Sometimes a will specifies that part of the estate should be given to a religious organization or a charity. In these cases, if the inheritor meets certain conditions, the religious organization or charity may not need to pay any inheritance taxes. This rule encourages people to leave their money to charities or other worthwhile causes.
Additionally, certain gifts of real property to the Japanese government or public-interest corporation are also tax-free. Many charities and religious groups are organized as public-interest corporations to ensure that gifts made to them are tax-free.
If you have any questions about probate in Japan, please contact our office for a legal consultation.