Fixed Asset Tax
Fixed asset tax is levied on individuals who own land, buildings, or depreciable assets (collectively referred to as “property”) according to the assessed value of those assets.
Persons liable to pay fixed asset tax (taxpayer)
Those who, as of January 1st each year, own property within Niseko Town as detailed below.
| Fixed asset | Taxpayers | Target fixed assets (example) |
| Land | Persons registered in the registry or the supplementary land taxation ledger as owners of land or buildings | Residential land, rice fields, farmland, forests, wilderness, miscellaneous land, etc. |
| Houses | Persons registered in the registry or the supplementary land taxation ledger as owners of land or buildings | Houses, shops, offices, warehouses, hotels, inns, etc. |
| Depreciable asset | Persons registered in the depreciable asset taxation ledger as owners of depreciable assets | Business-use structures other than buildings (e.g., signs), machinery and equipment, tools, instruments, fixtures, etc. |
When the owner passes away
If the registered owner of land or buildings listed in the registry passes away, please complete inheritance registration procedures at the Legal Affairs Bureau. From April 1, 2024, filing registration for real estate acquired through inheritance has become mandatory. This obligation also applies to inheritances prior to April 1, 2024.
If inheritance registration procedures will take time, please submit the “Notification of Designation of Representative Heir and Declaration of Current Owner of Property” to the Tax Division in Niseko Town Hall.
The form can be downloaded from the following page:
If inheritance registration procedures will take time, please submit the “Notification of Designation of Representative Heir and Declaration of Current Owner of Property” to the Tax Division in Niseko Town Hall.
The form can be downloaded from the following page:
When the owner of an unregistered house changes
If the owner of an unregistered building (such as a garage or warehouse) changes due to sale, inheritance, or other reasons, the ownership registration in the property ledger must be updated.
When the owner changes, please submit the “Notification of Change of Owner of Unregistered Building” to the Tax Division in Niseko Town Hall.
The form can be downloaded from the following page:
When the owner changes, please submit the “Notification of Change of Owner of Unregistered Building” to the Tax Division in Niseko Town Hall.
The form can be downloaded from the following page:
When a house is demolished or destroyed
When a house is demolished or demolished, the house registered in the fixed asset tax register must be registered as lost.
If your home is destroyed, please submit a "Home Destruction Notification" to Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
Please download the form for "Report of Loss of House" from the following page.
If your home is destroyed, please submit a "Home Destruction Notification" to Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
Please download the form for "Report of Loss of House" from the following page.
Taxable value and assessed value
The tax base amount is calculated based on the assessed value of fixed assets determined in accordance with the fixed asset assessment standards established by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, with special tax base measures and burden adjustments being applied.
Fixed Asset Assessment Standards are reviewed every three years (for depreciable assets, every year).
This review every three years is called a "reassessment," and the year of the reassessment is called the "base year."
Fixed Asset Assessment Standards are reviewed every three years (for depreciable assets, every year).
This review every three years is called a "reassessment," and the year of the reassessment is called the "base year."
Land assessment
Land is assessed based on the normal sale price calculated from actual transaction prices and determined according to the assessment methods specified for each land category.
If land prices fall after revaluation and it is deemed inappropriate to retain the revalued price, adjustments may be made.
If land prices fall after revaluation and it is deemed inappropriate to retain the revalued price, adjustments may be made.
Building assessment
Buildings are assessed based on the reconstruction cost (the cost to newly construct a building identical to the existing one). Adjustments are made to account for depreciation and wear over time.
Depreciable asset assessment
Depreciable assets are assessed based on acquisition cost, with adjustments made for depreciation corresponding to the number of years since acquisition.
Businesses owners are obligated to report depreciable assets located in the town by January 31 each year.
Please download the declaration form from the following page.
Businesses owners are obligated to report depreciable assets located in the town by January 31 each year.
Please download the declaration form from the following page.
For details on types of depreciable assets subject to Fixed Asset Tax, please see the following page:
- Depreciable Assets for Fixed Asset Tax(PDF形式：382KB)
Tax rate
Fixed Asset Tax = Taxable value × 1.4%
Exemption threshold
Fixed Asset Tax is not levied if the total taxable value of land, buildings, and depreciable assets does not reach the following threshold. (If tax is not levied, no tax notice will be issued.)
| Land | 300,000 yen |
|---|---|
| Houses | 200,000 yen |
| Depreciable asset | 1,500,000 yen |
How to check the assessed value of owned fixed assets and the status of fixed asset taxation
Through the tax notice
The tax amount is listed in the tax payment notice issued in early May every year, and the enclosed "tax statement" provides details such as the assessed value and taxable value of each fixed asset.
Through the fixed asset tax ledger and property ledger
The Fixed Asset Tax Ledger and Property Ledger contain information on the location, assessed value, and taxable value of each owned fixed asset.
Taxpayers may apply to view these records.
Free viewing period: April 1st to May 31st (Outside this period, a fee of 300 yen per owner applies.)
Taxpayers may apply to view these records.
Free viewing period: April 1st to May 31st (Outside this period, a fee of 300 yen per owner applies.)
