Japan basic deduction
Current-year deduction bands, income limits, and reform history.
The basic deduction is a personal allowance every taxpayer can claim, but its amount now depends on your total income and phases down to zero at high income — and the 2025–2026 reforms changed the bands, so use the current-year figure.
Effective: 2026-01-01 to 2026-12-31
Professional review pending — treat as draft and confirm with the authorities.
Key points
- A personal allowance available to most taxpayers.
- The amount depends on total income and phases down at high income.
- 2025–2026 reforms changed the bands — do not reuse an old figure.
- Employees usually claim it via the year-end declaration form.
Amount and income limits
The basic deduction subtracts from taxable income for nearly everyone, but higher-income taxpayers receive a reduced amount and lose it entirely above a statutory ceiling. Because the 2025 and 2026 reforms adjusted the bands (alongside the employment-income deduction and dependent thresholds), the correct figure must come from the current-year NTA guidance or software rather than a prior-year spreadsheet.
Claiming it
Employees claim the basic deduction through the year-end declaration form; filers claim it on the return. It is applied automatically in the NTA Return Preparation Corner once your income is entered. Because the phase-down interacts with the spouse and dependent thresholds, a large bonus or capital gain can change your entitlement.
Who this is for
- Every taxpayer
- Higher earners checking the phase-down
What this is not
- Exact current-year amount (verify with NTA)
- 2025–2026 reforms changed the bands; confirm the current-year figure before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file a tax return in Japan?
Many employees do not, because tax is settled by year-end adjustment (年末調整). You generally must file (確定申告) if you have side income over ¥200,000, two or more employers, self-employment income, sizeable investment or crypto gains, or you want to claim deductions like large medical costs or a first-year mortgage credit. Filing season is Feb 16 – Mar 15 via e-Tax. When unsure, check the NTA guidance or ask a 税理士.