# 2026 Tax Filing: e-Tax Home Filing Guide — File Your Japanese Taxes from Home with My Number Card + Smartphone

> "Tax filing is such a hassle..." "I don't have time to go to the tax office..." "I don't understand Japanese tax forms..." If you're a foreigner living in Japan, these concerns are completely understandable.

- URL: https://denpyo.com/en/blog/e-tax-home-filing-guide-2026
- Published: 2026-01-25
- Language: en

> **Disclaimer**: This article provides general information only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional (zeirishi) for advice specific to your situation. Information is based on official National Tax Agency (NTA) sources and current as of January 2026.**Disclosure**: This article is published by Denpyo, a receipt and expense management service. Some tools and services mentioned include Denpyo products.

## Introduction: The Era of "Paperless Tax Filing"

"Tax filing is such a hassle..." "I don't have time to go to the tax office..." "I don't understand Japanese tax forms..."

If you're a foreigner living in Japan, these concerns are completely understandable. The good news? **e-Tax** (Japan's electronic tax filing system) solves all of these problems.

Starting with the 2026 tax filing season, if you have a **My Number Card** (mainambaa kaado) and a **smartphone**, you can file your tax return from home 24 hours a day. Better yet, with **My Number Portal integration** (maina pootaru renkei), your salary information, furusato nozei donations, and medical expenses are **automatically entered** — making truly "paperless tax filing" a reality.

**What you'll learn in this article:**

- 5 key benefits of using e-Tax

- Information automatically imported via My Number Portal

- How to authenticate with your smartphone

- Step-by-step e-Tax filing process

- What to do if you encounter problems

## 1. What is e-Tax? 5 Key Benefits

e-Tax (National Tax Electronic Filing and Payment System) is an **online tax filing system** provided by Japan's National Tax Agency (NTA). The name comes from "electronic Tax."

### Benefit 1: File from Home 24 Hours a Day

No need to worry about tax office hours or waiting in long lines. You can file anytime — late at night or early morning — as long as you have an internet connection.

**2026 Tax Filing Period: February 16 (Mon) - March 16 (Mon)**

Refund claims (kanpu shinkoku — when you're getting money back) are accepted **starting January 1**, giving you a head start.

### Benefit 2: No Need to Submit Attached Documents

Traditional paper filing required attaching physical copies of withholding slips (gensen choushuu-hyou) and deduction certificates. With e-Tax, you can **skip submitting** many of these documents.

**Important**: You must still keep these documents for 5 years in case of audit.

### Benefit 3: Auto-Input via My Number Portal Integration

This is e-Tax's biggest advantage. By connecting with My Number Portal (Maina Pootaru), the following information is automatically entered into your tax return:

| Auto-Entered Data | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Salary Withholding Slip | Your employment income data |
| Furusato Nozei | Hometown tax donation amounts and recipient municipalities |
| Medical Expenses | Health insurance medical expense records |
| Life Insurance Certificates | Premium deduction certificates from insurers |
| Pension Withholding Slip | Pension income information |
| Housing Loan Certificate | Mortgage interest deduction documents |

**Before My Number Portal**: Manual data entry, keeping stacks of paper, tedious calculations

**After My Number Portal**: Automatic data import, no paper management, scan results directly entered into your return

**Source**: [NTA My Number Portal Integration](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/shinkoku/tokushu/mynaportal-jidou/)

### Benefit 4: Faster Tax Refunds

Filing via e-Tax significantly speeds up refund processing:

| Filing Method | Approximate Refund Time |
| --- | --- |
| Paper Filing | 1-2 months |
| **e-Tax** | **About 3 weeks** |

If you're expecting a refund, e-Tax gets your money back faster.

### Benefit 5: Required for Maximum Blue Form Deduction

If you're a freelancer or sole proprietor using Blue Form filing (aoiro shinkoku), **e-Tax electronic filing is mandatory** to receive the maximum special deduction of 650,000 yen. Paper submission reduces this to 550,000 yen.

This requirement has been in place since the 2020 tax year.

## 2. What You Need for e-Tax

### 2.1 Required Items

**Essential:**

- **My Number Card** — Your electronic certificate must be valid (not expired)

- **Smartphone** — A model compatible with My Number Card reading (NFC-enabled)

**Alternative Setup:**

- **Computer** + **IC Card Reader/Writer**

**New for 2026**: Starting with 2026 (Reiwa 7) tax filing, you can **submit tax returns via e-Tax without scanning your My Number Card with a smartphone** (currently iPhone only). This makes the process even more convenient.

### 2.2 Compatible Smartphone Models

| OS | Compatibility |
| --- | --- |
| iPhone | iPhone 7 or later (iOS 15.0+) |
| Android | NFC-compatible models (varies by manufacturer) |

**How to check compatibility**: Install the My Number Portal app and test if it can successfully read your My Number Card.

