U.S. bases in Japan have scheduled dates and times in April for residents to be able to pay the annual Japanese road tax on base. Vehicle registration offices will issue a decal with proof of payment and other required documents. (By Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — After a month filled with earthquakes, tsunamis, voluntary departures and fears of radiation exposure, it might be easy to forget that it’s that time of the year again — time to pay your annual road tax fee.
The road taxes, mandated by Japanese law and based on vehicle engine size, are collected at U.S. military installations across Japan around this time each year.
Department of Defense and their personnel are required to pay their road taxes in order to receive their base vehicle decals for 2011.
Japanese tax officials will be setting up stations throughout the bases in Japan to help process your payment.
Those unable to make the scheduled base collections times have until May 31 to pay the road tax off base at their local Japanese tax office, post office or select convenience stores, according to various base officials.
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Japan 2011 Road Taxes
How much?
Road taxes can be determined by the number shown on the top of each vehicle’s license plate, which identifies the vehicle’s engine size.
While anyone can pay road tax for deployed or absent vehicle owners, a power of attorney may be required to obtain a base decal for anyone other than a spouse.
For information, contact your base vehicle registration office.
Various plates and taxes:
• 44Y, 400Y; 56Y, 57Y, 58Y, 500Y, 529Y plates: 7,500 yen.
• 33Y, 300Y, 329Y plates; 4.5 liter and lower: 19,000 yen. 4.6 liter and above: 22,000 yen.
• 11Y, 100Y plates: 32,000 yen.
Road tax for mini-cars and motorcycles:
Payments accepted on some bases, but not others; must be paid beginning in April.
• Mini-cars: 3,000 yen.
• Motorcycles up to 125cc: 500 yen. 126cc and above: 1,000 yen.
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What to bring?
Drivers should bring these items when paying road tax on their base:
• Base driver’s license
• Liability insurance
• Japanese Compulsory Insurance
• Current base vehicle inspection
• Japanese vehicle title
• Military vehicle registration
• Certificate of title of motor vehicle (DD Form 430)
• Parking certificate, if applicable
A new base decal is issued at the end of the tax-paying procedure when road tax is paid on a U.S. installation. Drivers should be registered with the Defense Biometrics Identification System (DBIDS) to receive their new base decal.
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Where and when to go?
Camp Zama: April 19-22, staggered based on last name, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Zama Community Center. April 19: Drivers with last names starting with A-E; April 20, F-K; April 21, L-R; April 22, S-Z. Motorcycle and mini-car taxes can be paid on April 22. For more information, call DSN 263-4337 or 263-3732.
Yokota Air Base: April 18-21 at the Yujo Community Center from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call DSN 225-8932.
Misawa Air Base: April 18-22, staggered based on last name, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Mokuteki Community Center. April 18: Drivers with last names starting with A-E; April 19, F-L; April 20, M-S; April 21, T-Z; April 22, make-up day for anyone who missed their scheduled day.
Sasebo Naval Base: April 27-28 at the Showboat Theater from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information call DSN 252-2377.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi: April 6-9 at Skymaster Building 1342 on the second floor from 9 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. Motorcycle and mini-car road taxes will be collected Thursday, April 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. For more information call DSN 264-3627.
Yokosuka Naval Base: April 12, 14 and 15, and May 26 and 27 at the Community Readiness Center 2nd floor from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Road tax collections will also be held in Negishi on April 15 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Building 19045 in the MWR classroom. Cancelled March road tax collection dates may be rescheduled for a later date, according to base officials. No make-up dates have been scheduled at this time, base officials added. For more information call DSN 243-5011/5896.
Camp Fuji: All fees collected.
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni: Standard size, small or other motorized vehicle owners can pay taxes throughout the month of April at the Provost Marshal Office (PMO) Training Room. Heavy vehicle owners are scheduled for payment from April 13-15 at the Provost Marshal Office (PMO) Training Room 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Japanese Yen is the only accepted method of payment and exact change is preferred. For more information call DSN 253-3151.
