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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Japan eyes sales tax hike to plug deficit

Politics Dec. 20, 2011 - 03:29PM JST ( 30 )

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30 Comments

-1

just-a-guyDec. 20, 2011 - 05:13PM JST

Good move! Brilliant politics from a party with 'long vision'!
0

JapanGalDec. 20, 2011 - 05:34PM JST

Stupid man.

Try a VAT tax and leave food, health and babies alone you twit.
2

gaijinfoDec. 20, 2011 - 05:40PM JST

Sales tax goes up, people spend less, companies lay off workers, economy shrinks.

Nice plan, genius.
2

Patrick SmashDec. 20, 2011 - 06:02PM JST

Well, it's extra funds for the oyaji to misappropriate. Hopefully they can spend this extra tax money in a more expansive whaling program that can bring great benefits to the areas worst affected by the earthquake.
0

CrazyJoeDec. 20, 2011 - 06:25PM JST

When consumption tax was raised from 3% to 5% back in April, 1997, tax revenue for fiscal 1997 did increase, but it has been falling ever since and has never surpassed the 1997 level.
-1

smithinjapanDec. 20, 2011 - 06:32PM JST

Here's an idea -- hold off on buying those problem ridden US fighter jets and put that towards the deficit. Or how about the money wasted on defending whalers? Sure, it would only provide hundreds of millions of US dollars and cover the need for a few years, but still.
0

unreconstructedDec. 20, 2011 - 06:50PM JST

Here's an idea -- hold off on buying those problem ridden US fighter jets and put that towards the deficit.

It is an idea, but it is a half-baked one. Japan's annual GDP is close to 6 trillion. The jets and whaling expeditions you fret about are a drop in the bucket.
3

JapanGalDec. 20, 2011 - 07:33PM JST

Why do the Japanese people not fight against food and meds and kids stuff being taxed? SO lazy or stupid.
2

Albert LazzarisDec. 20, 2011 - 07:40PM JST

What about increasing taxes over cigarettes and alcohol and cutting benefits of pachinko-addicted people?! JAPANGAL, this is sad, the government is doing whatever they want and nobody is standing for us. I think that TPP will be a good solution.
0

ironchefDec. 20, 2011 - 07:49PM JST

i dont mind consumption tax increase that much but leave my income tax alone. also, agree that it should be a VAT, tax on non-necessities.
0

VirtuosoDec. 20, 2011 - 08:44PM JST

**Don't tax food, **you idiots. Don't you have any common sense at all? Just wait and see -- prosecutions for shoplifting at supermarkets and kombini will go through the roof.
0

Ranger_Miffy2Dec. 20, 2011 - 09:09PM JST

Please, no tax hike.
0

GWDec. 20, 2011 - 09:10PM JST

Dont worry folks, how many "tax plans" have we had since March............LOTS..................

So what this proposal means exactly is this.................NOTHING!

This will change as the wind does, idiots are still "governing " us, same ole.......
-1

Ivan CoughanoffalotDec. 20, 2011 - 09:16PM JST

Oh, what a fantastic surprise. Tax food.

Don't stop sending fleets of ships to the Antarctic, on tax money, under armed guard, on tax money, to pursue "scientific research", on tax money.

Or throw billions on futile, pipe-dream Olympic ambitions of a deranged, corrupt and legendarily bigoted Governor.

That might make sense.

No, just tax food and make life harder for your beaten populace. Then everyone can say "Shoganai" to each other and wonder why things never get better.
-1

Ivan CoughanoffalotDec. 20, 2011 - 09:18PM JST

I really do despair.
2

tmarieDec. 20, 2011 - 10:56PM JST

Wait!! What?! I thought the raise in tax for was Tohoku, not the budget? Perhaps they could raise tax on tobacco and alcohol first? Perhaps cut some useless construction and useless spending???
0

wtfjapanDec. 20, 2011 - 11:11PM JST

unfortunatley this will do very little in stopping the huge debt rising. experts say for there to be any real reduction in the debt the consumption tax needs to be raised to well over 30% starting yesterday. very grim future indeed for Japan. lucky for us gaijin we can get off the Titanic before it sinks into the abyss.
1

SerranoDec. 20, 2011 - 11:14PM JST

Can't they get the people splurging on stuff in Omotesando, Roppongi Hills, Midtown and Ginza to pony up some more?
2

YuriOtaniDec. 21, 2011 - 12:17AM JST

All foreign aid should be dropped. Then cancel the whaling but would have to anyway once the bribes are not paid. How about a program for energy efficiency? Make it mandatory for new construction and so long for older structures. The NHK collectors could be part of enforcement. Lastly have leadership pull its head out of its deleted. Oh yea raise tobacco taxes!
1

KabukiloverDec. 21, 2011 - 12:24AM JST

Correction. Japan is not aiming at raising the consumption tax. Noda the clown is aiming at raising the consumption tax.

