Hi all!
I’m working towards moving to Japan in april ’24 for 6 months. I’m going to do a semi sabbatical year, and those 6 months I’ll be studying in Japan and then going back to my country.
I’ve been reading lots of information in this sub and the Internet, but there is a question I cannot find an accurate response.
So while staying there, I’m going to work for some projects as a freelance for companies from my country. The projects are going to be active before I’m moving to Japan, so I’m going to do some work there but I don’t know if I will have to pay any taxes in Japan (I think I will have to bill two or three times while in Japan).
I asked this question at GoGo Nihon (I’m applying there because I’m not confident enough to manage all Visa and applying directly to a school by myself because of my situation – 33 years old | More than 150 hours of language study but with a personal teacher, not an official school), and **they told me that I will not need to pay any taxes for my work there**.
This concerns me a lot because I’m reading a lot of posts and most people say, paying taxes is needed, but I don’t know if my situation is the same or there is no need…
I’m consulting my finance expert too, but I would like to ask here.
Thanks all and sorry for my english!
3 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Regarding taxes as a freelance**
Hi all!
I’m working towards moving to Japan in april ’24 for 6 months. I’m going to do a semi sabbatical year, and those 6 months I’ll be studying in Japan and then going back to my country.
I’ve been reading lots of information in this sub and the Internet, but there is a question I cannot find an accurate response.
So while staying there, I’m going to work for some projects as a freelance for companies from my country. The projects are going to be active before I’m moving to Japan, so I’m going to do some work there but I don’t know if I will have to pay any taxes in Japan (I think I will have to bill two or three times while in Japan).
I asked this question at GoGo Nihon (I’m applying there because I’m not confident enough to manage all Visa and applying directly to a school by myself because of my situation – 33 years old | More than 150 hours of language study but with a personal teacher, not an official school), and **they told me that I will not need to pay any taxes for my work there**.
This concerns me a lot because I’m reading a lot of posts and most people say, paying taxes is needed, but I don’t know if my situation is the same or there is no need…
I’m consulting my finance expert too, but I would like to ask here.
Thanks all and sorry for my english!
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Work done in Japan is taxable in Japan.
>I’m going to work for some projects as a freelance for companies from my country.
Before you even address the tax issue you need to determine if this is even *legal*.
Which visa will you be on during your stay in Japan?
If it’s a tourist visa ***you cannot work***. Period. End of story. Doesn’t matter if it’s remote work, or if the companies are located outside of Japan.
If it’s a student visa you can work, but you are limited to 28 hours a week (See “Doesn’t matter” above), and you will need to request special permission from immigration to work for a non-Japanese employer.
>I don’t know if I will have to pay any taxes in Japan
You will. Japan considers work done while physically in Japan to be “Working in Japan” and thus liable for taxation.
>they told me that I will not need to pay any taxes for my work there.
They gave you incorrect information.
>I’m consulting my finance expert too
Is your finance expert well-versed in international taxation? You should probably also be consulting an accountant and/or tax attorney in Japan.