Japan Tax Deskby Sawada Tax Accountant Office

Japan filing partner for accounting firms outside Japan.

You handle your client's home-country return. Someone licensed in Japan has to handle the Japanese one. We do that — for the accountant, not around the accountant.

Five things we promise a partner firm

Fixed fees, in writing, before we start

Every piece of work is quoted as a fixed fee in Japanese yen with a US$ indication. No hourly billing, no surprises for your client.

Everything by email, in English, on your schedule

No meetings unless you want one. Documents move by email or a shared folder; we work across any time zone.

Japanese deadlines, tracked for you

At the start of each year we send you the Japanese due dates for each of your clients we look after — corporate year-ends, the March 15 individual deadline, withholding and local-tax dates.

We never solicit your clients

Your client stays yours. We work under your engagement, or directly with the client on your introduction — whichever you prefer — and we do not market to them.

What your home-country return needs

English summaries of each Japanese return, tax-payment certificates and withholding statements, so foreign tax credits and CFC or worldwide-income reporting can be done properly on your side.

What we take on

Each item is a separate, fixed-fee engagement. Fees are on the services page.

Non-resident individuals

Japanese income-tax returns for rental income, refund of the 20.42% withholding, capital-gains returns on sale, and appointment as tax agent (nozei kanrinin) so notices from the tax office and municipalities reach someone.

Foreign companies holding Japanese assets

Japanese corporate tax returns on Japan-source income (rent, gains), consumption tax where it applies, withholding reconciliation, and the tax agent appointment a foreign company without a Japanese office needs to file.

Japanese companies and subsidiaries

Annual bookkeeping, financial statements and corporate, local and consumption tax returns for a Japanese company owned from abroad — where the company has a Japan-resident representative — and for Japanese subsidiaries of your corporate clients.

Inheritance and sale

Japanese inheritance-tax returns where a non-resident owned Japanese property or a Japanese company; catch-up filings where past years were missed; the withholding and return that accompany a sale.

Written answers to Japan questions

Where you need to advise a client and only need the Japanese side explained: a paid, written memo within an agreed number of days, on a question you frame.

The other direction

This is meant to be a two-way relationship.

Our own Japanese clients — small companies, sole proprietors and individuals — increasingly hold property, pensions, investments and companies abroad, and need a home-country accountant we can trust. We look for a small number of independent firms in each country to refer that work to. If your firm works with Japanese clients, or would like to, tell us.

How to start

Write to us with one situation

No client names needed. The asset, the country of residence, and the question or filing you need handled.

We reply with scope and a fixed fee

Within two business days: what applies in Japan, what we would do, what it costs, and what we would need.

Engagement letter, then the work

A short English engagement letter (with you or with the client on your introduction), identity verification as Japanese law requires, then documents by email.

Start with one email.

Tell us where your firm is and what your clients typically hold in Japan. We reply within two business days.

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