Banking & Taxes

In the first few weeks/months after moving in, you will receive a few very important pieces of physical mail to your address. Please make sure to look carefully through your mail, and if you’re unsure what something is, ask your supervisor.

Basic Pension Number Notice

You should receive a Basic Pension Number Notice (年金番号通知書) in the mail shortly after you arrive in Tokushima (as long as you have submitted a Moving-in Notification at your local municipal office, which you must do within 14 days of arriving in Japan). There is nothing in particular you need to do with this card right away, but make sure you keep it in a safe place as you will need it when leaving the JET program.

What to do if I have lost my/didn’t receive a Basic Pension Number Notice?

If you have lost your Basic Pension Number Notice, you can apply for a reissue (基礎年金番号通知書の再交付) at a Japan Pension Service branch office (年金事務所). Bring identifying documents such as a driver’s license or My Number card if you have them in addition to your residence card.
- Tokushima Northern Pension Office 徳島北年金事務所 088-655-0200 〒770-8522 徳島県徳島市佐古三番町 12-8
- Tokushima Southern Pension Office 徳島南年金事務所 088-652-1511 〒770-8054 徳島市山城西 4-45
- Tokushima Awa Handa Pension Office 阿波半田年金事務所 0883-62-5350 美馬郡つるぎ町貞光字馬出 50-2
Maybe call them first to see if you need to make an appointment.

Individual Number (My Number)

The My Number system uses a unique 12-digit ID number that is assigned to all residents living in Japan with a Residence Record, including foreign residents. The number is used by the national and municipal governments for social security and tax purposes, in addition to health insurance information. When completing social security and tax documents, it may be necessary to include your Individual Number.

After the submission of your Moving-in Notification (which must be done within 14 days of entering Japan), an Individual Number Notice with your Individual Number from your municipal government will be delivered to the registered address specified on your Residence Record within two to four weeks. Moreover, you will receive an application form for the My Number Card and guidelines in the same envelope as the Individual Number Notice. Once you have completed the application form and submitted it with a photo, you will receive your ‘My Number Card’ from your municipal government. In principle, even if you leave Japan, your Individual Number will remain unchanged, so please keep your Individual Number Notice and My Number Card safe. To clarify, the Individual Number Notice is only notifying you of what your number is. You must submit a separate application to receive the physical ‘My Number Card’ which can be used for various purposes including health insurance. This process can be confusing for many JETs, so please ask for assistance if you need it.

As of December 2024, the My Number Card will be the only form of health insurance card printed. Those who do not have a My Number Card may continue using a pre-existing health insurance/mutual aid membership card through December 2025. However, JET Programme participants are highly encouraged to apply for a My Number Card shortly after arriving, and to link it to their mutual aid insurance. Doing so will allow the My Number Card to be used as proof of insurance at hospitals and clinics nationwide. Please see below for details about obtaining and using the My Number Card.

1) Individual Number Notice

The Individual Number Notice is a document that will have your name, address, date of birth, sex, and Individual Number printed on it. After submitting your Moving-in Notification, you will receive the Individual Number Notice from your municipal government by registered mail within two to four weeks. Please note that the Individual Number Notice cannot be used as proof of your Individual Number or as a document for personal identification. If you need to show evidence of your Individual Number, you will need to provide either your My Number Card, a copy of your Residence Record, or a Certificate of Items Stated in Residence Record.

2) My Number Card

The My Number Card will have your name, address, date of birth, sex, Individual Number, and photo printed on it. When you receive your Individual Number Notice, an application form and guidelines for the My Number Card will be enclosed in the envelope. Once you have completed the application form and submitted it with a photo, you will receive your My Number Card from your municipal government. It is important that you apply because, in addition to being able to use your My Number Card as proof of your Individual Number and ID, you will also be able to use it for services offered by your local government, such as various electronic applications and public library services.

3) Linking Health Insurance to MyNumber

You may link mutual aid/health insurance information to your My Number Card via the following methods:

By using it for the first time at a clinic or hospital reception, you will be prompted to register your health insurance policy to your My Number Card
Preemptively via the online Mynaportal (apps also available for iPhone and Android, English support available): https://myna.go.jp/
Via 7-Eleven ATMs, selecting ‘Other Services’ followed by ‘Use My Number Card as Insurance Card’ from the main menu (English captions provided by default).

4) Inquiries regarding MyNumber

More information on the Individual Number (My Number) ID System is available with English support via the following Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems page: https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en-mynumber/

What to do if I don’t know my Individual Number (My Number)?

