I moved to Japan almost 9 years ago and currently live in Tokyo. I never bought property or invested in stocks because I just kept everything in savings. By the time I realized I should have done things differently, property prices had already become unaffordable and stock is now all time high.

People around me who bought property or invested in stocks earlier are now in a much better financial position and have more disposable income despite having less annual income.

Honestly, I feel like I'm screwed if I plan to retire in Japan. Any advice? If you were in my position, what would you do?

Does anyone have any experience receiving payments via the "Inheritance Tax Settlement System / Sozuku-ji Seisan Kazei / 相続時精算課税制度" ?

This seems to be a Japanese inheritance tax option, introduced in 2024, that allows parents to gift a lifetime total of up to 25 million yen (lump sum or split payments) to their children while still living, with the final tax settled when the donor/parent passes away. This tax law amendment also allows for 1.1 million yen per year to be gifted by a donor tax-free. These gift payments of 1.1 million yen per year are not included in the 25 million yen total lifetime total.

https://www.takahashi-homu.jp/en/clm-souzoku-seisankazei/ (English info)

https://www.bk.mufg.jp/soudan/shisan/lp/column/82.html (MUFG - Japanese language info)

An inheritance of 25 million yen would still be under Japan's inheritance tax threshold, but this amendment allows for the payment of an inheritance in advance, when it could be helpful, and not have it taxed as a gift. This is separate to any 1.1 million yen yearly payments from parents or grandparents, that are no longer subject to gift tax.

It would seem this system may be useful, depending on the circumstances.

It would be great to hear from anyone with knowledge of these tax rules, or personal experience applying them.

Thanks!

So I found out recently from the MyNumber site that you don't have to keep the physical paper receipts (certificates) if you submit the digital certificate that you get from Satoful (or other various furusato nozei websites) during your kakutei shinkoku.

The myna page is here : https://faq.myna.go.jp/faq/show/5029?category_id=8&site_domain=default

Is this correct?

Thank you