As part of the Fiscal Year 1999 tax reform, the highest marginal rate of the personal income tax imposed by the central government was reduced from 50% to 37%. The top rate of the local inhabitant’s tax was reduced from 15% to 13%. A proportional tax reduction was granted with respect to the national income tax and the local inhabitant’s tax. The amount is equal to the lesser of 20% (local inhabitant’s tax: 15%) of the amount of tax before reduction or JPY 250 000 (local inhabitant’s tax: JPY 40 000).
As part of the FY 2005 tax reform, the rate of proportional tax reduction was reduced from 20% to 10% (local inhabitant’s tax: from 15% to 7.5%) and the ceiling was reduced from JPY 250 000 to JPY 125 000 (local inhabitant’s tax from JPY 40 000 to JPY 20 000) as from 2006 (local inhabitant’s tax: FY 2006). In the FY 2006 tax reform, the proportional tax reduction was abolished as from 2007 (local inhabitant’s tax: FY 2007).
As part of the FY 2006 tax reform, the progressive rate structure of national income tax was reformed into a 6 brackets structure with tax rates ranging from 5% to 40%, and the rate of local inhabitant’s tax became proportional at a single rate of 10%.
As part of the FY 2012 tax reform, the upper limit on employment income deduction (JPY 2 450 000) was set for those who earn employment income of more than JPY 15 000 000 as from 2013 (personal inhabitant’s tax: FY 2014).
As part of the FY 2013 tax reform, the tax rate of 45% was set for the income beyond JPY 40 000 000 from 2015 creating a7 brackets structure
As part of the FY 2014 tax reform, the upper limit on employment income deduction was determined to be gradually reduced. In 2016 (as for personal inhabitant’s taxes, in 2017), the limit became JPY 2 300 000 for salary income more than JPY 12 000 000. And in 2017 (as for personal inhabitant’s taxes, in 2017), the limit will become JPY 2 200 000 for salary income more than JPY 10 000 000.
As part of the FY 2017 tax reform, as regards allowance for spouse and special allowance for spouse, the maximum spousal income qualifying for the tax allowance (maximum JPY 380 000) will be raised from JPY 380 000 to JPY 850 000. At the same time, an upper income limit will be introduced as a requirement for taxpayers to qualify for allowance for spouse and special allowance for spouse. The reform will go into effect in FY 2018.
Eligible age for cash benefits for dependent children was raised from three to six as from 1 June 2000, from six to nine as from 1 April 2004 and from nine to twelve as from 1 April 2006. Benefit amount has been doubled to JPY 10 000 for the first and second child under the age of three as from 1 April, 2007.
As from 2010, JPY 13 000 per month is paid to parents/guardians regardless of their income for each child until he/she graduates from junior high school.
As from April 2012 (Income caps are applied beginning from June 2012 payments):
For persons earning incomes below the income cap
JPY 15 000 (per month) is paid to parents/guardians for each child who is under 3 years old or for the third or subsequent child from 3 years old until he/she graduates from elementary school.
JPY 10 000 (per month) is paid to parents/guardians for each child who is for the first or second child from 3 years old until he/she graduates from elementary school or who is a junior high school student.
For persons earning incomes over the income cap
JPY 5 000 (per month) is paid to parents/guardians for each child until he/she graduates from junior high school as the Special Interim Allowances.