Daily Life Lessons · Work
Understand what the payments, deductions and take-home pay on a payslip mean, and be able to check yourself each month that your payslip matches the hours you worked and your contract.
A payslip (給与明細) is a document that shows the breakdown of your pay for the month. Employers are required to give workers a pay statement, and with your consent it may also be provided electronically, for example on the web.
A payslip is mainly divided into "attendance" (勤怠), "payments" (支給) and "deductions" (控除). Attendance shows the number of days worked and overtime hours; payments show base pay, overtime pay, commuting allowance and so on; deductions are amounts taken out of your pay. Deductions include health insurance, employees' pension insurance (厚生年金保険) and employment insurance (雇用保険) premiums (plus long-term care insurance (介護保険) premiums for those aged 40 to 64), income tax, resident tax (住民税) and others. Resident tax is calculated based on the previous year's income, so it may not be deducted in your first year of working in Japan.
The "net payment" (差引支給額, take-home pay / 手取り), which is payments minus deductions, is the amount you actually receive. Check every month that your working hours and allowances match your employment contract or notice of working conditions (労働条件通知書), and keep your payslips.
給与明細（きゅうよめいさい）は、給料の 中身が わかる 紙です。Webで 見る 会社も あります。
- 勤怠（きんたい）：働いた 日や 残業（ざんぎょう）の 時間 - 支給（しきゅう）：もらう お金（基本給・残業代・通勤手当 など） - 控除（こうじょ）：引かれる お金（保険料・税金）
引かれる お金には、健康保険・年金・雇用保険の お金、所得税（しょとくぜい）、住民税（じゅうみんぜい）などが あります。 住民税は 前の 年の 給料で 決まるので、日本で 働いた 1年目は 引かれない ことも あります。
手取り（てどり）＝ 支給 − 控除。これが 本当に もらう お金です。 毎月、働いた 時間や 契約と 合って いるか 見ましょう。明細は 捨てないで とっておきます。
Which amount is "take-home pay" (手取り)?
The net payment, which is payments minus deductions, is the "take-home pay" you actually receive.
Which of these is a "deduction"?
Income tax, resident tax, social insurance premiums and so on are deductions. Commuting allowance, overtime pay and base pay are payments.
What is resident tax calculated from?
Resident tax is calculated from the previous year's income. So it may not be deducted in your first year of working in Japan.
For people of what age are long-term care insurance premiums deducted together with health insurance premiums?
People aged 40 to 64 who are enrolled in health insurance pay long-term care insurance premiums together with their health insurance premiums.
What should you do if the overtime hours on your payslip are fewer than you actually worked?
First check with the company. If it isn't resolved, you can consult a public service such as the Labour Standards Advice Hotline (労働条件相談ほっとライン).
Q. I don't receive a payslip.
A. Employers are required to give workers a pay statement. First ask your company. If that doesn't solve it, you can consult the Labour Standards Advice Hotline or a General Labor Consultation Corner (総合労働相談コーナー).
Q. I was told to view it on the web instead of on paper.
A. With your consent, the payslip can be provided electronically. Even after you agree, you can ask the company to give it to you on paper.
Q. How can I check whether my overtime pay is correct?
A. Record your start and finish times every day in a notebook or an app, and compare them with the overtime hours on your payslip. Check how overtime pay is calculated in your employment contract or notice of working conditions, and ask the company about anything you don't understand.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original