Political funds: Tax treatment of unreported income “We will watch the party’s response” Finance Minister

With regard to the tax treatment of income that was not included in the political funds balance report regarding the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, Finance Minister Suzuki, from the government's standpoint, is considering instructing the relevant members to pay taxes. He stated that there was no such thing, and expressed his intention to monitor the party's response.

Regarding the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, the opposition party has argued that income that was not recorded in the income and expenditure report should be taxed as individual income of members, and that the ruling party However, there is an opinion that it is necessary to pay tax if the product is used for personal use.

Regarding this, Finance Minister Suzuki was asked at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 15th whether he had any plans to instruct relevant members to pay taxes, and he said, ``In my capacity as Finance Minister, I will tell the members who have omitted information to pay taxes.'' "We will not do anything about it. We will monitor the party's position."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi also stated, ``From the government's standpoint, we must refrain from referring to individual tax payments.''

Meanwhile, regarding the relationship with the former Unification Church, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama said, ``We have filed a request for a dissolution order and are proceeding with the procedure in accordance with the Victim Relief Act. I will continue to fulfill my responsibilities."

Ritmin Policy Research Council Chairman Nagatsuma: ``We should pay taxes properly.''

At a press conference, Political Affairs Research Chair Nagatsuma of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan said, ``We believe that the money went from a faction to an individual member, but in that case, it would be miscellaneous income.It's too late, but... , they should pay their taxes properly.''

On the other hand, Nagatsuma said, ``Another problem arises when paying taxes.Factions are considered ``other political organizations,'' and under the Political Funds Control Act, donations to individual members are not allowed, except for election campaigns.Donations. I think it is clear that the company will fall foul of the regulations. I hope that they will properly admit that they have paid taxes and violated the law."