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The Environmental Protection Tax on Motor Vehicles

This system taxes motor vehicles based on their emissions ratings and fuel performance. Through this system, taxes on motor vehicles that have a small impact on the environment are decreased, while older cars and cars with a larger impact on the environment are taxed more heavily. This system was introduced in 2002, but due to changes to the tax system introduced in 2014, the differences in tax rates between environmentally friendly vehicles and vehicles with a higher impact on the environment have widened.

【Vehicles with a large impact on the environment】

Vehicle type/new vehicle registration date		Tax rate (in addition to other motor vehicle taxes)
Diesel cars(on the road 11 or more years after new vehicle registration)	Registered before March 2003	2014	Approx. １０％
		2015 and after	Approx. １５％
	Registered between April 2003 and March 2004	2015 and after	Approx. １５％
Gasoline and LPG cars (on the road 13 or more years after new vehicle registration)	Registered before March 2001	2014	Approx. １０％
		2015 and after	Approx. １５％
	Registered between April 2001 and March 2002	2015 and after	Approx. １５％

 

【Environmentally friendly cars】

The amount in taxes owed on plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV) that were registered as new vehicles during the 2013 fiscal year was reduced by about 50% for the following year only. People who purchased new plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2014 will have the amount they owe in motor vehicle taxes reduced by 75% for that vehicle for the following year only. Adjusted tax rates for environmentally friendly cars only apply to the fiscal year after the car is registered as a new vehicle. Regular motor vehicle tax rates will apply for each subsequent year.

For more details about how taxes will be levied in your case, please visit the website below:

http://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/ZEIMU/HP/car/green.htm （information is presented in Japanese）

Motor vehicle taxes help ensure that Mie’s residents can continue to live safe and fulfilling lives. Environmental Protection Tax for Motor Vehicles helps limit the impact of cars on the environment, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we implement this system.

Change of Address for Vehicle Inspection

Motor vehicles are taxed each year on April 1^st, and a tax bill is sent to the address indicated on each vehicle’s inspection record (車検所－shakensho). If you change your address, you must report this change to the registry of motor vehicles and other relevant government institutions. If you have sold, given away, or disposed of your motor vehicle, you must report the change in ownership or confirm the motor vehicle’s disposal with the registry of motor vehicles and other relevant government institutions. If you do not report these changes, a tax bill well be sent to the address listed on the vehicle inspection record.

Furthermore, a motor vehicle tax receipt (納税証明書－nozeishomeisho) is required for vehicle inspection, so keep the receipt in a safe place until you have your motor vehicle inspected.

For more information, please contact：

Mie Prefectural Motor Vehicle Tax Office

TEL：059－223－5042　（we can only respond to enquiries in Japanese）