Kyoto City's 'akiya' vacant home tax approved
Kyoto City’s plan to tax owners of vacant homes was approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in March, which means some ‘akiya’ or unoccupied homes will come with an additional annual tax. The new tax will not be imposed immediately - it may start in the 2026 fiscal year - and will not be applied to all vacant homes.Read more
Kyoto may be first city in Japan to introduce a tax on empty homes

Kyoto City is looking at introducing a special tax on vacant ‘akiya’ homes, in what could become the first akiya tax in Japan.
Commercial landowners will likely receive a tax break in 2022

Both the Komeito political party and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) are seeking that property taxes for commercial land receive some kind of tax relief next year. The leading Liberal Democratic Party also seems to be in favor of this measure.
Home loan tax deduction may be reduced in 2022

The cash loophole from the 1% home loan income tax deduction is about to be closed as the government looks to revise the percentage down next year.
13-year home loan tax deduction deadline is November 30

With the deadline to apply for the 13-year home loan income tax deduction coming this November, should buyers rush in to purchase or wait to see if it is extended? This scheme allows homebuyers to deduct a percentage of their home loan balance from their income taxes each year for 10 ~ 13 years (the 3-year extension is the one with the looming deadline).
Annual property taxes won’t increase next year

The government plans to keep annual property taxes (kotei-shisanzei) for the 2021 year at the same level as those in 2020. This means property owners of commercial and residential land that had seen tax valuations increase just prior to the coronavirus, won’t be stuck with a higher tax bill in 2021.
NTA says no to revising rosenka land tax values

Bad news for some as the National Tax Agency (NTA) has decided not to re-adjust rosenka land tax values in light of the pandemic. It seems that land values have not fallen enough to trigger any revision.
Tax Agency considering special measures if land prices drop significantly

The National Tax Agency (NTA) is, according to the Nikkei Shimbun newspaper, working on a plan that could see rosenka land values re-adjusted in the event of a severe drop in market prices.
Tax depreciation on overseas real estate to end in 2021

Investing in highly-depreciable real estate overseas will quickly lose its appeal for Japan-based investors as the Japanese government closes a tax loophole.
Property tax abatement may be extended
The government is firming up plans to extend the special tax reduction on annual property taxes that applies to new construction. It is hoped that the planned extension would help alleviate the added costs in buying new housing after the consumption tax rate was increased to 10% last month.