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Photo by Lance Cpl. John Scott Rafoss

Road tax due in April, tax officials offer chance to pay on Station

4 Apr 2006 | Lance Cpl. John S. Rafoss Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

As the Japanese road tax season fast approaches, Station residents with registered motor vehicles are required to pay the annual fee anytime from April 3 through 28.

“Road tax is money collected equally from motorists with registered vehicles,” said Kenji Yamane, Yamaguchi Prefecture tax office supervisor. “The money is used to maintain roads, construction of new roads and other uses.”

According to Sgt. Elizabeth A. Lopez, Provost Marshal’s Office community resource section chief, during the month of April in Japan, residents with registered motor vehicles must pay the tariff. 

“Everyone that owns any type of motorized vehicle has to pay road tax,” said Lopez. “If you don’t pay the road tax, your vehicle may be impounded.”

Japanese tax officials will help ease the process of paying the road tax by coming on base from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 12-14.

It’s convenient and more efficient for U.S. personnel and the Japanese government to collect the money in a mass number aboard the Station, said Yamane.

Road tax must be paid in yen. Fees are determined by the vehicles size, which is designated by the license plate category.

Motorists with vehicles having plate 100Y category must pay ¥32,000. Motorists with plates in the 33E, 33Y, 300Y, 300E, 329Y, 330Y and 331Y categories, 4,500cc and below must pay ¥19,000, and 4,501cc and over must pay ¥22,000. Motorists with plates in the 44Y, 400Y, 55Y, 500Y, 529Y, 530Y, 531Y and 500E categories must pay ¥7,500.

Residents should also bring the following information when paying their road tax:
1) Japanese Title
2) Secondary Insurance
3) JCI Insurance
4) SOFA License and AFID Card
5) Vehicle must be present to re-register and receive 2006 decal.

Once you pay your road tax, you will receive a decal from PMO Pass and Registration for your car.

The person’s name on the title of the vehicle, their spouse or power of attorney holder must be the person that re-registers the vehicle and receives the decal, said Lopez.

Station residents are still able to go out in town to pay their road tax at the 4th floor of City Hall, for light vehicles. For heavy vehicles, residents are able to pay at the New Symphonia Building. 

“It’s faster to go out in town to pay road tax because there are less people paying road tax at the same time.  Once your road tax is paid, you still must come to PMO to re-register your vehicle and receive your 2006 decal,” explained Lopez. “It’s convenient for the public to do it here but, it may take longer because of the long lines.”

The deadline is April 28th. For more information, contact the PMO Pass and Registration Section at 253-3161.