When requesting a fixed asset tax and name register, please attach the "Tax Certificate Issuance Application Form" and other necessary documents such as identification documents and submit them to Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
Please download the "Application for Tax Certificate, etc." form from the following page.
Please download the "Application for Tax Certificate, etc." form from the following page.
Special measures on residential land
In order to reduce the tax burden on residential land, the following special measures are applied depending on the size of the land.
To receive this special measure, a “Residential Land Declaration” must be submitted to the Niseko Town Tax Division by January 31 following the acquisition of the residential land.
The “Residential Land Declaration” form can be downloaded from the following page:
To receive this special measure, a “Residential Land Declaration” must be submitted to the Niseko Town Tax Division by January 31 following the acquisition of the residential land.
The “Residential Land Declaration” form can be downloaded from the following page:
Scope of residential land
Residential land refers to land used as the site of a house intended for living. The applicable portion of the land is the area obtained by multiplying the land area (up to 10 times the building floor area) by the residential land rate.
The residential land rates are as follows:
The residential land rates are as follows:
| Houses | Percentage of residential area | Residential land ratio | |
| A | Houses used exclusively as residences (excluding detached houses used as rental housing) | All | 1.0 |
| B | Houses partially used as residences (excluding case (C)) | 1/4 or more but less than 1/2 | 0.5 |
| 1/2 or more | 1.0 | ||
| C | Houses partially used as residences in fireproof buildings of five or more stories above ground | 1/4 or more but less than 1/2 | 0.5 |
| 1/2 or more but less than 3/4 | 0.75 | ||
| more than three quarters | 1.0 |
Amount of special measures for residential land
| Categories | Area subject to special measures (per residential unit) | Taxable standard amount after special measures |
| Small residential land | 200 m² or less | One-sixth of the initial taxable standard amount |
| General residential land | Area exceeding small residential land | One-third of the initial taxable standard amount |
Tax reduction for newly constructed houses
Newly constructed houses are eligible for a fixed asset tax reduction for a certain period after construction.
To receive this reduction, you must submit the “Application for Tax Reduction on Newly Constructed Houses” to the Niseko Town Hall Tax Division by January 31 each year.
The application form can be downloaded from the following page:
To receive this reduction, you must submit the “Application for Tax Reduction on Newly Constructed Houses” to the Niseko Town Hall Tax Division by January 31 each year.
The application form can be downloaded from the following page:
The requirements and duration of the tax reduction are as follows:
| Eligible houses | Floor space requirements | Duration to be reduced |
| Houses used entirely or partly for residential purposes | 50m² or more 280m² or less *For rental housing other than detached houses, 40m² or more 280m² or less | 3 years after new construction |
| Fire-resistant residential buildings of three stories or more, used entirely or partly for residential purposes | 5 years after new construction | |
| Certified long-life term housing, used entirely or partly for residential purposes | ||
| Certified long-term quality housing that are fire-resistant residential buildings of three stories or more, used entirely or partly for residential purposes | 7 years after new construction |
・“Partially used for residential purposes” refers only to cases where the residential portion accounts for one-half or more of the total area.
Eligible area for reduction
If the floor area of the part used as a residence is up to 120m², the entire area is eligible for tax reduction. If it exceeds 120m², only the portion equivalent to 120m² is eligible.
Amount to be reduced
One-half of the Fixed Asset Tax corresponding to the eligible area above will be reduced.
Other tax reduction measures for housing
In addition to reductions for newly built houses, the following Fixed Asset Tax reduction systems are available:
To apply, please contact Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
To apply, please contact Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
| Eligible houses | Basis | Percentage of reduction | Reduction period |
| Houses that have undergone seismic retrofitting | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15, Paragraph 1 or Article 15-2, Paragraph 1 | One-half (Two-thirds for long-term quality housing) | For one year from the year after the renovation is completed |
| Houses that have undergone barrier-free renovations (for the elderly, etc.) | Local Tax Law Supplementary Provisions Article 15, Paragraph 4 or 5 | One-third | For one year from the year after the renovation is completed |
| Houses that have undergone energy-saving renovations (to prevent heat loss) | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15, Paragraph 9 or 10, or Article 15-2, Paragraph 4 or 5 | One-third (Two-thirds for long-term quality housing) | For one year from the year after the renovation is completed |
"Wagamachi" special provisions
Wagamachi Special Provisions is a system that allows municipalities to establish their own special measures (such as exemption periods or reduction rates) by ordinance, within the framework of the Local Tax Act, to better reflect local circumstances.
If you wish to utilize the "Wagamachi Tokurei" (Our Town Special Provisions), you will need to submit the necessary documents, so please contact Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
Under this system, special measures for the taxable standard of Fixed Asset Tax are applied to the following properties:
If you wish to utilize the "Wagamachi Tokurei" (Our Town Special Provisions), you will need to submit the necessary documents, so please contact Niseko Town Hall Tax Division.
