Pension lump-sum withdrawal calculator (2026)
When you leave Japan you can claim back part of the pension premiums you paid. Enter your months of coverage and your average pay to estimate the payment and the tax refund.
Total you can receive
¥726,000
You need at least 6 months of coverage to claim the lump-sum withdrawal payment.
You paid for more than 60 months, but only 60 months are counted. The months above the cap are not refunded.
- First payment from the pension service
- ¥577,751
- Second payment: income tax refund
- ¥148,249
No income tax is withheld on the National Pension payment, so there is no second payment.
| Average standard remuneration | ¥220,000 |
|---|---|
| Months counted | 36 |
| Payment rate | × 3.3 |
| Lump-sum amount before tax | ¥726,000 |
| Income tax withheld (20.42%) | − ¥148,249 |
- This is an estimate. The pension service uses your recorded standard remuneration for each month, which you can check on your Nenkin Teikibin letter or on Nenkin Net.
How the lump-sum withdrawal payment works
The lump-sum withdrawal payment (dattai ichijikin) is for people without Japanese nationality who paid into the Japanese pension system for at least 6 months, have less than 10 years of coverage and no longer have an address in Japan. You must apply within 2 years of leaving.
For the Employees' Pension, the amount is your average standard remuneration (monthly pay plus bonuses, averaged over your coverage period) multiplied by a payment rate. The rate depends on how many months you paid: 0.5 for 6 to 11 months, 1.1 for 12 to 17 months, and so on up to 5.5 for 60 months or more.
Japan withholds 20.42% income tax from the Employees' Pension payment. You can get that tax back: before leaving, appoint a tax representative (nozei kanrinin) who lives in Japan. After the first payment arrives, that person files a tax return for you and the withheld tax is refunded. Many people call these the first and second pension payments.
For the National Pension, the amount is fixed by law for each band of months. For people whose last premium was paid in fiscal 2026, it is ¥53,760 for 6 to 11 months, rising to ¥537,600 for 60 months or more. No tax is withheld.
Frequently asked questions
I worked in Japan for more than 5 years. Do I lose the rest?
Yes, for now. Only 60 months are counted, so premiums paid after the fifth year are not refunded. A pension reform passed in 2025 will raise the cap to 8 years, but the start date has not been set yet. If you plan to stay close to 10 years, consider waiting: with 10 years of coverage you qualify for a Japanese old-age pension instead.
Should I claim the refund or keep my pension record?
Claiming the lump sum erases the coverage period it is based on. If your country has a social security agreement with Japan, those months can count toward a pension at home, and claiming the refund means losing that. Check before you apply.
How do I get the 20.42% tax back?
Submit a tax representative notification form to your tax office before leaving Japan. When the pension service sends the payment notice, forward it to your representative, who files a tax return in your name. The refund is paid to the representative's Japanese bank account and they send it on to you.
How long does it take?
The first payment usually arrives a few months after the pension service receives a complete application. The tax refund takes another one to three months after the tax return is filed.
Can I apply while I am still in Japan?
No. You need to submit a moving-out notification to your city office first, and the pension service only accepts the application once your address in Japan has been removed.