Anime figure collector who can’t pay his taxes has to give up what he cares for most

Dude should have auctioned them off himself! No sympathy here really as if one is behind on their taxes the tax office is more than willing to work out a payment schedule and one has to be seriously late for them to go to the extent of confiscating property. The guy is his own worst enemy.

People have to pay income tax, consumption tax, car purchasing tax, pension ( must be a tax because it is not for yourself ) Then, what is citizen tax ?

The article is wrong. It is not a city tax. It is a resident tax 住民税。　住民means resident. The reason they call it city tax is to hide the fact that while foreigners can't vote in local elections like real residents, they still have to pay the tax like regular residents.

its a scam

Tax theft.

@Aly Rustom

Yes, it's all a scam. I assume, of course, that you forego use of all municipal services to prove your point as well. Well done to you.

As a collector of American Comics and Comic book related toys I do have sympathy for this person. If I had the money I would purchase all of his items in the auction and return them to him. I kno the struggles of collecting even though I'm 27 years old. You grind to find that one item or wait long hours in line for a piece that is limited stock.

No sympathy at all. If you can't afford to pay your way (=pay your taxes), you can't afford to squander your cash on a hobby, whether it's geeky figurines or anything else. Pay what you have to pay first (what we all have to pay), and if there's anything left after you've met all your commitments, chuck it away on whatever takes your fancy.

But seriously, if what this person 'cares about most' is a pile of sad little figurines, he needs help.

Cleo,

Do you like paying taxes ? It wouldn't be so bad if the government used taxes ( all paid by citizens ) to help and support people in Japan who need it. There are people who think that paying tax is good even though the people have no say in how the money is used. Excessive taxes are a burden to anyone in the world.

The only fair tax is a tax on goods and services. This tax should be higher and other taxes should be lowered and in other cases removed.

Anyway the person who had his stuff taken probably collected in the past when things were good. Perhaps he has lost his job and has trouble paying all the bills. Perhaps if someone comes and takes away your things you might look at it differently.

Do you like paying taxes ?

Of course not. But I know I have to, and it's fair that i should. I don't want to have to subsidise people who don't/can't pay because they've spent their money on stuff they don't need.

the person who had his stuff taken probably collected in the past when things were good. Perhaps he has lost his job and has trouble paying all the bills. Perhaps if someone comes and takes away your things you might look at it differently.

No one is going to come and take my things away, because I didn't fail to pay my taxes. If he lost his job and suddenly found himself on hard times, he could discuss the matter with the tax authorities. He could sell the figurines himself to raise the money, or he could sell something else that he doesn't care for as much - and that might fetch a bit more than the meagre amount those plastic dolls will fetch.

The only fair tax is a tax on goods and services.

No, that is the least fair tax, as it consumes a larger proportion of the income of the poor. Progressive taxation based on income is way more fair.

His collection included 20 chase figures such as Ruri Goko the Kuroneko and Kosaka Kirino from “My Little Sister Can’t Be this Cute,”

He must've really been a "loser" this guy. (notice how age wasn't mentioned.)

What a warped society. People really collect this perverted crap? This story=typical rocket news garbage. How would they know all about, Ruri Goko the Kuroneko?? . . . and such n' such?

Good grief-

descendent-Yes, it's all a scam. I assume, of course, that you forego use of all municipal services to prove your point as well. Well done to you.

People who don't own a car don't pay the road tax inspite of the fact that they still use taxis and public buses. Its called a 自動車税 which actually means vehicle tax. Maybe EVERYONE in Japan should pay that regardless of whether or not they own a vehicle since they do use taxis and buses which are vehicles?

If I am a resident I should have the right to vote and must pay the resident tax. If I can't vote then paying the resident tax is like asking people who don't own a car to pay the vehicle tax. No Japanese person would have that.

People who don't own a car don't pay the road tax inspite of the fact that they still use taxis and public buses. Its called a 自動車税 which actually means vehicle tax. Maybe EVERYONE in Japan should pay that regardless of whether or not they own a vehicle since they do use taxis and buses which are vehicles?

