English：Automobile Tax (Jidosya Zei)

Please pay your automobile tax on or before May 31!

Who has to pay the automobile tax?

If you own or possess an automobile as of April 1 of a certain year, you must pay the prefectural automobile tax for that fiscal year. For example, if you owned an automobile on April 1, 2016, you are responsible for paying the automobile tax for the period of April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. If you purchased an automobile on an installment (loan) plan, you must still pay the automobile tax as the user of the automobile even if the seller still has formal ownership of it.

If you own or possess a light vehicle, motorbike, or moped (motorized scooter), you must pay a light automobile tax. For details, please contact your local city/town/village hall.

If you received a tax payment request for a vehicle you no longer have...

If you have asked another person to change the ownership registration or to delete a vehicle registration for you, please confirm that the person you asked has completed the necessary procedures.

If you apply to change ownership/registration of an automobile on or after April 1, you will still be required to pay the automobile tax for the current fiscal year (from April 1 of the current year to March 31 of the following year). The new owner will begin paying the automobile tax from April 1 of the following year. For example, if the ownership of a vehicle changed from you to your friend on April 2, 2016, you would still pay the automobile tax for the period of April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. Your friend would pay the automobile tax for the period starting from April 1, 2017.

When you should pay the automobile tax

An automobile tax notice and request for payment for the past fiscal year will be sent to you during the beginning of May. (For example, a notice of automobile tax that arrives in May 2017 will cover the period of April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.) Please use this notice to pay your automobile tax by May 31.

Where you can pay

Convenience stores, banks, post offices, prefectural tax offices, automobile tax offices. You can also pay by credit card from your PC or smartphone.

If you complete the registration deletion (disposal) process for your vehicle, you can get a partial tax refund!

If you have paid your automobile tax on time, you can get a partial tax refund after you have completed the registration deletion (disposal) process of your vehicle at your local branch of the transportation bureau.

However, you will not be eligible for a tax refund if the registration deletion is submitted during March.

Payment reductions and exemptions for persons with disabilities

If you have a valid physical disability certificate and meet the necessary requirements, you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption of automobile tax payment. You must apply for the reduction or exemption by the specified deadline, and your application is limited to one automobile per person.

*For more detailed information in Japanese about the automobile tax, please inquire at your local automobile tax office.