Tax Return Copy

What Is a Tax Return Copy?

A Tax Return Copy (確定申告書の控え, kakutei shinkokusho no hikae) is a copy of the corporate tax return that a company has filed with the Japanese tax office. It shows the company's reported taxable income, the tax calculated, deductions claimed, and tax credits applied for a given fiscal year.

When a company files its annual corporate tax return, it normally receives a stamped copy (受付印付き) from the tax office as proof of filing. If the company has lost its copy or if a third party needs to verify the filed return, a copy can be obtained through a formal disclosure request (開示請求) to the relevant tax office.

For companies that file electronically through the e-Tax system, the filing receipt and return data are stored digitally and can be reprinted from the system.

What Information Does It Contain?

• Taxable income for the fiscal period
• Corporate tax calculated and tax rate applied
• Deductions and credits claimed
• Revenue and expense summaries from the attached financial statements
• Filing date and tax office receipt stamp
• Company identification including name, address, and representative

Who Needs This Document?

• Loan applicants — banks require filed tax returns as proof of income when evaluating corporate loan applications
• Visa applicants — immigration authorities use tax returns to verify a sponsoring company's business operations and financial standing
• Business operations proof — demonstrates that the company is actively operating and filing taxes
• Due diligence teams — the filed tax return is a key document in financial due diligence for M&A transactions
• Grant and subsidy applications — many government grants require recent tax returns

How to Obtain It

From the Company

The company should hold its own stamped copy of each year's tax return. This is the fastest route and produces the most widely accepted version of the document.

Via Disclosure Request

Submit a formal disclosure request (開示請求) to the tax office that has jurisdiction over the company. The request must be made by the company itself or an authorized representative (such as a tax accountant). Processing takes 2-4 weeks.

Via e-Tax

If the company filed electronically, the tax return data and filing receipt can be accessed through the e-Tax portal. This provides a digital copy with electronic verification of filing.

Through JapanCompanyDocs

We coordinate with the company or submit disclosure requests on your behalf to obtain the tax return copy. Digital delivery is provided, with certified translation available.

Processing Time

If the company provides its own copy, turnaround is immediate. Disclosure requests to the tax office take 2-4 weeks. Retrieval from the e-Tax system is typically same-day. Through JapanCompanyDocs, expect 2-5 weeks depending on the method required.

Pricing

The government fee for a disclosure request is ¥300. For JapanCompanyDocs pricing including service fees, see our packages page.