Under this system, special measures for the taxable standard of Fixed Asset Tax are applied to the following properties:
| Eligible asset | Basis | Reduction rate | Applicable period |
| Newly built rental housing for the elderly with services | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15-8, Paragraph 2 | Two-thirds | 5 years |
| Depreciable assets for solar power generation equipment | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15, Paragraph 25, Item 1 (a) or Item 2 (a) | Two-thirds (for output < 1,000 kW) | 3 years |
| Three-quarters (for output ≥ 1,000 kW) | |||
| Depreciable assets for wind power generation equipment | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15, Paragraph 25, Item 1-B or Item 3-B | Two-thirds (for output ≥ 20 kW) | 3 years |
| Three-quarters (for output < 20 kW) | |||
| Depreciable assets of hydropower generation equipment | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Law, Article 15, Paragraph 25, Item 3 (c) or Item 4 (a) | One-half (for output < 5,000 kW) | 3 years |
| Three-quarters (for output ≥ 5,000 kW) | |||
| Depreciable assets of geothermal power generation equipment | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15, Paragraph 25, Item 1 (c) or Item 4 (b) | One-half (for output ≥ 1,000 kW) | 3 years |
| Two-thirds (for output < 1,000 kW) | |||
| Depreciable assets of biomass power generation equipment | Supplementary Provisions of the Local Tax Act, Article 15, Paragraph 25, Item 1-2 or Item 2 | One-half (for output < 10,000 kW) | 3 years |
| Two-thirds (for output ≥ 10,000 kW) | |||
| Depreciable assets such as sedimentation/flotation equipment, oil separation equipment, sludge treatment equipment, etc. | Local Tax Law Supplementary Provisions Article 15, Paragraph 2, Item 1 | One-half | No fixed term |
| Depreciable assets such as pH adjustment tanks, pressurized flotation separation equipment, etc. | Local Tax Law Supplementary Provisions Article 15, Paragraph 2, Item 5 | Four-fifths | No fixed term |
Special Tax Measure for Fixed Assets Acquired by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to Improve Productivity
Under the Local Tax Act, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have obtained certification for a “Business Innovation Plan for the Introduction of Advanced Equipment” (Sentan Setsubi Tō Dōnyū Keikaku) may be eligible for special tax measures on fixed assets, provided they meet certain requirements.
| Eligible persons | Corporations with a capital of 100 million yen or less, or sole proprietors with 1,000 or fewer employees, who have obtained certification for the above plan (excluding subsidiaries of large corporations). |
| Eligible equipment | Equipment listed in an investment plan (with an investment return of 5% or higher) confirmed by a certified management innovation support organization. Minimum acquisition price for each type of depreciable asset:・Machinery and equipment: 1.6 million yen ・Measuring and testing tools: 300,000 yen ・Equipment and fixtures: 300,000 yen ・Building attachments (excluding those functioning as an integral part of the building): 600,000 yen |
| Other requirements | ・Must be used directly for production, sales activities, etc. ・Must not be secondhand assets. |
| Contents of special measures | The taxable standard of fixed asset tax will be reduced to one-half for a period of 3 years. If the wage increase policy is clearly stated in the plan and announced to employees, further reductions apply: ・Equipment acquired by March 31, 2024 (FY2023): taxable standard reduced to one-third for 5 years.・Equipment acquired by March 31, 2025 (FY2024): taxable standard reduced to one-third for 4 years |
Fixed asset tax exemption in depopulated areas
In order to revitalize the local economy of Niseko Town, based on the Special Measures Act on Support for Sustainable Development in Depopulated Areas, if you acquire a house, depreciable assets, or land on which a house is built as special depreciable equipment* for a business whose total acquisition cost exceeds the amount specified in the table according to the business category and amount of capital listed in the table below, you can receive a tax exemption for up to three years from the first tax on the fixed asset tax on the relevant property.
To apply, the business must submit the required application to Niseko Town no later than March 15 of the year in which the tax exemption will apply.
*What are special depreciable assets? For individuals: assets subject to Item 1 of the table under Article 12, Paragraph 3 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (assets for which special depreciation is claimed in the income tax return). For corporations: assets subject to Item 1 of the table under Article 45, Paragraph 2 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (assets for which special depreciation is claimed in the corporate tax return).
To apply, the business must submit the required application to Niseko Town no later than March 15 of the year in which the tax exemption will apply.
*What are special depreciable assets? For individuals: assets subject to Item 1 of the table under Article 12, Paragraph 3 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (assets for which special depreciation is claimed in the income tax return). For corporations: assets subject to Item 1 of the table under Article 45, Paragraph 2 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (assets for which special depreciation is claimed in the corporate tax return).
Required total acquisition cost of special depreciation assets
| Eligible business | Amount of capital etc. | ||
| ・Corporations with Capital ≤ 50 million yen ・Individuals (blue return) | ・Corporation with Capital > 50 million to ≤ 100 million yen | ・Corporation with Capital > 100 million yen | |
| ・Manufacturing industry ・Hotel industry (Excluding boarding houses) | 5 million yen or more | 10 million yen or more | 20 million yen or more |
| ・Sales of agricultural, forestry and fishery products ・Information service, etc. | 5 million yen or more | ||
Frequently asked questions about fixed asset tax
For details, please see the following page:
Inquiries
- Niseko Town Hall
- TEL:0136-44-2121
- FAX:0136-44-3500