Annual road taxes due in April

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. A.C. Eggman
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  It's that time of year again for Misawa residents to pay their annual Japanese Road Tax, a fee collected by Japanese government for road usage every April.

Aomori and Misawa City tax officials will be on hand at the Mokuteki Activities Community Center April 16-19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 20 to assist vehicle owners.

Vehicle owners unable to make those days will have to go to the Hachinohe Tax Office.

The road tax must be paid in Yen, in the exact amount. The Nations Bank has offered to provide a money exchange service at the Mokuteki for people who need to purchase Yen.

Vehicle owners must pay the tax on certain days corresponding with the first letter of their last name.

The dates are as follows: April 16 -- "A" through "E"; April 17 -- "F" through "L"; April 18 -- "M" through "R"; April 19 -- "S" through "Z"; and April 20 -- is a makeup day.

There are some documents people should bring with them to the community center. Vehicle owners must bring the title, registration, valid Japanese Compulsory Insurance policy, liability insurance, and their 2006 Road Tax receipt.

After the tax is paid, vehicle owners will receive the new base decal to put on their vehicles. Decals must be displayed by June 1 on the top center of the vehicle's windshield below the JCI sticker. Vehicles not displaying the new decal by June 1 will be cited.

Anyone unable to pay the tax due to duty commitments or leave may have someone pay the road tax for them. No power of attorney is required.

The amount of the road tax is determined by license plate number. License plate number and cost:

-- H11 E or Y; and H100 E or Y is 32,000 Yen 

-- H33 E or Y; and H300 E or Y (4.5 litters and up) is 22,000 Yen 

-- H33 E or Y; and H300 E or Y (4.5 litters and below) is 19,000 Yen
 
-- H44 E or Y; H55 E or Y; H56 Y; H57 Y; H400 E or Y ; and H500 E or Y  is 7,500 Yen 

-- HA/HB and 1B is 1,000 Yen 

-- P/W/Y is  500 Yen

For more information, call Pass and Registration at 226-3995.