Your Property Tax Representative in Japan

A tax representative (納税管理人, nouzei kanrinin) is a person or company in Japan appointed to receive tax notices and facilitate tax payments for an owner who lives outside Japan. MailMate acts as the local property-tax representative for overseas owners, covering fixed asset tax, city planning tax, and real estate acquisition tax.

Yes. Non-resident property owners in Japan are required to elect a domestic tax representative to receive and facilitate tax payments. MailMate can be appointed as your tax representative from overseas.

Non-resident property owners in Japan are required to elect a domestic tax representative to receive and facilitate tax payments. If you are buying, elect MailMate at or before closing and put us in contact with your agent or scrivener so the filing with the local tax office is timely.

Representation supports your ongoing tax obligations after the purchase. Keep an appropriate appointment in place while the requirement applies. If you sell or move to Japan, contact us to arrange the change and check any outstanding notices.

MailMate’s tax representative service covers the local property taxes: real estate acquisition tax (不動産取得税), a one-off tax on buying land or a building; fixed asset tax (固定資産税), an annual tax on land and buildings based on assessed value; and city planning tax (都市計画税), an additional annual tax in designated areas that is generally billed together with fixed asset tax.

The fixed asset tax notice usually arrives 3 to 4 months after closing, depending on the municipality where the property is located. After that, property taxes are paid yearly: each year, the owner on January 1 is billed for fixed asset tax, and for city planning tax where it applies. The real estate acquisition tax notice may also arrive months after closing.

MailMate’s Tax Representative plan includes local representation for fixed asset, city planning, and real estate acquisition taxes for up to two properties; Japanese tax notices received and explained in English; bill-payment support using an authorized credit card, with no Japanese bank account needed; a digital mailbox with two mail opens per month and 30 days of document storage; and a domestic contact for property registration, if needed.

The tax office sends the notice to MailMate as your appointed representative. MailMate lets you know when your tax bill is in, and you can open it in your account with an English summary of the amount, deadline, and next action alongside the original Japanese notice. You then authorize payment through MailMate using your credit card and keep the notice and payment confirmation in your account.

Create a MailMate account and tell us about your property, ownership, and timing. We confirm which local tax appointments you need, explain the documents each tax office requires, then prepare and submit your appointment paperwork, including the Notification Form of Appointment of Tax Agent (納税管理人の届出書).

Yes. You can complete MailMate tax representative setup remotely from outside Japan. MailMate will explain the documents and signatures your local tax offices require. If you are buying soon, share your closing date when you contact us.

To appoint MailMate as your tax representative, have your purchase contract or statement of important matters, identification, and contact details ready. We confirm the exact requirements for your property and each tax office before preparing the appointment.

Tax representative setup time depends on your documents and the relevant tax offices in Japan. Creating a MailMate account does not immediately activate the appointment. Share any closing date or payment deadline so we can check the process for your property.

Yes, contact MailMate before signing up with your current representative’s details and any notices you have received. We can check the change-of-representative process and what can be handled. A new appointment does not automatically redirect bills already sent or extend their deadlines.

Contact us before signing up →

No. With MailMate you can fund Japanese property tax payments by credit card, and we arrange payment in Japan.

Yes. MailMate’s Tax Representative plan includes up to two properties, including properties in different cities and tax offices.

Yes. MailMate offers accounting support for rental income or other income you need to declare in Japan. Reporting income is a separate obligation from paying property taxes, so accounting support is arranged separately from the Tax Representative plan, and we confirm the scope with you.

Talk to us for accounting support →

A tax representative receives your property-tax notices and helps arrange payment. A domestic contact (domestic point of contact) is a separate role for property-registration correspondence. MailMate’s plan includes the domestic contact role if you want to name MailMate.

About the domestic contact service →

Yes. MailMate can be your property-tax representative and your domestic contact for property registration in Japan. The domestic contact is a separate role, and your plan includes it if you want to name MailMate. Accounting support for income you need to declare is arranged separately.

A local tax representative handles property taxes from the municipality, including fixed asset tax, city planning tax where it applies, and real estate acquisition tax. A national tax representative deals with taxes filed with the National Tax Agency, such as income tax. MailMate’s Tax Representative plan covers the local property taxes.

MailMate acts as your local property-tax representative in Japan. National tax representation, including income-tax returns, is not part of this plan. Talk to us for accounting support if you need to declare income in Japan.

Talk to us for accounting support →