Japanese Tax Office Phrases for Foreign Residents

At a Japanese tax office, begin with 税金について相談したいのですが (zeikin ni tsuite soudan shitai no desu ga). Then name the exact issue: income tax, resident tax, final return, payment, certificate or a notice.

The first communication task is choosing the right office. Japan's national and local taxes are administered through different channels.

Key takeaways

• 税務署 means national tax office.
• Resident tax questions normally go to a city/ward or prefectural tax office.
• Bring the notice, ID, relevant income/payment documents and appointment details.
• Ask staff to identify missing documents before returning.
• Request written names, deadlines and payment methods.
• Never read My Number aloud in public practice.
• Verify suspicious calls through an official published number.
• Use a tax professional for fact-specific filing or legal advice.

In this guide: vocabulary | office | appointment | documents | filing | payment | scripts | safety

Essential tax office vocabulary

Do not translate 確定申告 as any tax form generally. It refers to the final return process for relevant taxpayers.

National tax versus resident tax

Ask:

この相談は税務署でよろしいでしょうか。
Kono soudan wa zeimusho de yoroshii deshou ka.
Is the tax office the correct place for this consultation?

住民税については、市役所の税務課に相談すればよいですか。
Juuminzei ni tsuite wa, shiyakusho no zeimuka ni soudan sureba yoi desu ka.
Should I ask the city tax section about resident tax?

National Tax Agency guidance separates:

• Income tax, withholding, year-end adjustment, consumption tax and other national taxes.
• Resident tax, local corporate tax, fixed-asset tax and other local taxes handled by municipalities or prefectural offices.

If you received a letter, use the contact printed on that letter rather than guessing from a search result.

Making an appointment

税務相談の予約を取りたいのですが。
Zeimu soudan no yoyaku o toritai no desu ga.
I would like to make a tax consultation appointment.

確定申告について、書類を見ながら相談したいです。
Kakutei shinkoku ni tsuite, shorui o minagara soudan shitai desu.
I want to consult about my return while reviewing documents.

英語の通訳をお願いできますか。
Eigo no tsuuyaku o onegai dekimasu ka.
Can I request English interpretation?

最短で予約できる日時を教えてください。
Saitan de yoyaku dekiru nichiji o oshiete kudasai.

The NTA says fact-specific in-person consultations generally need advance appointment so staff can reserve time and tell you what to bring.

Asking about required documents

当日、何を持って行けばよいですか。
Toujitsu, nani o motte ikeba yoi desu ka.
What should I bring that day?

必要書類の一覧をメールでいただけますか。
Hitsuyou shorui no ichiran o meeru de itadakemasu ka.

源泉徴収票の原本が必要ですか。
Gensen choushuuhyou no genpon ga hitsuyou desu ka.
Is the original withholding slip required?

本人確認書類は、在留カードでよろしいですか。
Honnin kakunin shorui wa, zairyuu kaado de yoroshii desu ka.

マイナンバーカードがない場合、代わりに何が必要ですか。
Mai nanbaa kaado ga nai baai, kawari ni nani ga hitsuyou desu ka.

Requirements depend on procedure. Ask for the list tied to your case rather than copying a generic checklist.

Income tax return phrases

確定申告が必要か確認したいです。
Kakutei shinkoku ga hitsuyou ka kakunin shitai desu.
I want to confirm whether I need to file a final return.

会社で年末調整を受けました。追加の申告は必要ですか。
Kaisha de nenmatsu chousei o ukemashita. Tsuika no shinkoku wa hitsuyou desu ka.

副業の収入があります。どの欄に記入しますか。
Fukugyou no shuunyuu ga arimasu. Dono ran ni kinyuu shimasu ka.

医療費控除について確認したいです。
Iryouhi koujo ni tsuite kakunin shitai desu.

e-Taxで提出しましたが、受付状況を確認する方法を教えてください。
e-Tax de teishutsu shimashita ga, uketsuke joukyou o kakunin suru houhou o oshiete kudasai.

Do not ask a language app whether you legally must file. Use NTA guidance or a qualified tax professional with your facts.

Resident tax phrases

住民税の納税通知書について質問があります。
Juuminzei no nouzei tsuuchisho ni tsuite shitsumon ga arimasu.

今年の住民税は、どの年の所得に基づいていますか。
Kotoshi no juuminzei wa, dono toshi no shotoku ni motozuite imasu ka.

1月1日時点の住所は [city] でした。どこに納付しますか。
Ichigatsu tsuitachi jiten no juusho wa [city] deshita. Doko ni noufu shimasu ka.

退職したため、普通徴収に変わりました。支払い方法を確認したいです。
Taishoku shita tame, futsuu choushuu ni kawarimashita. Shiharai houhou o kakunin shitai desu.

Shinjuku's foreign-language page explains that resident tax generally applies based on registered residence on January 1 and previous-year income, but local details and thresholds must be confirmed with the municipality.

Certificate phrases

課税証明書を取得したいです。
Kazei shoumeisho o shutoku shitai desu.

