The common name for the electronic filing and tax payment system operated by the National Tax Agency (official name: National Tax Electronic Filing and Payment System). It enables filing tax returns, submitting various notifications, and paying taxes via the internet. With a My Number Card and smartphone (or IC card reader), you can complete your filing from home, and refund processing is faster than paper submissions.
How to Use e-Tax and Required Preparation
e-Tax offers two authentication methods. The "My Number Card method" uses a My Number Card and compatible smartphone (or IC card reader) for identity verification, requiring no prior ID registration. The "ID/Password method" authenticates using an ID and password issued at the tax office, allowing use without a My Number Card, though an in-person visit to the tax office is required.
The actual filing procedure involves accessing the National Tax Agency's "Tax Return Preparation Corner" and entering income and deduction information following on-screen guidance. By linking with My Number Portal, medical expense notifications and Furusato Nouzei donation information are automatically imported, significantly reducing manual input. The completed return can be submitted directly via e-Tax, with a receipt confirmation notification delivered to your message box. While submission of many supporting documents is waived, the 5-year retention obligation remains the same as paper filing.
Benefits of Using e-Tax and Practical Considerations
The greatest benefit of e-Tax is the ability to file from home 24 hours a day. Tax offices during the filing period are extremely crowded, with waits of several hours not uncommon. With e-Tax, filing is completed with zero wait time. Refund processing is also faster - e-Tax refund filings are typically deposited within about 3 weeks, compared to 1-2 months for paper submissions. The blue return special deduction is also affected: filing via e-Tax qualifies for the full 650,000 yen deduction, while paper submission reduces it to 550,000 yen.
One consideration is that the e-Tax system can slow down during the filing period due to concentrated access. The congestion peaks especially on March 14-15 near the deadline, so filing early with time to spare is wise. Additionally, the electronic certificate on the My Number Card has an expiration date (until the 5th birthday after issuance), and if expired, a renewal procedure at the municipal office is required. Discovering this just before filing may leave insufficient time, so checking the expiration date in advance is recommended.
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