It seems like they have already done the right thing by taxing the vehicles. If two families own one car between them, and share, then taxing the families would be double dipping since only one family could be using the car at a time. Taxing the car makes more sense, because the car is what is causing wear and tear on the road, not the people in the car. This same concept extends to using taxis and buses.

If I am a resident I should have the right to vote and must pay the resident tax. If I can't vote then paying the resident tax is like asking people who don't own a car to pay the vehicle tax. No Japanese person would have that.

If you were a citizen, you could vote. If you choose to not become a citizen, then it's your choice to not put yourself in a place to vote. The path to citizenship exists, it's up to you on whether or not you choose to take it.

If you were a citizen, you could vote. If you choose to not become a citizen, then it's your choice to not put yourself in a place to vote. The path to citizenship exists, it's up to you on whether or not you choose to take it.

You are talking about national elections. I am talking about municipal elections. The right to vote in our local constituency. You pay city taxes; so you should be able to vote in city/ mayoral elections. That's what I'm talking about. Don't confuse the two. Prefectural and city elections are not the same as national elections.

Are foreigners residents? Yes or NO?

If yes, we should pay our resident tax and vote in our residential area. If no, we shouldn't be paying the resident tax.

You are talking about national elections. I am talking about municipal elections. The right to vote in our local constituency. You pay city taxes; so you should be able to vote in city/ mayoral elections. That's what I'm talking about. Don't confuse the two. Prefectural and city elections are not the same as national elections.

My comments still stand. If you want to vote, the path to do it exists - it's your choice on whether or not you want to take it. I don't see the difference between federal/municipal makes any difference.

If yes, we should pay our resident tax and vote in our residential area. If no, we shouldn't be paying the resident tax.

You are a resident, and you avail yourself of the services. Therefore it's your responsibility to also pay tax. If you want a say in that, then you need to become a citizen.

You are a resident, and you avail yourself of the services.

services should include voting. What kind of resident doesn't have a right to vote?

I don't see the difference between federal/municipal makes any difference.

Ok well, let me spell it out for you. National elections means ALL japanese nationals can take part. Municipal elections are different. You can't vote in the Osaka mayoral elections if you live in Tokyo EVEN IF U R JAPANESE. Why? YOU DONT LIVE THERE. It Doesn't matter that you are Japanese; you are not a resident of Osaka. So you don't vote in Osaka. Municipal elections are based on RESIDENCE not nationality.

People who don't own a vehicle do not directly pay vehicular taxes. But they do pay them indirectly

But we do pay city taxes directly.

services should include voting.

They do - you just need to become a citizen.

What kind of resident doesn't have a right to vote?

Non-citizen residents.

Municipal elections are based on RESIDENCE not nationality.

Except that you cannot vote, so they are also based on nationality.

Isn't the whole non-Japanese residents should/shouldn't be allowed to vote/have to pay residence taxes a bit OTT? There is no suggestion that the non-payer in the article who lost his dollies isn't Japanese by nationality or doesn't have the vote.

He was supposed to pay. He didn't pay. They confiscated his toys and put them up for auction where they'll likely go for a fraction of what he paid for them, and vote or no vote, he'll still be in debt.

Except that you cannot vote, so they are also based on nationality.

There was a ruling by a judge a few years back when some zainichi brought it to court. The judge ruled that it in fact isn't. Not for the municipal. He did say it was based on national elections. So u are wrong on that. But nothing came out of it unfortunately.

Cleo is right; I have no sympathy for the guy.

So u are wrong on that.

I am? Then you must be able to vote in municipal elections which means I don't understand why you are complaining about something you can't do, when you actually can do it.

It's all very well everyone getting on their high moral horse about having a duty to pay taxes, but anyone think that auctioning off the figures will even cover the cost of the salaries of the public "servants" who came to his house?

foreigners can't vote in local elections like real residents, they still have to pay the tax like regular residents.

You can still use any public facilities for free, like any other resident.The fact that you don't use your local public library it's rather obvious. You're paying for it through your taxes..