Get paid in Japan while working from abroad

3 comments

1. 1. Generally you would owe primarily taxation to your country of residence
   2. Would depend on the arrangement that sent you abroad. Under certain circumstances you might still be obligated to pay shakai hoken fees, in many not.
   3. If you are a non resident of Japan (not temporarily assigned abroad) then probably not. Why not have the company pay you in your foreign account?
   4. Yes, have them pay you in your foreign account.

   If your question is “Is there a way to secretely work abroad while being employed by a Japanese company?” (Not saying it is, but if it is)…

   Then generally that would be difficult. Probably *possible* in theory, but a number of ways that could cause headaches and complications that you don’t want to deal with.

2. – how taxation will work? Need to pay taxes in japan or resident country?

   Generally you owe tax to wherever you’re a resident of

   – will japanese company also deduct pension?

   Generally not. Are you a Japanese citizen?

   – is there any solution to just get paid in japanese account without any cuts as not residing in Japan?

   I don’t think you can have a Japanese bank account if you’re not a resident. Even if you have one because you’re a former resident they may eventually try to close it, especially if you’re not a Japanese citizen

   – any other alternatives?
   Depends somewhat on the requirements of whatever country you’re a resident of. Your employre could simply pay you to your foreign bank account and you then take care of whatever tax, pension, social, etc requirements there.

   May be worth setting up a company and then invoicing the Japanese company every month for your work (you’d then be a contractor not an employee though).

   A lot of above depends on how able/willing the Japanese company is to deal with “foreign stuff”.

3. There are exceptions, usually these exceptions are for very specific professions. I’ll be going on sabbatical and will be paid by my Japanese university in yen to my Japanese bank account even though 100% of my work is conducted abroad. There’s an article in the tax treaty for most countries that explicitly allows researchers to work in that country but be taxed in Japan. If I do any other work in that country it will be taxed locally. I plan on staying 364 days. Any longer and it complicates bonus payments and probably causes other taxation issues. The treaty article in question allows me to stay for two years without paying tax locally, but my university lawyers have determined that on the Japanese side it should be less than a year. I’m on HSFP 2.

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