Filing for 2017 income tax begins on Friday the 16th. Ahead of that, the usual free tax consultation (hosted by the Kojimachi Corporate Association and the Tokyo Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Association Kojimachi branch) is open through the 16th in the “free space” beside the Palaceside Building’s first-floor main entrance. From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., five tax accountants from the Kojimachi branch each day — 15 over three days — take turns answering questions, mainly on final returns. They will also show you how to fill in the forms.
Even if you are not a high earner required to file, large medical bills, a housing loan or donations to volunteer groups can bring some tax back. People who had income from two or more places in 2017, side income such as manuscript fees of 200,000 yen or more, or retirement pay not subject to withholding must file.
This year medical expenses saw a system change. One is the start of the “self-medication tax system.” People who take “certain steps” to keep and improve health and prevent illness, such as checkups, and who in 2017 bought 12,000 yen or more of “eligible medicines” for themselves or dependents in the same household, can claim a deduction. Details are on the National Tax Agency site (https://www.nta.go.jp/tetsuzuki/shinkoku/shotoku/tokushu/info-iryouhikoujo3.htm). It cannot be combined with the conventional medical-expense deduction; choose one or the other.
For the medical-expense deduction you need a statement of when, which institution and how much; from this filing, attaching the health-insurance “medical-expense notice” (original only, no copies) lets you skip filling in the details.
Please ask about these points as well at the consultation.
In the past the sessions offered hands-on guidance for e-TAX filing on a PC; because a My Number must be entered, they stopped on-site input last year. Of course they will still explain how if you ask.
For other unclear or worrying points, please feel free to consult.
This year’s filing is accepted through Thursday, March 15.