Japan Government's policies updates on Airbnb activity.

[Francisco10]

Hi fellow hosts, 

I've received an email with good news/updates and links on the new policies for Airbnb activity in Japan that is only available in Japanese... Of course, I will make the effort and eventually read it all through, but I was wondering if somebody can summarize what is there to do in order to comply. 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/920/japan?locale=en

A few of questions:

In the case of hosts renting a room within a house or property they own -

- There will be a kind of licence/permit to engage in such activity?

- Do they have to apply for an examination of the premises by some sort of authority?

- Do they have or will be given the opportunity to join an Inn association?

- Do they have to set a company or business to continue such activity?

Please bring more questions to this discussion.

Advice or links in english will be most appreciated. Thanks

Paco

[Francisco10]

Hi guys,

I've been through some of the links with my japanese wife and it seems to us that there are not actual news regarding room rental/homestay service. Some of the documents are in a very complicated writen style, more of a lawyers level and difficult to interpret. Anyways, they only mention regulations for Hotels, Inns, hotels, B&Bs...  ( a copy paste job from Airbnb to comply )

Airbnb's recomendation is to seek advice directly from the City Office, of course I doubt that they will make it official by telling you that is alright to continue. Regarding tax duties, I guess it all depends how much can you make and if it goes over the limit to be consider a business.

I believe that for the time being Airbnb activity will remain unofficially OK as long as you rent your own property and stays as a household second income. 

I wonder if there is actual interest in getting official or people is afraid to seek or give advice and been told to stop.

Any thoughts on this?

Paco

[Brett64]

Hi Paco!  Thanks for getting this topic up and running!  I am running a bnb in Tamano, Okayama.  I agree with everything you are saying above.  I wonder if we can link with other English speaking hosts in Japan and help each other out by sharing our experiences navigating the new laws, whatever they may eventually be.  I have not researched this yet, but I am sure you are right about the whole thing being rather vauge, and that the local (city etc.) offices will be conservative in their advice.  Can we use this correspondence as a starting point for linking to other English speaking hosts in Japan?  What do you think?

[Francisco10]

Hi Brett,

Thanks for commenting on this subject and yes, it would be good to hear from other host in the same situation. Actually at the moment I'm revising on a few new notifications from Airbnb about new laws and registration.

    - If you haven't receive yours this is an extract from one of them:

              "The Housing Accommodation Business Act will come into effect on June 15th this year.
We will register with the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), as required under the law, and help hosts comply with the law.
               From June 15th, 2018 onwards, we will require hosts with listings in Japan to provide their relevant permit notification number/legal basis prior to listing on our platform.
               You will be able to submit this required information starting from March 15th, 2018. We kindly ask that you prepare for notification in accordance with the Housing Accommodation Business Act."

    - But before being able to register,  another notification reads :

              "As a valued member of our host community, we would like to remind you where to find important information that you may need to file your annual tax return this year. You can file your annual tax return from 16 February till 15 March."

              "Hosts who reside in Japan are obligated to report and pay the JCT because the hosting services that Airbnb provides are subject to the “reverse charge” system under the JCT Act (Airbnb does not charge or report/pay such JCT)."

So, this time I'm thinking of going straight to my local Tax office, where I have my woodworking bussiness registered, and ask for advice, hoping that they will just give me the paperwork to file my annual tax return on this as a "second bussines". 

I think is becoming clear and is good we will be able to register. So I guess will just do as told, of course in expectation of what the requierements for registration turn out to be.

Still eskeptic on what do they know or will advice at the local office. One of my questions will be:

- Should I file tax return this year or wait for information to register from March 15th and file next year all the previous years toguether? 

What are you thinking of doing about it?

Looking forward to hear opinions,

Paco