Please confirm your number with your Individual Number Notice (would have come via the mail shortly after you first arrived in Japan).
If you do not have your Individual Number Notice, you can obtain a certificate of residence with your Individual Number printed on it at your municipal office.

Sending Money Home

*Disclaimer: The information here is meant to be used as a rough outline. AJET accepts no responsibility for any financial loss incurred or any legal action taken against anyone as a result of information contained in or omitted from this page. We are not financial advisors and cannot guarantee that what has worked for us will work for you. *

Figuring out how to send or transfer money from a Japanese bank account to your foreign bank account can be quite a hassle, but if you take the time to set up a few key things, you should be able to do so with minimal fees. Please note that many local Tokushima banks may not offer the option to transfer money overseas directly, or may have large fees to do so. It is always best to check your options with your bank beforehand. You may also have to find other methods of sending money home depending on what is available to you, which will likely depend on what bank you use in Japan, what currency you are wanting to transfer to, and if your foreign bank account will accept the transfer.

Using the Wise App

One of the most popular ways to transfer money home is using the Wise app. This is because Wise’s exchange rates are competitive and the fees are minimal compared to similar options. However, you must first get your Wise account set up before you can begin transferring money, which means you must go through the process of verification. There are various options for what ID to use, but in the end, you will need a My Number Card to complete the process. (Reference the Individual Number section for information on how to get a My Number Card)

Step 1: In the app, you must first submit an ID that contains your current Japanese address. Acceptable options include My Number cards, Japanese driver’s licenses, Japanese passports issued before February 2020, and residence cards.

Step 2: You’ll be sent a unique 4-digit code. This code is exclusive to your application and expires after 30 minutes. Write this 4-digit code down on a piece of paper (you’ll need to take a picture with it later, so it should be blank paper).

Step 3: Follow the app’s instructions and take photos of your chosen form of ID.

Step 4: Take a photograph of yourself holding the code you wrote down earlier next to your face.

Step 5: If you opted to use a My Number card in Step 1, you can skip this step. Otherwise, present documents containing your Individual Number and current address.

Once you have been verified, you should be able to use your Wise account.

How to send the money via Wise:

First, you’ll need to add a JPY profile to your Wise account, as well as the currency of your home country (or the currency that you want to transfer the JPY to). In my case, I went ahead and connected my US bank account to the app as well to streamline transfers in the future.

1. Adding JPY to Wise

When I want to transfer money in my Japanese bank account to my US bank account, I first choose “Add” on the JPY profile in Wise and choose “Bank transfer” as the method of payment. Next, choose the purpose of your transfer, and you will be brought to a screen that says “Use your bank to make a payment to Wise.” Under the “Details you’ll need to make this transfer,” you will find the bank account details for your individual JPY Wise profile. This information is specific to your profile. Now, you need to find an ATM that will let you transfer money to this bank account. In my case, I have an Awa Bank account, but the Awa Bank ATMs don’t actually have the option to transfer to Wise, so I use conbini ATMs. Choose the 振り込み option on the ATM and insert the JPY profile bank account details that Wise provided you on the screen from earlier. Complete the transaction and return to the Wise app and hit “I’ve made my bank transfer.” The money should appear in your JPY profile within a few minutes.

2. Converting the JPY in your Wise account to USD in your Wise account (or other currency)

Next, open your JPY balance on the Wise app and choose “Convert.” You will now convert the money to your other profile in Wise, in my case, USD. This process is simple and should be reflected on the app very quickly.

3. Converting the money (USD, etc.) in your Wise account to your foreign bank account

The last step is to open your USD, etc. profile on the Wise app and choose “Send.” If you have already connected your foreign bank account to the app, you should be able to choose “bank transfer” and have your bank account pop up as an option. I choose “instantaneous,” and the money is finally in my US bank account.

Overall, the actual process of transferring money using Wise only takes a few minutes once you’re used to it, although the setup and verification alone can take a few weeks. There will likely be fees from both the ATM transfer and the transfer to your foreign bank account, but I think mine normally add up to less than 2000 yen, which is minimal compared to other methods of money transfers.

Other methods of sending money home

1) Sending Money Home Through the Bank

Each bank has a slightly different policy regarding sending money abroad. Some banks in Japan have connections to banking institutions abroad. The rates and procedures may be more favorable at these banks. It is encouraged to shop around and find the most suitable method. The following are a few different money sending methods:

Telegraphic Transfer (denshin sōkin)
Overseas Remittance Account (kaigai sōkin-yō kōza)

Additionally, many major banks may offer online remittance services.

