A system that lets you hand unused inherited land over to the StateYou can give unwanted land back to the State, with conditions
The inherited-land return system (相続土地国庫帰属制度) allows a person who acquired land through inheritance, or through a bequest to an heir, to give up that land and transfer it to the national treasury if certain requirements are met. It started on April 27, 2023 (Reiwa 5) and can also be used for inheritances that occurred before it began. The review fee is JPY 14,000 per parcel, and after approval you pay a burden charge equivalent to 10 years of management costs.
- ○Applies: Vacant land acquired by inheritance (no buildings)
- ○Applies: Land with clear boundaries
- ×Does not apply: Land with a building on it
- ×Does not apply: Land with security interests or rights of use and profit attached
- ×Does not apply: Contaminated land
Key points
- Eligible applicants are those who acquired land (or a co-ownership share) by inheritance or by a bequest to an heir. In principle, people who acquired land by purchase or similar means are not eligible.
- Land with buildings, land with security interests or rights of use and profit, contaminated land, and land with unclear boundaries cannot be applied for.
- Land with certain cliffs that would require excessive management costs, and land with objects above or below ground that obstruct management, will not be approved.
- The review fee is JPY 14,000 per parcel. It is not refunded even if you withdraw, or if the application is dismissed or not approved.
- The burden charge is calculated based on 10 years of standard management costs for each land category of State-owned land, and must be paid within 30 days from the day after notification. If it is not paid, the approval lapses.
What to do in practice
- Check whether the land has any buildings, security interests or boundary disputes.
- Consult the Legal Affairs Bureau in advance and check the estimated burden charge using the calculation sheet.
Holding on to land you inherited from your family but never use is a burden. So in 2023 (Reiwa 5) Japan created a system where, if you meet certain conditions, you can pay money and have the State take the land. Not just anyone can return just any land, though.
- 1. ApplyApply to the Legal Affairs Bureau and pay the review fee
- 2. ReviewThey check whether the land meets the conditions
- 3. ApprovalYou get a notice saying it's OK
- 4. PayPay the burden charge within 30 days from the day after the notice arrives
Points
- Only people who inherited the land can use it. Land you bought is not eligible.
- Land with a house on it, or land that people are fighting over, will not be accepted.
- You pay a review fee (JPY 14,000 per piece of land) and, once the State agrees to take the land, money for its upkeep.
What the words mean
- Return to the national treasury (国庫帰属)
- The owner of the land changes to the State
- Burden charge (負担金)
- Money you pay up front to cover 10 years of the State looking after the land
- Ministry of Justice: Ministry of Justice: About the System for Returning Inherited Land to the National Treasury
- Ministry of Justice: Ministry of Justice: Outline of the System for Returning Inherited Land to the National Treasury
- Ministry of Justice: Ministry of Justice: Burden Charge under the System for Returning Inherited Land to the National Treasury
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.