End of tax grace periods

December 29, 2013

Tax office to end grace periods in Fukushima

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131229_01.html

Japan's tax authorities will end next year grace periods granted to residents affected by the nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture in 2011.

The National Tax Administration Agency currently extends deadlines for final tax returns and payments of national taxes in 12 municipalities around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

But agency officials now plan to end this special measure. They say long grace periods mean that people have to pay a comparatively huge amount after it ends. They also cite a growing number of people who are paying taxes without applying for a delay.

The agency is expected to end the grace periods in late March. But it plans to allow people whose homes are in areas designated as unsuitable for living due to high radiation levels, or those who have other special reasons, to further postpone payments.

Agency officials say they will make sure the new step does not impose burdens on taxpayers in the areas.