Interviews with people involved revealed that local beer produced and sold by a company in Kobe City in the three years up to last year was pointed out as happoshu in an investigation by the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau, and that the liquor tax, which had been reduced as beer, was subject to additional taxes.
The company had received a national exemption that reduced the liquor tax when a small manufacturer shipped beer, but it was pointed out that it did not meet the conditions because it used sugar, which is not allowed in the production of the company's beer.
According to those involved, the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau pointed out that A.N. International in Kita-ku, Kobe City, which manufactures and sells Kobe's local beer "Rokko Beer."
The Liquor Tax Law stipulates the ingredients for the production of beer, and only fruits and flavorings were allowed to be added to the beer produced by this company.
However, an investigation by the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau found that canned beer that had been produced and sold for about three years until last year contained sugar that was not recognized as an ingredient, and it was pointed out that it was not beer but happoshu.
This company has received a special measure from the government that reduces the liquor tax by 3% when a small manufacturing company ships beer, and according to the people involved, it received additional tax of about 15 million yen, including the tax reduction and under-declaration additional tax for the product that was declared and shipped as beer.
The company commented, "Although there is a difference in interpretation with the National Tax Bureau, we will take the suggestions seriously and strive to manufacture in accordance with the Liquor Tax Law in the future."