納税証明書はどこで申請できますか。
Nouzei shoumeisho wa doko de shinsei dekimasu ka.

何年度の証明書が必要か確認したいです。
Nan-nendo no shoumeisho ga hitsuyou ka kakunin shitai desu.

在留資格の手続きに使います。発行日はいつになりますか。
Zairyuu shikaku no tetsuzuki ni tsukaimasu. Hakkoubi wa itsu ni narimasu ka.

The receiving organization decides the required certificate type and year. Bring its written checklist.

Payment and deadline phrases

納付期限はいつですか。
Noufu kigen wa itsu desu ka.

利用できる支払い方法を教えてください。
Riyou dekiru shiharai houhou o oshiete kudasai.

期限までの納付が難しいため、相談したいです。
Kigen made no noufu ga muzukashii tame, soudan shitai desu.

分割での納付について相談できますか。
Bunkatsu de no noufu ni tsuite soudan dekimasu ka.

延滞金が発生する条件を確認したいです。
Entaikin ga hassei suru jouken o kakunin shitai desu.

The NTA directs inability-to-pay consultations to the collection section of the responsible tax office. Contact it before the deadline where possible; this article cannot promise an arrangement.

Complete tax office scripts

Appointment call

You: お忙しいところ失礼します。所得税の確定申告について相談したいのですが。
Staff: 具体的にどのようなご相談ですか。
You: 会社員ですが、副業の収入があります。必要書類を確認しながら相談したいです。
Staff: 面接相談は予約が必要です。
You: 予約をお願いします。英語の通訳は利用できますか。また、持参する書類の一覧を教えてください。

Counter script for a notice

You: この通知書について確認したいです。
I would like to ask about this notice.

Staff: どの部分がわかりませんか。
Which part is unclear?

You: 金額の計算期間と納付期限がわかりません。該当する箇所を示していただけますか。
I do not understand the calculation period and payment deadline. Could you show me the relevant sections?

Requesting simpler Japanese

すみません。もう少しゆっくり、簡単な日本語で説明していただけますか。
Sumimasen. Mou sukoshi yukkuri, kantan na nihongo de setsumei shite itadakemasu ka.

重要な日付と必要書類を書いていただけますか。
Could you write the important date and required documents?

Fraud and My Number safety

The NTA's 2026 multilingual-call notice identifies an outgoing-only interpreter-service number. It says recipients should call the Regional Taxation Bureau or Tax Office shown on official documents to verify contact.

The NTA also says it will not:

• Designate a bank account and request national-tax payment by transfer during such a call.
• Tell a taxpayer to operate an ATM.

Ask:

確認のため、通知書に記載された税務署へ折り返します。
Kakunin no tame, tsuuchisho ni kisai sareta zeimusho e orikaeshimasu.
For verification, I will call back the tax office listed on the notice.

Do not post or speak My Number in public. The Digital Agency says its use and provision are restricted to authorized procedures.

Practice plan

Step 1: identify the office

Say whether the issue is national income tax or local resident tax.

Step 2: summarize the issue

Use one sentence without unnecessary financial details.

Step 3: request documents and appointment

Ask for a written checklist and interpreter availability.

Step 4: confirm the deadline

Repeat the date, office and next action.

Practise a tax-office appointment, repeat it for resident tax, and try a suspicious-call verification scenario using fictional numbers only.

Build related skills with Japanese speaking practice with AI, how to practice speaking Japanese alone, Japanese shadowing practice, and a 30-minute Japanese study routine.

Related Japanese resources

• Japanese meeting phrases for structured confirmation.
• Japanese client meeting phrases for document questions.
• Japanese interview keigo phrases for polite requests.
• Japanese conversation at work for workplace tax discussions.
• Best Japanese apps for work.
• Best free Japanese conversation apps.
• Best apps to learn Japanese speaking.
• JLPT N4 guide for common polite structures.
• JLPT N5 guide for dates, numbers and basic requests.
• Bunpro Japanese review for grammar retrieval.
• Busuu Japanese review for structured foundation.

Final checklist

Before ending the consultation, confirm:

• National or local office.
• Tax type and tax year.
• Form or notice name.
• Missing documents.
• Filing and payment deadlines.
• Payment method.
• Appointment or next contact.
• Written reference number.

End with:

確認できました。必要書類と期限をもう一度お願いします。
Kakunin dekimashita. Hitsuyou shorui to kigen o mou ichido onegai shimasu.

How we researched

We checked the National Tax Agency's current consultation, multilingual-call and fraud guidance; Tokyo and Shinjuku official resident-tax pages; the Digital Agency My Number FAQ; and immigration guidance on e-Tax use on 22 October 2026.

This article provides language support, not tax, legal or immigration advice. Individual filing obligations and accepted documents require official or qualified review.

Sources

• NTA multilingual interpreter service and fraud warning
• NTA official tax consultation guidance
• Tokyo tax information for foreign residents
• Shinjuku resident tax guide
• Digital Agency My Number FAQ
• Immigration Services Agency new-resident guidance

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