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Tokyo Tax Bureau Hits Rakuten Card With ¥42.1 Billion Consumption-Tax Bill

The dispute turns on whether funding raised against cardholder receivables counts as a non-taxable borrowing or a taxable transfer under Japan’s consumption tax.

Overview

  • Rakuten Card was assessed about ¥42.1 billion for alleged underreported consumption tax covering four fiscal years through December 2023.
  • The company said it has paid the full amount while contesting the assessment and has filed for review with the National Tax Tribunal.
  • Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau concluded the receivables-based funding should be treated as a taxable transfer rather than non-taxable borrowing.
  • Rakuten Card maintains it treated the transactions as borrowings when using card receivables to raise funds from financial institutions.
  • The figure includes additional tax for underreporting, according to reports based on interviews with the company and related sources.