One of my friends is going back home this summer, but what she was told she’ll get for her pension refund just doesn’t seem to add up. Here are her details…
\- 36 month period (leaving after 3 years)
\- Paid 27,450 **¥** into pension per month (equals 988200 **¥** over 3 years)
\- She’s been told by our BOE/CO main supervisor she will only receive 494100 **¥**
\- BOE/CO supervisor said the calculation is 27450**¥ x 1/2 x 36** = 494100 **¥**
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I know it’s not as simple as just getting back what you put in, but does that not seem rather low considering how much she paid in? It’s literally just cutting it in half…I’ve checked a number of sources which suggest she should be getting a lot more than that, and my prefectural advisor said the same thing. If anyone has any info I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance.
3 comments
It doesn not matter what the supervisor says. They have nothing to do with the refund as you have to deal with the pension office by yourself and not through some third party. Now as for the remaining 20% youll need a proxy to claim it on your behalf and send you the rest.
You apply directly to the Pension Office for the refund, so what the BOE/CO say doesn’t matter remotely. The refund will go directly to her bank account and she will get a slip of proof that is used for getting the tax back in the mail. I wouldn’t sweat it until the actual refund is deposited.
I was not on JET at the time, but when I claimed mine for 3 years, it was roughly 1000000 yen (this included my last two years on JET and one year at a job with a slightly higher salary) but I only received 7,000 USD once the 20% was taken off the top and for the currently exchange.
As a third year JET, she should be getting about ¥784,000 back as a lump sum. She can get the remaining amount that was taken as tax (20%) back with the help of a tax representative in Japan for a total of ¥980,000-ish.
Like other commenters have said, you don’t need to worry about your friend getting “lowballed.” I’d assume ignorance over malice and say the BOE just made an honest mistake about the amount, but either way, that 80% goes directly from the pension office to your friend’s bank account back home. The BOE is not involved at all, and the tax rep only enters the picture when it’s time for your friend to claim the last 20%.
If she doesn’t trust her supervisor, she can pay a company to serve as her tax representative instead. (Or ask a friend, but it needs to be someone with strong Japanese ability who will still be in Japan in a year, preferably longer.)