グロジョブ
💴 Money, Tax & Insurance

Reclaim Money Through a Tax Return (For Foreign Workers)

Just because you didn't know — doesn't mean the money is gone

📖 6 min read📅 2026-04-26
Reclaim Money Through a Tax Return (For Foreign Workers)

"I had been throwing away ¥70,000. But it wasn't my fault."

Dewi (25) from Jakarta, Indonesia had never even heard the words "tax return (kakutei shinkoku)" until two years after returning home, when a senior colleague sent her a LINE message.

From 2022 to 2024, she worked at an auto parts factory in Aichi. Every month, some money was deducted from her salary as "income tax." She assumed that was just how taxes worked. She never questioned it.

Then the LINE message arrived. "Did you file a tax return?"

"What's a tax return?" she replied.

"It's the procedure for getting back taxes you overpaid. Given your income, you should get a fair amount back. The deadline is—"

The deadline for Dewi's filing had passed three months before that conversation. The ¥70,000+ that should have come back to her was gone forever.

Dewi is not at fault. Nobody told her.

A tax return (kakutei shinkoku) — in fact, even many Japanese people don't fully understand this system. Most Japanese salaried workers have year-end tax adjustment (nenmatsu chosei) automatically handled by their company every December, so they've never filed a return themselves. This creates the impression that "tax returns are only for freelancers."

But that's not accurate.

People who left their job mid-year, those with high medical expenses, or those who worked at multiple places — they may be able to get some tax back by filing a return. Foreign workers with income in Japan can also file.

And today, it can all be done online from home via e-Tax. No need to visit a tax office. Just follow the on-screen prompts and your return is complete. The difficulty isn't the procedure — it's just a matter of knowing it exists.

Check the list below — if any item applies to you, there's a chance you have money coming back.

01.Annual income under ¥4,000,000 and no year-end adjustment was done
Even for company employees, year-end adjustment may not have been performed if you left mid-year, worked at multiple places, or weren't full-time. A refund is likely.
02.Medical expenses exceeded ¥100,000 in the year
A medical expense deduction applies. Keep receipts for hospital visits and prescription medicine — they can be used when filing. Those enrolled in national health insurance should especially check this.
03.You paid social insurance premiums (health insurance / employees' pension)
As a social insurance premium deduction, the amount paid reduces your taxable income. This lowers your income tax, which may increase your refund.
04.You resigned or returned home mid-year (January–November)
If year-end adjustment wasn't performed after leaving, there may be overpaid tax remaining. Filing a return using your withholding tax statement can get you a refund.
05.You have your withholding tax statement (gensen choshuhyo)
This document is required for filing a tax return. Ask your company "Please give me my withholding tax statement." Make sure to get it before you resign or return home.
06.You know about e-Tax (online filing)
Tax returns can be filed online from home via e-Tax, the government's online service. No need to go to a tax office. You can use it with your My Number Card or withholding tax statement. The filing interface supports Japanese and English.
The tax return filing period is February 16 – March 15 each year. However, a refund-only return (reclaiming taxes) can be filed from January 1 onward. You can even file before leaving Japan. If you miss the deadline, you may lose the right to receive the refund.

💬 Questions about this article? Ask our AI

Ask "what about my case?" in your own language. Free, no sign-up needed.

Ask the AI →

🔍 Looking for a job? GloJob can help

Many jobs open to foreign workers, searchable in your language. Sign up free to apply, save jobs, and auto-create application emails.