FAQ

1. About the Hometown Tax Donation System 

  • What is the Hometown tax donation System?

Hometown tax donation is a system that allows you to make donations to the region of your choice. You can support local areas through donations, and in addition to receiving gifts in return, you can receive a reduction (deduction) in the local residents’ tax for the part of the donation that exceeds 2,000 yen, or a refund (repayment) of income tax from the tax office. You can choose gifts in return from many regions according to the amount of your donation.
For more information, please check the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Hometown Tax Donation Portal Site.

 

  • What kind of areas can I donate to?
At the present time (November 2024), the only municipality that you can donate to through the Kaikai Kiki Hometown Tax Donation is Kyoto City. We plan to add more municipalities in the future, so please look forward to it.
There is no limit to the number of municipalities you can donate to through the Hometown tax donation system, but please note that if you donate to the municipality where you currently live, you will not receive any special products or other gifts in return.

 

2. About the Donation Procedure

  • What payment methods are available for donations?

Donations can be made by credit card.
【Accepted credit cards】
VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS, Diners Club International

 

  • I haven’t received a confirmation email after making a donation. What should I do?

First, please check your spam folder. If you still can’t find it, please contact us using this form.
 

3. Receipt Certificates and Deductions 

  • Please tell me about the one-stop special tax exemption system.

In principle, in order to receive a deduction, you need to file a final income tax return in the year following the year in which you made your hometown tax donation. However, salaried workers and others who are not required to file a final income tax return can use the “Hometown Tax One-Stop Special Exemption System” to avoid filing a final income tax return by applying to each local government to which they made hometown tax donations, provided that the total number of local governments to which they made hometown tax donations in the year is no more than five.
For more information, please check the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Furusato Nōzei Portal Site.

 

  • What procedures are required to receive a tax deduction?

There are two ways to receive a tax deduction.
1. File a final tax return.
As a general rule, you will need to file a final tax return for the year in which you made your Furusato Tax payment.
You will need to attach the “Certificate of Donation Receipt” sent to you by the local government.

2. Use the One-Stop Special Exception System.
The One-Stop Special Exception System is a system that allows you to receive a tax deduction for your Furusato Tax donation without having to file a final tax return.

This system can be used by salaried workers and others who do not need to file a final tax return, and who have made donations to no more than five local governments in the previous year.

You must send the “Application for Special Tax Deduction for Donations” to the local government you have made a donation to by January 10th of the following year.
 

  • When will I receive the donation receipt certificate?

The timing of the dispatch of donation receipt certificates differs depending on the local government, so please contact the local government for details. In the case of Kyoto City, it is usually sent by mail from the local government to which the donation was made within one month of the delivery of the return gift (as of November 2024).

Please keep this document in a safe place, as it is necessary for applying for a tax deduction for your hometown tax donation and for filing your final tax return. If you do not receive a receipt, please contact the local government to which you made your donation.
 

  • If the gift doesn’t arrive by the end of the year, will I still be able to get a tax deduction?

If you have completed your donation by the end of the year (payment made between January 1st and December 31st), you will still be eligible for a tax deduction for that year’s donation, even if you haven’t received your gift.

 

4. About the Gifts

  • When will I receive the gift?

The shipping period for the gifts will vary depending on the item. Please check the information about the shipping period on the product page for each gift.

 

5. Other Questions

  • Can I choose how my donation is used?

Yes, in some cases you can choose from multiple uses provided by the local government when making a donation. Please contact the local government for details.
 

  • Can I cancel my donation?

You cannot cancel your donation after you have completed the application process.
 

  • Can I get a receipt for my donation?

There is no receipt.
After your donation has been received, the local government you have donated to will send you a “Certificate of Donation Receipt”.