If you live overseas and own real estate in Japan, you may need help managing Japanese tax notices. This page explains the role of a tax representative, our standard tax notice handling service, and the support we may provide if your needs change.
Kudan Partners Tax & Accounting Office helps non-resident property owners set up a tax representative and manage agreed tax notices each year. Our standard service helps you stay informed about important notices while you are outside Japan.
Who May Need a Tax Representative in Japan?
You may need tax representative support in one of the following situations:
- You live outside Japan and own real estate in Japan.
- You earn rental income from property in Japan.
- You plan to sell Japanese real estate while living overseas.
- You receive tax notices from a Japanese tax office or local government.
- You cannot receive or respond to Japanese tax documents in Japan.
- You previously lived in Japan but have moved overseas.
What We Do as Your Tax Representative
Our standard tax notice handling service includes:
- Preparing and submitting tax representative notification forms
- Receiving specified tax notices from Japanese tax offices or local governments
- Recording the notice name, issuing authority, and stated deadline
- Confirming the facts relevant to agreed annual tax notice handling
- Sharing notice information by email or secure online communication
This service helps you keep track of official notices while you live outside Japan.
Why Appoint a Certified Public Tax Accountant (Zeirishi)?
A tax representative in Japan does not have to be a Certified Public Tax Accountant (Zeirishi). Japanese law limits tax representation, tax document preparation, and tax consultation to zeirishi, tax accountant corporations, and certain notified attorneys or attorney corporations.
If your representative cannot provide these services, you may need another specialist when filing becomes necessary. Where we agree the scope in writing, Kudan Partners may provide tax consultation, tax return preparation, and support in responding to tax offices or local governments. This can give you one point of contact from notices through filing.
Documents We May Request for an Agreed Service
The documents we request depend on your situation. They may include:
- Passport or identification document
- Proof of overseas address
- Property registration information
- Purchase and sale agreement
- Fixed asset tax notice
- Lease agreement
- Rental income statements from the property management company
- Withholding tax certificates or payment records
- Prior-year Japanese tax returns, if any
- Documents related to a property sale, if applicable
Please do not send passports, My Number, tax notices, contracts, bank documents, or other sensitive documents through the Free Eligibility Check form. Once an engagement begins, we will provide a secure method for sharing documents.
Scope of Service
Appointing a tax representative does not transfer your tax obligations. Your legal obligations to file, pay tax, and provide accurate information remain with you.
Standard tax notice handling focuses on receiving specified Japanese tax notices, recording key details, and sharing that information with you. Where we agree the scope in writing, we may also provide tax filing, tax calculations, tax consultation, and support in responding to tax authorities.
This structure helps you select the support that matches your situation.
For related services, see our pages on rental income tax returns, property sale tax filings, and fixed asset tax notice support.
Related Articles
The following articles may help you understand the main issues before contacting us:
- Do Non-Residents Need a Tax Representative in Japan?
- What Happens If I Leave Japan Without Appointing a Tax Representative?
- Documents Needed for Japanese Tax Filing by Non-Residents
- Japanese Rental Income Tax Return for Non-Resident Property Owners
- Before Selling Japanese Real Estate as a Non-Resident
Appoint a Tax Representative in Japan
Start with the Free Eligibility Check. Share basic, non-sensitive information about your situation. We will check whether your matter may fit our tax notice handling service.
The Free Eligibility Check is free. An Initial Written Case Review is JPY 77,000 (JPY 70,000 plus consumption tax where applicable). A Complex Written Case Review starts from JPY 110,000 (JPY 100,000 plus consumption tax where applicable).
Tax Representative Setup and Annual Tax Notice Handling starts from JPY 330,000 for the first year (JPY 300,000 plus consumption tax where applicable), with annual renewal from JPY 165,000 (JPY 150,000 plus consumption tax where applicable). Where national and local tax notices are handled together, the combined first-year fee starts from JPY 440,000 (JPY 400,000 plus consumption tax where applicable). See our Fees page for details.
If you begin an annual service within 90 days after a written review is completed, we credit the full review fee against the first-year fee.
Tax return filing, property sale matters, prior-year filings, and other complex cases need their own review.
This page provides general information only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice.
Submitting an inquiry does not create a client relationship.
See our Scope and Limitations for details.