This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Always consult a qualified Japanese 税理士 (zeirishi) or 司法書士 (shihoshoshi) for your specific situation.
1. Tax agent (納税管理人)
Non-resident owners are required by Article 117 of the National Tax Act to appoint a 納税管理人 (tax agent) who receives tax notices and pays on their behalf. We introduce a partner CPA who specialises in non-resident property tax.
2. Foreign Exchange Act (外為法 27条)
Acquisition of Japanese land by a foreign resident triggers a post-acquisition report to the Minister of Finance via the Bank of Japan, within 20 days of the closing date. We handle the filing through our 司法書士 partner.
3. Withholding on resale (10.21%)
If a non-resident sells Japanese property, the buyer must withhold 10.21% of the gross sales price under Article 212 of the Income Tax Act. Final reconciliation happens on the seller's annual return.
4. International remittance (AML/CFT)
Large international wires often trigger anti-money-laundering reviews at the receiving bank. We coordinate the wire reference, supporting documents, and escrow/司法書士-trust-account setup well in advance of closing.
5. Important-Land-Use Act (重要土地等調査法)
Some Japanese land sits inside designated watch zones around critical infrastructure. We flag any such parcel before showing it and obtain the Cabinet Office's regional confirmation in writing.