Do Offshore Brokers Ask Japanese Clients for a My Number?
Offshore brokers aren't Japanese financial instruments businesses, so they sit outside the system that obliges Japanese brokers to collect clients' My Number. Their sign-up checks usually ask for photo ID and proof of address instead (requirements differ by broker). But you need your My Number to file a Japanese tax return, and Japanese banks ask for it when you send money abroad or receive money from abroad. Not giving it to a broker has no bearing on whether you owe tax.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for people who live in Japan, Japanese or foreign nationals, who use or are considering an offshore forex broker. The My Number (kojin bangō) is the 12-digit individual number used for tax and social security. If you don’t live in Japan, none of this applies to you; see the general forex tax guide.
Will an offshore broker ask for it?
Japanese securities and FX firms are required under Japanese tax law to obtain clients’ My Number. Offshore brokers aren’t registered Japanese firms, so they’re outside that framework. Their identity checks typically ask for:
- Proof of identity: a driving licence, passport or the front of a My Number card
- Proof of address: a residence certificate (jūminhyō), a utility bill or a bank statement
What’s accepted, and how recent the address document must be, differs by broker. Check the broker’s own account-opening page; ours are linked from each review, for example opening an XM account.
If you use a My Number card as photo ID, send only what the broker asks for. The back of the card shows your number; there’s normally no reason to send it to an overseas broker.
You need it to file your tax return
If you have profit from offshore forex that you need to declare, your tax return includes a field for your My Number. The National Tax Agency’s filing guidance centres on e-Tax with a My Number card (NTA tax return guidance). Whether you need to file at all is covered in Japan’s ¥200,000 rule.
Banks ask for it on international transfers
When you send money abroad from a Japanese bank, or receive money from abroad, the bank follows the international remittance report (kokugai sōkin tō chōsho) rules:
- For transfers over ¥1 million, financial institutions submit a report to the tax office with the sender’s or recipient’s name, address and the amount (NTA material).
- The NTA states that, from 1 January 2022, the number must be provided for these international remittance reports (NTA list of transitional provisions).
So if a broker’s withdrawal reaches your bank as an international transfer, the bank may ask for your My Number. That’s separate from anything the broker asks. How different funding routes compare: deposit methods explained.
Summary
| Situation | My Number |
|---|---|
| Opening an offshore broker account | Outside Japan’s notification system; check each broker’s document list |
| Filing a tax return | Required |
| International transfers at a Japanese bank | The bank asks for it |
Not giving your number to a broker doesn’t change your tax position. Offshore forex profit is generally miscellaneous income taxed with your other income (NTA Tax Answer No. 1521). If you made a profit, check whether you need to file, estimate the tax with the Japan offshore forex tax calculator, and read up on deductible expenses and how losses are treated.
This guide explains the general rules only. For your own situation, ask your local tax office or a licensed tax accountant (zeirishi).
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- Forex Withdrawal Problems: Causes and Fixes
- Why Brokers Reject Withdrawals and How to Avoid It
- Forex Trading Tax: What You Owe by Country
- Japan's ¥200,000 Rule for Offshore Forex Profits Explained
- Offshore Forex Losses in Japan: Carry-Forward and Offset Rules
- Deductible Expenses for Offshore Forex Traders in Japan
- When Korean Residents Must Report Offshore Forex Accounts
- Funding a Forex Account by Credit Card: What to Know
- Funding a Forex Account in Thai Baht: PromptPay and Thai Banks
- Funding a Forex Account in Ringgit: FPX, DuitNow and Local Banks
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Frequently asked questions
If I never give my My Number to a broker, will the tax office know?
Possibly. NTA material explains that for international transfers over ¥1 million, banks submit reports to the tax office with the sender's or recipient's name, address and amount. If you have taxable profit, you need to declare it.
Can I use my My Number card as ID for an offshore account?
It depends on what the broker accepts. Some accept the front of the card as photo ID; you normally shouldn't send the back, which shows the number. Follow the broker's own instructions.
Do I need my My Number to file a tax return?
Yes. The return has a field for it, and the NTA's e-Tax filing guidance is built around the My Number card.
If I withdraw through an e-wallet, does My Number matter?
When money arrives in a Japanese bank account from abroad, the bank may ask for your number. Whether your profit is taxable doesn't depend on the route the money took.
I'm a foreign resident in Japan. Do I have a My Number?
Foreign nationals registered as residents of Japan are also assigned a My Number. The tax rules in this guide apply to Japanese tax residents regardless of nationality.
