Tax office general counters: reception hours are 9:00-15:00 in principle from October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8)Tax office counter reception will mostly be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Aiming at a society where all tax procedures can be completed without visiting a tax office, and in light of the expansion of online procedures, the National Tax Agency (NTA) has set the reception hours of the general counters at all tax offices to 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in principle from October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8). Visit times for counter procedures need to be reviewed.
Key points
- This applies to the general counters of all tax offices. Reception hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in principle (from October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8)).
- At the general counters, tax offices accept returns and applications, hand out forms, accept tax payments, and issue tax payment certificates.
- Visitors who come outside reception hours but within office hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) are still served, but visits within reception hours are requested wherever possible.
- For telephone inquiries as well, you are asked to call within reception hours unless the matter is urgent.
What to do in practice
- Review internal schedules so that counter procedures are handled between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Consider switching to procedures that do not require a visit, such as e-Tax and cashless payment.
From October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8), tax offices across the country will mostly receive visitors at the counter from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tax offices are adding more procedures you can do on the internet, and they want people to need to visit less and less.
- August 3, 2026 (Reiwa 8)The NTA announces the change in reception hours
- October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8)At all tax offices, reception becomes 9:00-15:00 in principle
- From now onWith e-Tax, you can do procedures without visiting
Points
- From October 1, reception is basically 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Even at other times, you can still be helped while the tax office is open (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
- If you do the procedure online, you do not have to go to the tax office at all.
What the words mean
- General counter (総合窓口)
- The entrance at a tax office where documents are handed in and money is paid
- Online procedure
- A procedure you do over the internet, from home or from your company
- National Tax Agency (NTA): National Tax Agency (NTA): Reception hours of the General Counters at tax offices from October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8)
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.