Members who own a vehicle on April 1 must pay Japanese road tax by May 31 or risk losing their driving privileges or vehicle-registration privileges, according to 374th Security Forces Squadron officials. (Airman Devin Doskey, U.S. Air Force)
It’s time to pay your annual road taxes, which are mandated by Japanese law and based on vehicle engine size.
All Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) personnel are required to pay their road taxes in order to receive their 2025 base vehicle decals. Luckily, most of you can pay them at U.S. military installations across Japan, where Japanese tax officials will be setting up collection stations to process payments.
Payments must be made by May 31, either on base or at the local Japanese tax office. Remember that payments must be made in yen. If you own more than one vehicle, all of them must be registered at the same time. Vehicles without new decals will not be allowed to be driven on or after June 1.
The road tax for a regular 4-wheel vehicle, which is called “Automobile Tax” in Japan, is levied by the metropolitan or prefectural government to those who own vehicles within the prefecture as of April 1. As for the tax for a mini-car and motorcycle, which is called “Light Motor Vehicle Tax,” the city or ward government collects them. Both road taxes were originally established for vehicle owners to bear a proportional share of road maintenance costs. So, regardless of nationality, it is mandatory for virtually anyone who owns a vehicle in Japan to pay.
Since some collection sites don’t have a currency exchange counter, be sure to prepare Japanese yen bills to pay the fee.
Anyone can pay road taxes for deployed or absent vehicle owners, but a power of attorney may be required to obtain a base decal for anyone other than a spouse. Those unable to make the scheduled base collection times have until May 31 to pay the road tax off base at their local Japanese tax office, post office or select convenience stores, according to base officials.
CAMP ZAMA
April 15-18 staggered based on last name, from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Mini-cars and motorcycles are April 18 only) at Community Club. For more information, call DSN 263-4337.
YOKOTA AIR BASE
TBD. For more information, call DSN 225-8333.
NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI
April 23 and 24, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. (Location is TBD) for regular 4-wheel vehicles. April 23, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for motorcycles and mini-cars. For more information, call DSN 264-3805.
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE
April 10, 11, from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 3:15 p.m. at Fleet Theater for regular 4-wheel vehicles. Mini-car and motorcycle taxes must be paid at Yokosuka City Hall from April 1 to May 31. For more information, call DSN 243-5011.
MISAWA AIR BASE
TBD. For more information, call DSN 226-3995.
SASEBO NAVAL BASE
TBD. Dates and info will be posted on CFAS Facebook page. For more information, call DSN 252-2378.
MCAS IWAKUNI
April 15, 16 and 17 at Club Iwakuni for heavy vehicles only. For more information, call PMO Pass and Registration at 253-3161.
