Taxes
It’s tax season again. On Friday, February 17th I visited the Tax Assistance Office in Shinjuku to file my online tax refund claim. The Japanese is so complex that I need assistance doing it, otherwise I would be able to do it online at home by myself. The office opened the day before, February 16th, and will stay open serving eager/anxious taxpayers until March 15th. Every year the office changes its location from one rented convention or auditorium space to another. Three years ago, it was in the NEWoMan Building in South Shinjuku. Last year, it was in the basement of the Sumitomo Building in West Shinjuku. This year it’s Bellesalle Shinjuku Central Park building adjacent to Shinjuku Central Park, near the City Hall. The space is subdivided by portable dividing walls into areas like A) Consultation, B) Waiting Area, C) Document Inspection, D) Computers, and E) Printers. The Tax Assistance Office in Shinjuku is for residents of Shinjuku Ward, Nakano Ward, and Suginami Ward. Other parts of the city have their own set-up for similar services.
For the first time, this year, they are trying to force us to do everything on our phones!
Here’s something that really annoyed me. For the first time ever, I was asked if I had an iPhone. I said I had an Android, and that was marked on my paper. I thought little of it. What does a phone matter? I use my phone as a camera 99% of the time. But, when it came time to move to the computer banks to enter all my information online, I was directed into a new section where people for doing all the online work on their smartphones. For the first time, this year, they are trying to force us to do everything on our phones! It's a symptom of the advance of technology. I balked at that and kept asking to be shown to the computers. They kept directing me to the phone section, but I was stubborn and adamant, i.e. a troublesome foreigner. They caved and let me use the computers. The larger screen is better for me. On reflection, I imagine the tax people think using smartphones when smartphones are available makes the whole process faster - smartphones for some who have them, computers for others who don’t. Faster in, faster out. In the future, I will deny that I have a smartphone.
I habitually complain about administrative chores like this, but in the end it's not that hard. It's just terribly tedious. First, I have all my documents gathered and in order. Second, I arrive early. Third, I use the toilet. Then, I look at the signs and listen carefully to the oral announcements to make the best sense of it that I can. Next, I watch what other people are doing and imitate them. Finally, I dig deep and use every ounce and trace of Japanese that I can. I walk out two hours after walking in. Refund will be in the bank in four weeks.