Similar to many other countries, Japan charges penalties for any delay in the payment or the filing of the tax returns.
Japanese tax system offers a wide range of possibilities to pay taxes:
- Direct Payment, online using e-Tax system;
- Internet banking
- Credit card via computer or mobile phone at National Tax Credit Payment Site (In Japanese only)
- Convenience stores with QR code or Bar code;
- Over-the-counter payment at a tax office, a financial institution, a post office, or in a convenience store. This payment is made by cash, which is quite common in Japan even for large amounts;
- Bank transfer;
The lastest list of possible methods of payment can be found at NTA (In Japanese)
The spoken language in local tax offices will be in Japanese. A sufficient knowledge of Japanese will be required for the process. However, it is possible to appoint an English-speaking tax accountant to deal with this procedure.
Important to bear in mind is that all taxes up for payment, after the closing of the financial year, have a due payment date within the same aforementioned 2 months and no extension is possible. Delayed tax payments, even with a mere 1 working day, are subject to separate fines.