In its drive to stimulate the Japanese economy, the Abe government has introduced various fiscal measures for 2016, most notably the accelerated decrease in corporate tax rates and the introduction of a diversified consumption tax. The upcoming VAT increase to 10% in 2017, is likely to be combined with keeping a lower VAT rate at present 8% for sales of food and drink. Below a round-up of the most important measures for the coming fiscal year. 

Corporate taxes: Effective corporate tax rate below 30%

It had been expected that the effective corporate taxation rate would reach the 20% range in 2017. However during the course of the year, PM Abe made a push that he wanted to accelerate the decrease in corporate taxation to encourage growth.  For SMEs with an annual income smaller than ¥8 mln the cut in the corporate tax rate itself will however have no effect, as these SMEs will continue to profit from the reduced 15% corporate tax rate for another year (instead of the regular 19%). The following table shows the changes in the composition of corporate taxes over the past year.

At the same time, the reforms of the corporate taxation system are also designed to have the tax burden shared more broadly among companies (the tax base) and encourage investments.  They include measures such as:

• A new enterprise tax rate and expansion of business scale tax (from 3/8 to 5/8), with higher added-value and capital levies (to 1.2% and 0.5% respectively). As the income levies are decreased, this will affect loss-making companies and companies with a low income relative to their size more, and it is hoped that this will to stimulate efforts to restructuring operations in these companies;

• Loss carry-forward rules revision, where the deduction limit is decreased to 60% from April, followed by further decreases in 2017 (55%) and 2018 (50%);
• The fixed assets tax for SMEs reduction will enable SMEs to reduce the tax base for fixed assets tax on certain machinery and equipment to 50% of the price paid for the first three years. This measure is expected to end in March 2017, and be replaced by the new measure based upon the Law regarding Productivity Enhancement of SMEs.
• Revisions of fixed asset depreciation rules, where fixtures which form an integral part of a building or other structures will be depreciated using the straight line method (Applies to assets obtained from FY 2016 onwards)

Other corporate tax related changes:

Executive compensation rules will see changes with regard to deductible compensation such as pre-determined remuneration, where advance notification is no longer necessary for restricted stock compensation and profit-linked remuneration. Return-on-Investment and other indicators are added to the scope of calculation indicators.

Regional revitalization is also fiscally supported with the introduction of a new corporate edition of the “hometown tax” allowing tax credits when donations are made to businesses that contribute to regional revitalization (max 10% for enterprise tax and max 20% for inhabitants and corporate tax, both on top of 30% donations tax).

Sources: For more details read Ernst and Young Japan Tax Alert of February 2016. In Japanese, an outline provided by the Ministry of Finance in available.

SMEs fixed asset tax reduction to promote capital investment

Nikkei (J) reported on December 7^th that the LDP Tax System Research Council is planning to half the fixed asset taxes (kotei shisanzei) for SMEs for a period of three years, starting in 2016.  The measure would cover purchases by SMEs of new manufacturing or processing machinery or equipment costing more than ¥1,600,000 (approx. €12.000) each and apply to total annual investments totalling more than ¥1 trillion (€7.5 million). The measure would cut the current 1.4% asset tax levied in half.   With the move, the government hopes to push domestic capital investment, and improve productivity.  An increase in productivity of more than 1% or more efficient energy usage are some of the conditions, in order to be eligible for the cut.  Other than in most EU countries, China and South Korea, Japan levies taxes on machinery and equipment subject to depreciation, the move is therefore also seen as bringing the country more in line with the international practice.

VAT (Consumption tax)

Discussions about the introduction of a reduced consumption tax rate when the VAT rate is raised to 10% in 2017 have dominated the news during the past year. In particular, the range of items covered by the reduced rate of 8%, remains a controversial topic between the ruling coalition parties, LDP and Komeito.  While the LDP initially took the position that only fresh produce should be covered, regarding a broader scope as a too costly measure, coalition-partner Komeito demanded the addition of processed food as well.  The final reforms suggest that Komeito has won the plea, with processed foods, non-alcoholic beverages and subscriptions to newspapers included as well.  Where the line will be drawn exactly will continue to be subject of discussions the coming period.  While the budget was debated in both Houses of parliament, the PM stated that he would go through with the planned increase, unless ‘a calamity such as the Lehman shock or another natural disaster such as the Great Tohoku Earthquake would occur.’

A new invoicing system, necessitated by the reduced tax rate is still in the works, but there are strong indications that it will have large similarities with the systems present in Europe.  The new system will be introduced on April 1, 2021, and until then a simpler, categorized-entry invoice will be used.  In Ernst and Young's Japan Tax Alert of February 2016 (pages 5-7) the various changes related to consumption tax are explained in more detail.

