Close Menu
    Japan's "hometown tax" (Furusato Nozei) system has resulted in a deficit of 86.3 billion yen across all municipalities- although the system generates over ¥1.2 trillion a year in tax donations, the costs of thank-you gifts and middlemen result in a net loss.
    Japan

    Japan’s “hometown tax” (Furusato Nozei) system has resulted in a deficit of 86.3 billion yen across all municipalities- although the system generates over ¥1.2 trillion a year in tax donations, the costs of thank-you gifts and middlemen result in a net loss.


    Japan’s “hometown tax” (Furusato Nozei) system has resulted in a deficit of 86.3 billion yen across all municipalities- although the system generates over ¥1.2 trillion a year in tax donations, the costs of thank-you gifts and middlemen result in a net loss.

    https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20260613-GYT1T00024/

    Share.
    View 10 Comments

    10 Comments

    1. Famous__Draw on

      Yeah because it’s a system made with good intentions but by boomer bureaucrats who like bureaucracy and friction at each step.
      You buy something, then you have to go through multiple hops to claim tax refunds. Some municipalities support one stop solutions, some don’t. All have to send u a physical post anyway, as a proof etc etc.

      Why couldn’t it be a central database linked to your tax ID.

    2. ApprenticePantyThief on

      It’s a stupid system. Many of the gifts are not even locally produced. The idea is to give some tax money to smaller rural municipalities with declining local populations. However, people in those towns also participate in the system, sending their tax money elsewhere in the country – which then goes to the companies that produce the “gifts” rather than filling local coffers as intended.

    3. Secchakuzai-master85 on

      This whole system is just a massive undertable scheme. You should not be receiving a gift for paying your taxes.

    4. theactiveaccount on

      7% transaction cost? Seems reasonable if the funds are rly increasing in less populated lcoales.

    5. IllugaBabyBeluga on

      When government claims people getting to keep more of their hard-earned cash counts as a deficit, it really makes me think that the government forgot it is supposed to serve the people.

    6. Icy_Alps_5479 on

      Oh Japan, you never stop amazing me. I use it every year. Love my beer and meat that helps to lower my tax.

    7. OceanicDissonance on

      I honestly never do it as I don’t see the point. Sure I’d get a tax break if I buy a bunch of meat or fruits or beer. But I’d rather just not buy that shit and keep the money, even if it is getting taxed…

    8. KCLenny on

      Every system in Japan results in a net loss.
      They say having a baby is free. But it isn’t. You have to pay upfront, then you fill out some paperwork, then get a “refund”. Something like 400-500,000 yen. But I’m sure they don’t calculate how much it costs office workers to process the applications and all the faxing and printing etc into their cost analysis of the system. Just make it free and make the hospitals recoup the costs directly from the government at the very least.