📄 How to Read a Japanese Payslip (給与明細書) — Complete Term-by-Term Guide
Decode every Japanese term on your monthly payslip (給与明細書): Attendance (勤怠), Earnings (支給), Social Insurance & Tax Deductions (控除), and Net Pay (差引支給額).
📌 How to Read Japanese Payslips — 핵심 요약 (Key Takeaways)
- A Japanese payslip has 4 main sections: Attendance (勤怠), Gross Earnings (支給), Deductions (控除), and Net Deposit (差引支給額 / 手取り).
- Health Insurance (健康保険) and Welfare Pension (厚生年金) are fixed for a full year based on your April–June average pay (標準報酬月額).
- Employment Insurance (雇用保険) and Withholding Income Tax (源泉所得税) fluctuate each month when your overtime changes.
📖 How the Formula Works & Official Terminology (with Local Terms)
- Earnings (支給 / Shikyū): Base Salary (基本給), Overtime Pay (時間外手当 / 残業手当), Tax-Free Commuter Allowance (非課税通勤手当), and Gross Total (総支給額).
- Social Insurance (社会保険): Health Insurance (健康保険料), Nursing Care (介護保険料, ages 40–64), Welfare Pension (厚生年金保険料), and Employment Insurance (雇用保険料).
- Taxes (税金): Withholding Income Tax (源泉所得税) and Resident Tax (住民税, deducted June–May from Year 2).
- Net Pay (差引支給額 / Sashihiki Shikyūgaku): Gross Earnings minus Total Deductions = exact amount wired to your bank account.
📊 Sample Salary & Tax Reference Table by Income Bracket
| Japanese Term | English Meaning | 2026 Calculation Basis | Changes Monthly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 基本給 / 総支給額 | Base Pay / Gross Pay | Contract base + overtime + allowances | Varies with overtime |
| 非課税通勤手当 | Tax-Free Commuter Pass | Income tax exempt up to ¥150k/mo (included in social ins.) | Fixed |
| 健康保険料 | Health Insurance | Standard Monthly Base × 1/2 Prefectural Rate | Fixed (revised each Sept) |
| 厚生年金保険料 | Welfare Pension | Standard Monthly Base × 9.15% (cap ¥59,475) | Fixed (revised each Sept) |
| 雇用保険料 | Employment Insurance | Monthly Gross Pay (incl. transit) × 0.55% | Varies monthly |
| 源泉所得税 | Withholding Income Tax | NTA formula on (Taxable Gross - Social Insurance) | Varies monthly |
| 住民税 | Resident Tax | Prior-year tax split across 12 months (June–May) | Updates every June |
| 差引支給額 | Net Take-Home Pay (手取り) | Gross Pay minus Total Deductions | Final bank deposit |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🏛️ Official Government Citations & Revision Schedule
-
National Tax Agency of Japan (国税庁) —
2026/2027 Withholding Tax Tables & Computer Formula (源泉徴収税額表)
Official Rule Verification Date: 2026-11-04 | 매년 9월 차년도 표 공개 → 1월 급여부터 적용 (1월·9월 중점 점검)
-
Japan Health Insurance Association (協会けんぽ) —
Prefectural Health & Nursing Care Insurance Rate Tables
Official Rule Verification Date: 2026-11-04 | 매년 3월분(4월 납부분)부터 도도부현별 요율 개정 (2월·3월·4월 중점 점검)
-
Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) —
Employees’ Pension Rates & Lump-Sum Withdrawal Payments (脱退一時金)
Official Rule Verification Date: 2026-11-04 | 국민연금 보험료 매년 4월 개정 / 후생연금 정기결정 9월 (3월·4월·9월 점검)
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Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) —
Employment Insurance Rates, Regional Minimum Wage & Income Wall Package
Official Rule Verification Date: 2026-11-04 | 고용보험 매년 4월 / 지역별 최저임금 매년 10월 발효 (3월·4월·9월·10월 점검)
Calculations, schedules, and guides on HonsMoney are approximate estimates and may differ from your actual tax or insurance amounts due to individual circumstances, municipal rules, visa status, or law revisions. This site does not provide tax or legal advice. Always verify final figures and deadlines directly with your local Tax Office (税務署 / NTS), Municipal Office (役所), Pension Service (年金事務所 / NPS), or your employer’s HR/payroll department.
🔗 Related Calculators & Guides
Japan Salary & Take-Home Pay (手取り)
Calculate your exact take-home pay (手取り) in Japan by prefecture, including Kyokai Kenpo Health Insurance, Welfare Pension (厚生年金), Employment Insurance, Income Tax, and Resident Tax (住民税).
Japan Withholding Tax (源泉徴収)
Calculate Japanese monthly salary and bonus withholding income tax (源泉徴収税額) using the official NTA Computer Formula (電算機特例) for Column A (甲欄) and Column B (乙欄).
Japan Resident Tax (住民税)
Estimate your Japanese Individual Resident Tax (個人住民税: 10% income levy + ¥5,000 per-capita levy) billed from June to May based on your previous year’s income.