Lower tax-free threshold for foreign tourists

With the in-bound tourist boom continuing unabated, in particular fuelled by bakugai (shopping frenzy) tourists from the Chinese mainland, the ruling coalition is planning to decrease the tax-free threshold for foreign tourists. Currently at ¥10.000, the threshold for purchases of goods will be lowered to ¥5.000 next year and will be at the same level as consumables, such as food, medices and cosmetics.  Also, procedures to ship tax-free items abroad are simplified and shops are allowed to centralize tax-free shopping procedures at designated counters.The measures are designed to encourage foreign tourists to spend more in regional cities, instead of just visiting major cities. The measures will come into force from May 2016. 

Revision of place-of-supply-rule for B2B digital services

From January 1, 2017, the determination of the place of supply in case of B2B digital services provided by foreign service providers to the foreign office of a Japanese business or a the Japanese permanent establishment of a foreign business is changed. Under the new rules, foreign offices of Japanese business that receive digital services solely for foreign sales purposes are no longer subject to consumption tax. Earlier this was regarded as a domestic transaction.

For permanent establishments of foreign businesses in Japan receiving B2B digital services solely for domestic sales purposes however, it will be treated as a domestic transaction and therefore subject to the reverse charge mechanism. 

For more details read Ernst and Young Japan Tax Alert of February 2016

International taxation

• For multinational enterprises, reporting rules in line with BEPS, will be put into place to increase transparency for tax authorities.  (For more details, EY.)
• Measures are introduced to facilitate the transition to the income attribution principle for international taxation that becomes effective this fiscal year.  For foreign companies this entails changes in the loss carry forward rules for foreign companies in case of qualified mergers.
• Revisions to rules regulating the tax qualified contribution in kind made by or made to foreign companies. (EY , Page 15)

Individual income taxation with regard to taxation of individual income taxation the following measures are introduced in FY 2016:

• Deduction incentive for capital gains to stimulate new purposes for currently unused residential properties;
• Fiscal incentives for three-generation house renovations
• The ruling coalition is introducing income tax deductions to assist families who wish to make home-improvements (J) to accommodate three generations.  The measure is seen as a way to support measures to deal with the shortage of child-care facilities, preventing more Japanese women to engage in full-time employment.  With the measure it is possible to deduct 2% of their year-end loan balance over a period of 5 years and 10% of the construction costs, maximized at ¥2.5 mln.
• Income tax and inhabitants tax credits for housing purchases or renovation by non-residents;
• Medical expenses deduction incentive to encourage self-medication with over-the-counter drugs;

The new measure (J), introduced from January 2017, will allow families to deduct costs for over-the-counter medicines over ¥10.000 from their income taxes.  The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Finance Ministry hope such as measure stimulate people to ‘self-medicate’ first, instead of going to a hospital in case of light illnesses, and thus lead to lower costs for national health covered medical care.  It is already possible to deduct costs for all types of medicines above ¥100.000 from income tax, but as over-the-counter medicines are usually cheaper, this threshold was hardly reached.

• Revisions to exit tax rules introduced in FY 2015 to prevent capital gains tax avoidance:
• Exclusion of stock options from scope of securities subject to exit tax,
• Tax payment deferral deadline extended to 5 years and four months (presently 5 years);
• Expansion of scope of persons required to file a statement on exercising stock options granted by foreign parent company, with residents who was executive/employee of subsidiary of foreign company in Japan and non-resident who is executive/employee of foreign company in Japan and who has been granted economic benefits that are Japan source income.
• Introduction of a tax deduction scheme for personal donations to national universities
• Easing of restrictions concerning tax deduction on personal donations to public interest organisations.

Tax administration

The following changes will come into force with regard to tax administration:

• Payment by credit card for national taxes will be allowed;
• Certain national tax documents may be kept in electronic form;
• Revisions to penalties in case of non- or underreporting of tax.

Solar energy tax breaks to end

Current corporate taxation breaks for operators of solar energy facilities are likely to end next year, as the ‘Green investment tax reduction” system is reviewed.  Under the fiscally beneficial climate, development of solar energy facilities have soared more than initially anticipated in Japan during the past years. The system will continue into the next fiscal year, but solar energy facilities installed after April 1, 2016 will no longer be eligible.  Earlier, the government had already introduced lower feed-in tariffs.  It is expected that other renewable energy sources, such as wind and geothermal energy facilities will continue to fall under the advantageous fiscal climate, as their spread has lagged behind that of solar energy.

Tax-free infertility treatment and child-rearing donations

In its quest to stop the declining birth rate, the Japanese government is also taking fiscal initiatives (J) to stimulate its citizens to have more children.  Donations made by (grand)parents to their offspring up to ¥10 million earmarked for childrearing related costs were already tax-exempt since 2015, but the scope is expected to be broadened in 2016.  Medical costs for infertility treatments and maternity are likely to covered by the system as well.

Automobile tax

Automobile acquisition taxes are abolished in April 2017, and will be replaced with a new, environmental impact-based tax.  Cars with a low environmental impact will see a 0% rate.

(J) denotes sources in Japanese

Sources: Ernst and Young Japan Tax Alert of February 2016;

Ministry of Finance, Heisei 28 nendo zeisei kaisei (April 2016) (Japanese);

PwC Japan, 2016 Japan Tax Reform Proposal and impact on individuals on international assignments