How we verify

1. What we choose to verify

We verify “tax rumors” that circulate widely on social media, videos, word of mouth, and web articles. We do not single out specific individuals, companies, or channels by name. What we verify is the claim (rumor) itself; who said it does not matter.

2. Procedure

1. Standardize the rumor. We rewrite the circulating claim as a single testable sentence (the “rumor” box at the top of each article).
2. Check primary sources. We go back to statutes (e-Gov), circulars, NTA Tax Answer, and official pages of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications or local governments. Commercial explainers are used only to supplement what primary sources do not say, and we say so in the text.
3. Cite sources. Every source referenced in an article is listed at the end with a number, URL, and the date we confirmed it. Quotes are verbatim, character for character, from the source.
4. Review by a tax accountant. Before publication, a licensed tax accountant reviews the whole article (accuracy of the grounds, the verdict, and the wording), and only approved articles are published.

3. Verdict criteria (4 levels)

• True — the rumor matches laws and official information as a rule.
• False — the rumor has no basis and contradicts laws and official information.
• Half true — partly correct, but an important part is missing or misunderstood, and believing it as-is can cost you.
• True, with conditions — correct only under certain conditions or procedures; copying it without those conditions would be a mistake.

Verdicts are based on laws and official information as of the publication date. When a tax reform changes a verdict, we rewrite the article and note the revision date.

4. Correction policy

If an error is found after publication, we correct it promptly. We do not hide corrections: a dated “correction record” stays at the end of the article. To point out an error, use the contact page. We never publish the name of the person who pointed it out.

5. Disclaimer

Articles on this site are general explanations of Japanese tax rules and are not tax advice for any specific case. For your own decisions, please consult your local tax office or a tax accountant (zeirishi).