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法定監査
太陽有限責任監査法人は、法律によって義務付けられた各種の監査を提供しています。
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任意監査(IPO)及び関連サービス
太陽有限責任監査法人は、上場を目指す多くの会社に、豊富な経験に基づき、株式公開準備のための監査を提供しています。
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その他任意監査
太陽有限責任監査法人は、経営者等の依頼に基づく各種の監査を提供しています。
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情報セキュリティ監査
情報セキュリティに係るリスクアセスメントに基づく適切なコントロールの整備状況及び運用状況を検証又は評価して、情報セキュリティの適切性に保証を与え、或いは情報セキュリティの改善に役立つ的確な助言をしております。
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ビジネス税務
永年培ってきた経験とノウハウをベースとしたプロフェッショナルサービスをスピーディ-に提供します。
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プライベート税務
ファミリービジネス(オーナー系企業)に対して、税のみならず民法・会社法など様々な分野において総合的にソリューションを提供します。
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インターナショナル税務
これまで蓄積した知識とグラントソントンのネットワークを活用し、複雑化する国際課税問題に対応します。
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トランザクション税務
デューデリジェンスの初期の段階から、ストラクチャーの実現支援まで、税務がトランザクションに与える影響を考慮し、税務の観点からのみならず、事業価値評価、事業再編等に関わる計画策定から実行まで含めたトータルサポートを提供します。
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M&Aアドバイザリー
高い専門性と豊富な経験を有したプロフェッショナルが、M&Aや事業再編の検討から交渉・実行、及び統合までの様々なプロセスをサポートし、クライアントの成長を支援いたします。
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ビジネスリスクサービス
企業は、ステークホルダーの期待・要求に応え、経営目的を実現するために、有効なガバナンス体制を構築するとともに、適切なリスクテイクを支える環境を整備することが求められています。
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IT&オペレーションズ
データにもとづく製品・サービス品質の向上、規模・範囲の拡大、収益性・効率の改善はクライアントの成長と競争に大きなチャンスをもたらします。
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IPO支援
IPOを実現させるためには、証券取引所が定める上場審査基準を順守し、日本経済を活性化する上場企業としてふさわしい企業経営を行うことが求められます。
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会計アドバイザリー
監査法人での監査経験や事業会社での管理実務等の経験の豊富なプロフェッショナルが、会計・内部統制を中心とした様々なニーズに対応するサービスを提供します。
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フォレンジック&サイバー
最新の調査手法とITテクノロジーを活用し、国内及び海外の不正・不祥事、情報漏洩、サイバー攻撃等の事実解明調査や、これらの防止対策構築の支援を行い、クライアントの社会的価値の確立・維持・向上をサポートします。
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サステナビリティアドバイザリー
企業が高品質なサステナビリティ情報を開示をできるよう、企業に寄り添った支援を提供します。
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中国ビジネス
日本・中国の国境を跨ぐビジネスのパートナーとして、豊富な知識と経験を活かし、最高のサービスを提供します。 我々は、日本と中国のビジネス環境を熟知し、両国の法制度や税制に精通しています。 クライアントのニーズに合わせた的確なアドバイスを提供し、ビジネスの成功に貢献します。
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パブリックセクター
太陽グラントソントンは、パブリックの専門家チームが、パブリックセクターが直面する課題に真摯に向き合い、理解し、最適なプロフェッショナルサービスを提供していきます。
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給与・人事労務
私たちは、事業を展開するにあたって「人」にまつわる給与・人事労務・所得税・在留資格など幅広い分野を横断的・総合的に、グローバルな見地から支援することを目指します。

In recent years, with the spread of teleworking and the diversification of international work styles, there has been an increasing number of cases where employees of foreign corporations stay in Japan and continue working remotely. While such work arrangements allow companies to utilize human resources more flexibly, they may also give rise to Permanent Establishment (PE) risks in Japan. The determination of a PE directly affects the attribution of taxing rights in Japan, making proper analysis and appropriate responses essential.
1. Definition of PE
A Permanent Establishment (PE) means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.
Even if a non-resident or a foreign corporation conducts business in Japan, if it does not have a PE in Japan, its business profits are taxable only in its home country and are not subject to taxation in Japan. This “no taxation without PE” principle has become the international rule for the taxation of business profits. If a PE exists in Japan, the income attributable to the PE is subject to taxation in Japan. Conversely, if there is no PE, business profits are not taxed in Japan; however, certain categories of income may still be subject to withholding taxation.
1-1. PE under domestic rules
Under Japanese domestic tax law there are three types of PE; “branch PE”, “construction activity PE” or “agency PE”.