### 2.3 Advance Preparation

1. **Get a My Number Card** — If you don't have one, apply at your municipal office (shiyakusho/kuyakusho). Processing typically takes 1-2 months.

1. **Verify your electronic certificate** — Check the expiration date (valid for 5 years from issuance). If expired, renew at your municipal office.

1. **Confirm your PIN codes** — You'll need two PINs: User authentication certificate PIN (4 digits) Signature certificate PIN (6-16 characters) Forgot your PINs? Reset them at your municipal office.

1. **Install the My Number Portal app** — Available on both iOS and Android app stores.

## 3. Benefits of My Number Portal Integration

### 3.1 What Gets Auto-Imported

With My Number Portal integration, the following information is **automatically entered** into your tax return:

**For Salary Earners:**

- Salary income withholding slip data (gensen choushuu-hyou)

- Retirement income withholding slip data

- Public pension withholding slip data

**Deduction-Related:**

- Furusato Nozei donation certificates (kifu-kin koujo)

- Life insurance premium deduction certificates (seimei hoken-ryou koujo)

- Earthquake insurance premium deduction certificates

- Medical expense notification information (iryouhi tsuuchi)

- Housing loan deduction documents (juutaku loan koujo)

**Source**: [NTA My Number Portal Integration Guide](https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/shinkoku/tokushu/mynaportal-jidou/)

### 3.2 Who Benefits Most

My Number Portal integration is especially convenient for:

- **Salary earners** — Your employer's data flows directly into your return

- **Those claiming multiple deductions** — No more manual entry for each one

- **Furusato nozei donors to multiple municipalities** — All donations auto-imported

- **Those with significant medical expenses** — Health insurance data automatically included

## 4. Smartphone Authentication Methods

### 4.1 Traditional Method

Previously, e-Tax authentication required:

- My Number Card (physical card)

- IC card reader or smartphone

- Scanning your card each time you log in

### 4.2 New Authentication Method (From 2026)

**Your User ID and password can now use your smartphone's biometric authentication!** (Availability varies by device)

This means **hassle-free authentication** once you've completed initial setup.

| Authentication Method | Supported Devices |
| --- | --- |
| Face ID | iPhone compatible |
| Touch ID (Fingerprint) | iPhone compatible |
| Fingerprint | Android (varies by model) |

**Important**: Initial authentication still requires your My Number Card. After that, subsequent logins can use biometrics — no card needed.

## 5. e-Tax Filing Steps \[Step-by-Step\]

### Step 1: Preparation

1. **Prepare your My Number Card** — Keep it handy for authentication

1. **Install the My Number Portal app** — Download from your app store

1. **Confirm your PIN codes** — If forgotten, reset at your municipal office before the filing deadline

### Step 2: Set Up My Number Portal Integration

1. **Log in to My Number Portal** — Use your smartphone to scan your My Number Card

1. **Configure "Private Delivery Service"** — This enables various certificate providers to send data

1. **Link external services** — Connect your insurance companies, furusato nozei portals, etc.

**Pro tip**: Set this up well before tax season. Some services take several days to establish the connection.

### Step 3: Create Your Tax Return

1. **Access the NTA "Tax Return Preparation Corner"** (Kakutei Shinkokusho-tou Sakusei Koonaa) at [https://www.keisan.nta.go.jp/](https://www.keisan.nta.go.jp/)

1. **Click "Start Preparation"** — The site is available in Japanese only, but modern browsers can translate

1. **Select your filing type** — Income tax (shotoku-zei), consumption tax, etc.

1. **Import data via My Number Portal** — Click the option to retrieve linked data

1. **Review and edit auto-entered content** — Verify everything looks correct

1. **Enter additional information** — Business expenses, other deductions not auto-imported

### Step 4: Submit Your Return

1. **Final review** — Double-check all amounts and information

1. **Electronic signature** — Authenticate with your My Number Card

1. **Submit via e-Tax** — Send your completed return electronically

1. **Save your confirmation** — Download or screenshot the submission receipt for your records

**Source**: [NTA Tax Return Preparation Corner](https://www.keisan.nta.go.jp/)

## 6. If You Have Trouble Filing

### 6.1 Video Guides

The NTA provides **video tutorials** (in Japanese) for using the Tax Return Preparation Corner. These visual guides can be helpful even if you don't understand all the spoken Japanese.

[NTA YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/ntachannel)

### 6.2 Chatbot "Futaba"

Enter your question or select from the menu, and **AI will automatically respond**. While the chatbot operates in Japanese, it can help with basic navigation questions.

**Available**: 24 hours a day

### 6.3 Consult Your Tax Office

For complex cases or questions you can't resolve online, you can consult your local tax office (zeimusho). Many tax offices have English-speaking staff or can arrange interpretation services during peak filing season.

**Tip**: Call ahead to ask about English support availability.

## 7. Especially Recommended for Salary Earners

Employees, part-timers, and temporary workers (kyuuyo shotokusha / salary earners) benefit most from e-Tax and My Number Portal integration.

