FOREWORD
This booklet, "An Outline of Japanese Tax Administration,” explains the present state of Japan’s tax administration based on the latest statistics. It has been published yearly since 1968.
National Tax Agency (NTA) was founded in June 1, 1949 as Finance Ministry’s affiliated agency in charge of assessing and collecting domestic taxes. NTA currently has 12 regional taxation bureaus and 524 tax offices throughout the nation. More than 56,000 tax officials are working all over the country.
Economic environments surrounding tax administrative affairs have been recently becoming more complicated due to economic globalization and rapid progresses in IT technologies. In addition, Japanese taxpayers are becoming more and more interested in taxation affairs.
To address such significant environmental changes and properly fulfill our responsibilities entrusted by taxpayers, NTA recognizes the importance in achieving proper and fair taxation and in gaining the understanding and trust of taxpayers.
This booklet provides variety of information on Japan’s current tax administrative affairs. I would be grateful if this booklet could serve as a useful reference and help readers deepen the understanding and trust our tax administration.
Tatsumaro Terazawa
Commissioner
National Tax Agency
March 2004