1) Branch PE
Where a foreign enterprise has a fixed place of business in Japan through which the business of the enterprise is carried on, it may be regarded as a branch PE.
The essential conditions are generally summarized as follows:
- The place must constitute a place of business at the disposal of the enterprise;
- The place must have a degree of permanence (i.e., it must exist for a certain period of time);
- The business of the enterprise is carried on through that place.
A branch PE is not formed if the activities are preparatory or auxiliary in nature.
2) Construction activity PE
A building site, construction, installation or assembly project, or supervisory activities in connection therewith carried on in Japan by a non-resident or a foreign enterprise constitutes a construction PE if such site or project lasts for more than twelve months.
For the purpose of applying this time threshold, where contracts are divided or split up with the principal purpose of avoiding the twelve-month test, the periods of such projects shall be aggregated to determine whether the threshold is exceeded.
As with a branch permanent establishment, an exemption exists for activities of a preparatory or auxiliary character.
3) Agency PE
An agency PE consists of “contracting” agents or “negotiating” (or “secures orders”) agents.
A contracting agent is an agent who concludes contracts on behalf of and in the name of a foreign corporation or a non-resident individual. The authority may be given by a power of attorney, but more often it arises out of an employment, partnership or other underlying contract between the agent and the principal. A person who is authorized to negotiate all elements and details of a contract in a way that is binding on the foreign enterprise would be said to exercise sufficient authority even though the contract is formally signed by another person outside Japan.
A negotiating agent is an agent who exclusively or principally on behalf of a foreign corporation or non-resident “secures orders, negotiates, or performs other important acts leading toward the conclusion of contracts” in connection with the business of the foreign corporation or non-resident.
Independent agent : An exemption applies if an agent carries on business activities in connection with the foreign enterprise independently and in the ordinary course of their own business. However, this shall not apply where the agent acts exclusively or almost exclusively on behalf of one or more enterprises with which it has a special relationship.
1-2. PE under tax treaties
Where a tax treaty concluded by Japan provides a definition of a PE that differs from that under domestic law, the treaty definition shall prevail to the extent it is more favorable to the taxpayer. Accordingly, for non-residents or foreign corporations eligible for treaty benefits, the concept of a PE under the treaty is used instead of the domestic definition.
2. Analysis of PE Risks Arising from Remote Work
The remote work of employees of a foreign corporation in Japan gives rise to debate as to whether it falls within the scope of a “branch PE” or an “agency PE.”
2-1. Branch PE
The main factors in determining whether a PE exists are the functions performed and the role of the fixed place, as well as the length of term. Although there is no defined time period under domestic law whereby a fixed place becomes a PE, the OECD commentary on the model tax convention suggests that 6 months is the threshold for establishing a fixed place of business.
If the activities of the employee are considered to be critical to the foreign corporation as a whole, the place through which those activities are conducted will form a branch PE for the foreign corporation. Therefore, if an employee’s home or an office space is used on a continuous basis for the employer’s business it is considered that a branch PE may be formed.
2-2. Agency PE
If the employee has the authority to conclude contracts on behalf of a foreign corporation, or effectively determines the key terms of contracts, an agency PE may be formed.
2-3. Exception for Preparatory or Auxiliary Activities
Activities limited to a preparatory or auxiliary nature - such as the storage of goods, information gathering, or internal administrative functions - may be excluded from PE recognition. However, the scope of “auxiliary activities” is interpreted narrowly, and activities related to sales, business development, or marketing are generally not regarded as auxiliary.
From a practical standpoint, in order to avoid PE recognition, it is important to limit the scope of duties in job descriptions and employment contracts strictly to auxiliary activities, explicitly stating that the employee will not engage in sales activities or contract negotiations. Clarifying the nature of work in this manner is essential. Furthermore, it is advisable to establish mechanisms that prevent contracts from being executed in Japan -for example, requiring that all contracts receive final approval by the headquarters or another foreign group entity - so that contracting authority is not exercised in Japan.
3. Conclusion
When employees of a foreign corporation work remotely from Japan, the determination of whether a PE is constituted depends on factors such as the permanency of the workplace, the nature of the activities performed, and the existence of the authority to conclude contracts.
If the employee’s duties are limited to auxiliary activities and they are not granted authority to conclude contracts, PE risks can be effectively mitigated. However, where the employee engages in sales activities or contract negotiations, the likelihood of PE recognition is high, which may trigger corporate tax filing obligations as well as transfer pricing documentation requirements.
Ultimately, the determination of PE status depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each case, and a case-by-case analysis is strongly recommended.
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