The truth about the resurgence of the "single tax" in Japan is not as simple as rumors! Although the topic of "single tax" was mostly misinformation in the early years, this discussion seems to be different. Japan is facing a declining birthrate and an aging population, and the wave of singles is surging, and there is a growing demand for support for families with children.
How much does this money pay?
By 2028, the Japanese government plans to ensure that the annual financial resources for the declining birthrate will reach 3.6 trillion yen (about 166.5 billion yuan), of which 1 trillion yen (about 46.2 billion yuan) will be provided through the support fund.
Specifically, the Japanese government has estimated the actual total income of workers in 2021, and the amount of tax will increase with each year. It is estimated that by 2028, personal annual income of 2 million yen (about 93,000 yuan) will be required to pay 350 yen (about 16 yuan) per month, and personal annual income of 4 million yen (about 185,000 yuan) will need to pay 650 yen (about 30 yuan) per month, and so on.
Japan's Minister of Child Policy, Ayuko Kato, said that these funds can enable a child to receive a total of about 1.46 million yen (about 68,000 yuan) in child allowance and service fees before he reaches the age of 18.
On April 19, the House of Representatives passed the Amendment to the Child Care Support Act, which includes the Child Care Support Fund, and sent it to the House of Councillors, where it will be implemented from 2026 if it is finally passed.
Although there is not much money to pay for this, for example, those who earn 10 million yen a year will have to pay 1,000 yen per month in 2026. Converted into RMB, people with an annual income of 460,000 yuan pay more than 550 yuan a year.
But this still sparked a wave of opposition from the Japanese public. According to a survey conducted by Japan's Kyodo News Agency not long ago, more than 60% of respondents opposed it.
However, some analysts say that in fact, the "single tax" is not directly aimed at all single people, but through tax adjustments to alleviate the difference in family burdens. The policy consideration is that many singles with better economic conditions have no family burden, and their disposable income is relatively generous compared with those with children.
The government is considering using this mechanism, such as the "Child Care Support Fund", to deduct a certain amount from the wages of some office workers, and indirectly reallocate resources to support families with children. This means that the tax changes are designed to promote social equity and encourage childbearing, rather than simply penalizing singleness.
So, don't be afraid! The "single tax" is more like a response to the current social situation, encouraging the construction of a supportive child-rearing environment, rather than a "tax bill" that adds to the blockage of singles. Although this is still a complex and controversial topic, it reflects the deep thinking and exploration of countermeasures to the demographic challenges of Japanese society.