp from Japan)
- Proof that you no longer reside in Japan
- Bank account information, including bank name, branch name, branch address, account number, with the bank's official stamp (preferably from major banks that can receive international transfers)
- Pension Handbook (年金手帳)
-
Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Request Form (脱退一時金請求書)
Once all documents are prepared, send your application by EMS to: Japan Pension Service 3-5-24 Takaido-nishi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, 168-8505, Japan
Amount you can reclaim:
For National Pension (国民年金), income tax is not deducted from the reclaimed amount. For Employee's Welfare Pension (厚生年金), 20.42% will be withheld for income tax, so you will receive 79.58% of the total contributions. The deducted 20.42% can also be reclaimed through a secondary process often referred to as the "Second Nenkin Retrieval."
Steps for the second Nenkin retrieval:
- Appoint a trusted individual or entity as your tax representative and register them with the tax office where you last resided in Japan (所得税・消費税の納税管理人の届出書).
- Complete the initial Nenkin withdrawal process and wait for 3-4 months to receive the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment Decision Notice (脱退一時金支給決定通知書). Keep this notice for the secondary tax reclaim process.
- Your tax representative will handle the tax refund procedure.
- The refunded amount will be transferred to the tax representative's account.
- The representative will transfer the refunded amount to your account.
Benefits of integrating your insurance card into the My Number card:
- All your health information, medical history, medications, contraindications, etc., are updated on the integrated card.
- No need to submit reimbursement claims for medical expenses exceeding thresholds: When using My Number to link your health insurance information, claims for exceeding medical expenses can be automated and processed faster, reducing paperwork and waiting times.
- When changing jobs, you do not need to switch or renew the insurance card: Usually, when you change jobs, you would wait for your new employer to issue a new insurance card. For medical visits during this period, you would pay upfront and claim reimbursement from the insurance company. With the integrated card, you can use the My Number card for medical visits and receive cost deductions as usual.
In conclusion, complying with Japan's tax and insurance regulations ensures not only legal alignment but also secures your financial and health entitlements while working under the Tokutei Ginou visa. Proper management of pension contributions and utilizing systems like the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment can streamline financial transitions when returning to your home country. By integrating your insurance card with the My Number card, you can simplify healthcare processes and focus more on your professional and personal growth during your time in Japan. Stay informed and proactive to navigate your responsibilities and benefits with confidence.