2026.08.10 International Taxation Japan’s Inheritance Tax for International Couples — What You Can Do Before and After Moving to Japan

“If we move to Japan, will Japanese inheritance tax apply to the assets we built overseas?” We often receive this question from internationally married couples who are thinking about moving or returning to Japan. The answer is: Yes, it will apply. And the tax rate is very high compared to other countries. The highest rate of Japanese inheritance tax is 55%. Some countries, such as Singapore, Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong, do not have inheritance tax at all. The United States has an estate tax, but there is a large lifetime exemption (the “unified credit,” approximately USD 15 million per person), so in reality, most families do not pay it. […]

2026.07.27 International Taxation Tax Audits Are Increasing for Couples Moving to Japan – And It Could Affect Your Permanent Residency Too

More and more couples who move to Japan after living abroad are being audited by the tax office. We see this often with couples where a foreign husband moves to Japan with his Japanese wife. We have supported many clients through this kind of audit, and we can confirm that the number of cases is really increasing. Summary of this article: In Japan, the tax office’s administrative year starts in July, so audit activity is increasing again around this time. In this article, we explain how these audits happen and what issues usually come up. We use the most common case we see: a foreign husband with a spouse visa, […]