A Tax Administrator (納税管理人, Nozei Kanrinin) is a person or company registered with the local tax office to act on your behalf for tax matters in Japan. They receive your annual property tax notice, make payments on your behalf, and can respond to inquiries from the municipality — all without you needing a Japanese address or bank account.

Tax Notices Are Not Mailed Overseas

Municipalities generally mail your annual property tax notice to the address on file. Without a registered Tax Administrator, this means the notice may never reach you, and missed payments can lead to penalties or, in rare cases, complications with your ownership records.

Japanese Payment Methods Are Required

Common payment options — convenience store payment, bank transfer, direct debit — generally require a Japanese bank account or the ability to visit a Japanese store in person. A Tax Administrator can make these payments for you.

A Single Point of Contact

If the municipality has a question, or if your assessed value is reviewed, your Tax Administrator can respond on your behalf in Japanese, without you needing to manage time-zone differences or language barriers.

A simple notification form is filed with the relevant municipal tax office, naming the appointed individual or company as your Tax Administrator. Once registered, all future tax notices and correspondence are sent to the administrator instead of your overseas address. This can typically be arranged at the time of purchase or at any point afterward.

• Filing the Tax Administrator notification with your municipality
• Receiving your annual property tax and city planning tax notices
• Making payments on your behalf from funds you provide in advance
• Forwarding a copy of each notice and a payment confirmation to you
• Responding to routine inquiries from the municipal office on your behalf