2) Sending Money Home Through the Post Office

For information regarding international post remittance, contact your local post office or call the English Postal Services Information at 0570-046-111 (0120-5931-55 free-dial for enquiries in Japanese, or 0570-046-666 for enquiries in Japanese from a mobile phone) from Monday to Friday, 8:00‒21:00, or Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 9:00‒21:00 (cannot be dialed from overseas).

3) Third Party Remittance Services

There are also a number of third parties that specialize in transferring money abroad, not only from Japan, but also worldwide. Dedicated remittance services usually offer more favorable rates, and after initial registration, tend to be more convenient than major banking institutions. Access to these services may be available online, through applications, or even at certain storefronts. Research is encouraged, as there exists a wide range of services, catering to different amounts and countries of transfer.

Taxes

* AJET does not specialize in tax matters. The information here is meant to be used as a rough outline. AJET accepts no responsibility for any financial loss incurred or any legal action taken against anyone as a result of information contained in or omitted from this article. JET Programme participants should confirm the information provided by their contracting organization, regional tax office, and/or home country tax authority regarding taxes, and adhere to relevant laws and regulations.*

The following information is taken from the 2025 JET Programme General Information Handbook.

Tax in Japan

1) Personal Income Tax

Participants’ tax status in Japan depends largely on their nationality, the length of their period of stay, and their job type (work duties) in Japan. All participants, regardless of year or nationality, are responsible for paying taxes in Japan or confirming exception status. Depending on nationality and years in Japan, exemptions to paying Japanese income tax may be available up to a set number of years. Please consult with the consulate or embassy of Japan in your home country, or the Japanese Tax Office. For more detailed information regarding Japanese income tax, participants are strongly advised to consult the tax office with jurisdiction over the area in which they currently reside in Japan. In paying tax in Japan, it is important for participants to obtain a breakdown of such payments (Statement of Earnings, Kyūyo Shotoku no Gensen Chōshūhyō) from their contracting organization and keep it. JET Programme participants who must file tax returns in their home country will also need this, as do all reappointed participants who apply for an extension on their status of residence. A Statement of Earnings is also needed when your tax or your status of residence changes. Many contracting organizations provide a Gensen Chōshūhyō in January. The Gensen Chōshūhyō details your previous year’s income (from 1 January to 31 December), tax you pay, and how much you contribute to social insurance and pension. Please confirm details regarding your Gensen Chōshūhyō with your contracting organization.

**From the Tokyo JET wiki: In most cases, income tax or 所得税 (しょとくぜい, shotokuzei) is levied via the withholding tax system and is automatically withheld by your contracting organization and paid to the National Tax Agency of Japan. Your CO will calculate your taxes for you based on your income and relevant deductions.

2) Tax Exemption Forms

Those eligible and wishing to apply for tax exemption in Japan should make sure they fill out forms for tax exemption (Application Form for Income Tax Convention). These can be downloaded from the National Tax Agency website.

Note: In principle, the maximum period of tax exemption is two years. If participants are to participate in the JET Programme for more than two years, they may be required to pay tax in Japan (except those from China).

3) Municipal Residence Tax

Residence taxes are calculated based on your income in Japan from the previous year (1 January to 31 December) and are levied by the municipality you live in as of 1 January of the current year. Tax can be deducted monthly from your remuneration, or you will receive a bill around June for the entire year. However, even when you are liable for taxes in your first year, residence taxes are generally not required in the calendar year in which you arrive. Therefore, if you arrive in July 2025, you will first have residence taxes due in 2026. If you are eligible for income tax exemption, you may also be eligible for an exemption from residence taxes. Please note that you will need to apply for the exemptions separately. For more information, please enquire at your municipality’s help desk.

For JET Programme participants who have taxes in Japan imposed on them, please remember that your remuneration stated in programme guidelines and other materials is before the deduction of income and residence taxes.

More information on Residence Taxes from the Tokyo JETs wiki.

Home Country Tax Liabilities

Tax liability in the participant’s home country for their Japanese income depends on certain factors including the nationality of the participant as well as the existence and content of a tax treaty between the participant’s home country and Japan. Please be aware that it is the responsibility of each individual JET Programme participant to seek information via their home country tax agency regarding tax obligations in their home country as well as the necessary procedures. The participant’s supervisor, contracting organization, Prefectural Advisor (PA), AJET, and CLAIR are not in a position to provide guidance on the participant’s home country tax liability.

IRS website explaining tax liabilities (For US citizens)
Kumamoto JETs guide (divided by year on JET).
Akita JETs guide
Ishikawa JETs guide (more information on tax responsibilities for those from countries aside from the US).

Home country tax liability can be a very complicated subject, but luckily there is a wealth of information out there even aside from those listed above, provided by your JET program senpai who have been through it before. Please make use of it!