Summary of Minister Fujii’s Post-Cabinet Press Conference
Overview
At the September 29, 2026 press conference, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Fujii said the government had decided to advance ordinary local allocation tax payments to municipalities affected by Typhoon No. 25. For hometown tax donations, he emphasized putting contributions to local use and reducing portal site fees, and said measures would be considered ahead of the year-end tax reform. He said about 70% of municipalities indicated they intended to join the hometown resident registration system, and that the government would advance steps to ease burdens and conduct a monitor trial, aiming to launch the system within this fiscal year.
Key points
- The press conference was held on September 29, 2026.
- The government decided to advance 14.255 billion yen in ordinary local allocation tax payments to 42 municipalities in Chiba Prefecture covered by the Disaster Relief Act.
- Hometown tax donations exceeded 1.3 trillion yen in fiscal 2025.
- About 70% of municipalities indicated that they intended to join the hometown resident registration system.
Overview
The minister described hometown tax donations as a system that lets people express gratitude to their hometown or municipalities that have helped them, and decide how their taxes are used. He said it is important to consider how donations will be used when choosing a recipient.
The minister said the hometown resident registration system would make the scale of the population with ties to a region and the nature of those ties visible, helping secure local contributors and revitalize communities.
Impact
The minister said the government would respond appropriately in light of the extent of damage and other factors so that affected municipalities’ financial operations would not be disrupted.
He said hometown tax donations are used to address local issues, including supporting disaster-affected areas during emergencies, providing child-rearing support through initiatives such as children’s cafeterias, and enhancing the appeal of local tourism resources.
Details
In response to damage from Typhoon No. 25 in 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications decided, based on requests from 42 municipalities in Chiba Prefecture covered by the Disaster Relief Act, to advance part of the ordinary local allocation tax scheduled for regular payment in November.
Under the fiscal 2026 tax reform, the government revised the rules to increase the share of donations that municipalities can use for their projects. The minister said fees and other payments flowing to portal site operators outside the municipalities should be reduced as much as possible. In May this year, the ministry asked each company to lower them, but only one company said it would reduce its basic fee. The government will consider specific measures ahead of the year-end tax reform.
A survey of municipalities nationwide was conducted from June to July this year and asked about their intention to join the system, their expectations, and their concerns. Respondents cited administrative and financial burdens as concerns about joining. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said it would develop an easy-to-use system and waive system fees for a set period for municipalities that join by fiscal 2027.
With the cooperation of model municipalities, a monitor trial of the trial app will run from mid-October to mid-December, and feedback from municipalities and monitors will be reflected in system development and other work. The minister said the government would work toward launching the system within this fiscal year.