If that idiot gets his way, two things are going to happen. One: poor people in this country are going to hurt financially more than they are hurting now. Two: people are going to consume less.

In both cases, raising the consumption tax is make a mess.
-3

smithinjapanDec. 21, 2011 - 12:57AM JST

unreconstructed: "Japan's annual GDP is close to 6 trillion. he jets and whaling expeditions you fret about are a drop in the bucket."

So why do they need to raise taxes to plug the defecit, which is what this thread is about? I'd say it was funny to watch you walk into it like you did, but that's too easy -- you have proven just how out of touch you are in general, let alone in terms of specific issues; or let me ask you another way, since you fancy yourself so clever: if it's just a 'drop in the bucket', why the need to raise taxes? :) well done. haha.
-3

smithinjapanDec. 21, 2011 - 01:01AM JST

tmarie: "Wait!! What?! I thought the raise in tax for was Tohoku, not the budget? Perhaps they could raise tax on tobacco and alcohol first? Perhaps cut some useless construction and useless spending???"

What are you talking about, girl?? They absolutely HAVE TO dig up the asphalt outside my apartment for the fourth, no lie, time this month just to pave over it again then dig it up in 2012. Those twenty 'guards' with the wands have to stand there and have to stop traffic, etc.
-1

marcelitoDec. 21, 2011 - 01:08AM JST

As much as I didn,t want to say this - I,ve lost faith in DPJ under Noda ...what happened to cutting the all the wasteful spending first - the out of whack public servants salaries, the stupid dams and roads to nowhere, the nuclear industry and military budgets, taxing tobacco and booze more etc....so many ways to save money BEFORE raising the tax for everyone... Anyhow, my guess is he,ll have to call an election over this and whichever party comes up opposing or watering down the tax increases will either win or get to control the balance of power in the new govt...then its back to the good old status quo passing the bucket and gridlock again... unless the new wave of young , energetic fresh thinking politicians ala Hashimoto get in...but the establishment will never let that happen...aarrgghhh
0

globalwatcherDec. 21, 2011 - 07:44AM JST

Cut deep public spending first. This idea does not fly unless the deep public spending is implemented. Simple.
0

tmarieDec. 21, 2011 - 08:24AM JST

What are you talking about, girl?? They absolutely HAVE TO dig up the asphalt outside my apartment for the fourth, no lie, time this month just to pave over it again then dig it up in 2012. Those twenty 'guards' with the wands have to stand there and have to stop traffic, etc.

Its pathetic., isn't it? Plenty of ways the city could use its left over budget - daycares? Elderly day care? Parks? But nope. Dig, pave, wave the baton... Keep those yaks happy.
0

SerranoDec. 21, 2011 - 09:51AM JST

YuriOtani: "How about a program for energy efficiency? Make it mandatory for new construction and so long for older structures. The NHK collectors could be part of enforcement."

This just really tickled my funnybone! Thanks!
0

globalwatcherDec. 21, 2011 - 01:02PM JST

the country’s massive public debt, which runs at around twice its GDP

233.1% to be exact as of today. Baad.
-1

unreconstructedDec. 21, 2011 - 02:10PM JST

They absolutely HAVE TO dig up the asphalt outside my apartment for the fourth, no lie, time this month just to pave over it again then dig it up in 2012. Those twenty 'guards' with the wands have to stand there and have to stop traffic, etc.

Vote with your feet. You don't actually believe the J-gov listens to you, do you.
0

JapanGalDec. 22, 2011 - 07:12PM JST

And on the news now, TEPCO wants a 20% increase in electric billed to you!
0

hworta269Dec. 22, 2011 - 10:05PM JST

I am not Japanese but taxing too much is counterproductive to revenue increases after a certain point. They have already jacked up taxes on assorted other things like tobacco. They have not really done anything to curb spending which is the largest problem in large economy nations like Japan. They can just look at America and Europe if they want to see what confiscatory taxation does to economies look at the states in America with the most taxes, all broke and people moving out.