**Why?**

1. **Withholding slip auto-entered** — Your company's payroll data flows directly into your return with no manual entry

1. **File additional deductions easily** — Claim deductions not covered by year-end adjustment (nenmatsu chousei), such as medical expense deductions or furusato nozei

1. **Faster refunds** — Receive your refund in about 3 weeks

### When Do Salary Earners Need to File?

| Situation | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Medical expenses over 100,000 yen | Claim medical expense deduction (iryouhi koujo) |
| Furusato Nozei to 6+ municipalities | One-Stop Special Exception doesn't apply |
| Side income over 200,000 yen | Tax filing required |
| Salary from 2+ employers | Tax filing required |
| Housing loan deduction (first year) | Must apply via tax return |
| First year in Japan (mid-year arrival) | May need to file for partial-year income |

## 8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

### Q1: Is a My Number Card required to use e-Tax?

**A**: Recommended but not strictly required. You can file using the "ID/Password method" (ID pasuwado houshiki) instead. However, the My Number Card method is required for My Number Portal integration and biometric authentication features.

To use the ID/Password method, you must first register in person at a tax office.

### Q2: Can I file taxes using only a smartphone?

**A**: Yes, you can. The "Tax Return Preparation Corner" is fully smartphone-compatible. You can complete the entire process — from data entry to My Number Card scanning to submission — on your phone.

**Tip**: A larger screen (tablet or computer) may be more comfortable for reviewing detailed tax information.

### Q3: Do I need an IC card reader?

**A**: Not if you use a smartphone for reading your My Number Card. An IC card reader is only needed if you want to use a computer without smartphone assistance.

### Q4: What gets auto-filled with My Number Portal integration?

**A**: Withholding slips, furusato nozei donation certificates, medical expense notifications, life insurance deduction certificates, housing loan deduction documents, and more. Coverage is expanding each year.

**Note**: Not all employers and institutions participate yet. Check whether your specific data sources are available through My Number Portal.

### Q5: What are e-Tax's operating hours?

**A**: During the tax filing period (February 16 - March 16), e-Tax is available **24 hours a day, 7 days a week**. Outside this period, there are occasional maintenance windows — typically late at night.

### Q6: Is my filing data secure?

**A**: Yes. e-Tax uses encrypted communication (SSL/TLS), and data is transmitted securely. My Number Card verification with PIN codes prevents unauthorized access. Your tax data is protected by the same security standards used for other government systems.

### Q7: What if I make a mistake on my e-Tax filing?

**A**: You can file an amended return (shuusei shinkoku) if you need to correct errors. If the correction results in additional tax owed, file promptly to minimize penalty charges.

## Summary

2026 tax filing becomes surprisingly easy with **e-Tax and My Number Portal integration**.

**Key Points:**

1. **File from home 24 hours a day** — No need to visit the tax office or wait in line

1. **Auto-entry via My Number Portal** — Salary, furusato nozei, and medical expenses auto-filled

1. **Easy login with smartphone biometrics** — Reduced card scanning hassle after initial setup

1. **Faster refunds** — Receive your refund in about 3 weeks vs. 1-2 months for paper

1. **Required for maximum Blue Form deduction** — Freelancers need e-Tax for the full 650,000 yen deduction

**2026 Filing Deadline: March 16 (Monday)**

Don't wait until the last minute — start gathering your documents and setting up My Number Portal integration now.

## Useful Links

- [Tax Return Preparation Corner](https://www.keisan.nta.go.jp/) — NTA's official e-Tax filing portal

- [My Number Portal](https://myna.go.jp/) — Manage your My Number Card and linked services

- [Start Expense Management with Denpyo](https://denpyo.com/register) — Track receipts and expenses for tax filing

## Key Japanese Terms Glossary

| English | Japanese | Romaji | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| e-Tax | イータックス | ii-takkusu | Electronic tax filing system |
| My Number Card | マイナンバーカード | mainambaa kaado | National ID card with IC chip |
| My Number Portal | マイナポータル | maina pootaru | Online portal for My Number services |
| Tax Return | 確定申告 | kakutei shinkoku | Annual income tax declaration |
| Tax Office | 税務署 | zeimusho | Local tax authority office |
| National Tax Agency | 国税庁 | kokuzei-chou | Japan's national tax authority |
| Withholding Slip | 源泉徴収票 | gensen choushuu-hyou | Annual income/tax statement from employer |
| Furusato Nozei | ふるさと納税 | furusato nouzei | Hometown tax donation program |
| Medical Expense Deduction | 医療費控除 | iryouhi koujo | Deduction for qualifying medical costs |
| Blue Form Filing | 青色申告 | aoiro shinkoku | Advanced bookkeeping tax filing method |
| Refund Claim | 還付申告 | kanpu shinkoku | Tax return filed to receive a refund |