Hometown Tax Deadline Approaches: Last-Minute 20,000 Yen or Less Return Gift Guide

The major overhaul is just around the corner.

Furusato nozei (hometown tax) allows you to make donations to municipalities other than your place of residence, based on your income, and receive deductions on both resident and income taxes. For a personal burden of just 2,000 yen, you can receive return gifts worth around 30% of your donation, plus points from portal sites—a true divine system. However, starting October 1, portal sites will no longer be allowed to give points.

You can earn points through furusato nozei only until the end of September. Service providers such as “Rakuten Furusato Nozei,” “SatoFuru,” “Furunavi,” and “Furusato Choice” are rolling out attractive campaigns as a last-chance opportunity.

“In September, each company is offering even more valuable campaigns than usual,” says Keisuke Tobita, editor-in-chief of the comparison site Furusato Nozei Guide.

To make the most of this final opportunity, it’s essential to carefully select your return gifts and fully use your donation limit by the end of September. FRIDAY consulted furusato nozei experts and narrowed down return gifts you can apply for with donations under 20,000 yen—useful advice for this year’s applications.

Leading the way is Masahiro Kai, a professional who checks 1,786 municipalities daily and covers his daily life with furusato nozei return gifts.

“This year, rising rice prices have been a big topic, so rice remains a very popular gift. Last year, a donation of 10,000 yen could get you a certain amount, but this year it costs 20,000 yen nationwide. In Kyushu, however, new rice is already available. In Nishihara Village and Takamori Town in Kumamoto’s Aso region, a 12,000 yen donation can reserve 5 kg of the original brand rice ‘Aso Dawara.’ You can choose polished rice, pre-washed rice, or brown rice, which is very convenient and worth the amount.

Incidentally, Nishihara Village also offers wireless earphones with noise-canceling features from the brand ‘&Less’ for a 10,000 yen donation. Considering the 2,000 yen personal burden, it’s quite a bargain.”

Once you’ve secured new rice, the next thing to consider is the perfect accompaniment.

“If you still have 12,000 yen left in your donation limit, I recommend salmon roe marinated in soy sauce (200 g × 2 packs) from Otaru City in Hokkaido. Furusato nozei lets you enjoy high-end products at reasonable prices. Also, Hokke (Atka mackerel) dried fish from Kamisu City, Ibaraki, available for 9,000 yen, is a great choice. They may be slightly smaller or have minor imperfections, but the taste is the same and the quantity is generous. It’s perfect as a snack with alcohol or as a side dish.”