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ECOVIS AG Steuerberatungsgesellschaft Ernst-Reuter-Platz 10 10587 Berlin, Germany http://www.ecovis.com
Contact Ms Julia Hanke +49 89 5898266

JAPAN: Revision of the Japanese Consumption Tax

The 2015 Tax Reform Package was passed by the National Diet on March 31, 2015.

(PresseBox) (Munich, )
The Tax Reform contains a new imposition of the Japanese consumption tax on cross-border digital services provided on or after October 1, 2015, by overseas service providers to customers in Japan. The Japan Consumption Tax is similar to VAT or GST in various other countries.


The key changes at a glance:
Scope of digital services
  • Digital services subject to the new taxation include distribution of e-books, music, and advertising. Digital services also include cloud services and the licensing of copyrights by overseas license holders.
  • International telephone communication services and services where the main transaction is the transfer of goods or tangible assets are excluded from these digital services.
  • Under the revised law, the cross-border digital services are deemed to be provided in Japan where their customers are located.
How consumption taxes are collected from customers and delivered to the Japanese government
  • Provision of B-to-B digital services
    Reverse charge mechanism for consumption tax will be implemented for B-to-B digital services, where parties in Japan receiving digital services from overseas service providers in connection with the parties’ business have an obligation to pay and deliver to the Japanese government the consumption tax on digital services. For such parties in Japan, consumption tax paid on digital services can be counted as consumption tax eligible for consumption tax credit when they file and pay consumption tax received from their customers on sales or services in Japan.
  • Provision of B-to-C digital services
    All digital services provided by overseas service providers other than B-to-B digital services will be classified as B-to-C digital services. Digital services provided to both business parties and individual consumers will be classified as B-to-C digital services unless the services are definitely provided only to business parties because of the nature of the services or the service contract. Any B-to-C digital service provider will be obligated to pay consumption tax to the Japanese government. The registration system for overseas service providers will be implemented on or after July 1, 2015. For business parties in Japan, consumption tax paid to registered overseas provider for digital services can be counted as consumption tax eligible for a consumption tax credit.
Other details
There are exceptions and further details which will be provided to overseas providers.

“As a result of the 2015 Japanese Tax Reform, the consumption tax – similar to VAT or GST – now applies to cross-border digital services.”
Yoshiaki UNO, ECOVIS XAT Tax Corporation, Japan

ECOVIS AG Steuerberatungsgesellschaft

Ecovis is a leading global consulting firm with its origins in Continental Europe. It has over 4,500 people operating in 50 countries. Its consulting focus and core competencies lie in the areas of tax consultation, accounting, auditing and legal advice.
The particular strength of Ecovis is the combination of personal advice at a local level with the general expertise of an international and interdisciplinary network of professionals. Every Ecovis office can rely on qualified specialists in the back offices as well as on the specific industrial or national know-how of all the Ecovis experts worldwide. This diversified expertise provides clients with effective support, especially in the fields of international transactions and investments - from preparation in the client's home country to support in the target country.
In its consulting work Ecovis concentrates mainly on mid-sized firms. Both nationally and internationally, its one-stop-shop concept ensures all-round support in legal, fiscal, managerial and administrative issues.
The name Ecovis, a combination of the terms economy and vision, expresses both its international character and its focus on the future and growth.
www.ecovis.com

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The publisher indicated in each case (see company info by clicking on image/title or company info in the right-hand column) is solely responsible for the stories above, the event or job offer shown and for the image and audio material displayed. As a rule, the publisher is also the author of the texts and the attached image, audio and information material. The use of information published here is generally free of charge for personal information and editorial processing. Please clarify any copyright issues with the stated publisher before further use. In case of publication, please send a specimen copy to service@pressebox.de.