Salaries in Japan

[Bushiman]

All teaching staff have to fill out a form and supply a map showing their daily commute... If it's over 4km one way, they qualify for a set amount per kilometre a month. I usually have to drive 135km a week and get ¥10,500 a month... So yeah, it works out at slightly more than I pay in fuel...

[mule96]

A lot of companies pay a transport allowance, but it is not mandatory by law. If people commute by public transportation, companies often pay the amount of a one month or three month of the teikiken from home to workplace, more "annoying" companies want to see proof that you actually buy it. Allowance for commuting by car is also possible, this varies quite a lot by company (in larger cities, companies often forbid it).

I don't get why some companies don't do it though. The bureaucratic effort is minimal and the allowance is only subject to unemployment tax, but not other social insurance taxes. So you have more money in your pocket if you get for example 380,000 Salary + 20,000 Commuting allowance instead of 400,000 salary. The company would also pays less for their part of the social insurance tax.

The maximum allowance by law that is shakaihoken-free is 100,000 per month. For cars I am not a 100% sure, but its much less.

My first company didn't pay commuting allowance and was close to a black kigyou anyway, but my subsequent jobs all paid it.

[KyushuWoozy]

I don't get why some companies don't do it though. The bureaucratic effort is minimal and the allowance is only subject to unemployment tax, but not other social insurance taxes. So you have more money in your pocket if you get for example 380,000 Salary + 20,000 Commuting allowance instead of 400,000 salary. The company would also pays less for their part of the social insurance tax.

This is really good info that I wasn't aware of, thanks.

Thanks too for everyone who shared their details. I'm interviewing tomorrow and now I got much better idea of the kind of package I should have in mind.