Head-to-head · tax residents 2026
United Kingdom or Japan: which should you move to?
Two of Europe's top relocation targets, both with newcomer regimes. Here is how they compare on the taxes that move the needle.
Tell us your country, income and net worth. The verdict above and the cost, flight time and "who wins" all update for you.
We'll send a personalised United Kingdom or Japan report for your exact situation, plus a free intro to a vetted advisor in whichever fits you best. No spam.
| Factor |  United Kingdom ↗ |  Japan ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Top personal income tax | 45% | 45% |
| Corporate tax | 25%* | 23.2%* |
| Capital gains tax | Taxed | Taxed |
| Dividend tax | 39.4% | 20.3% |
| VAT / sales tax | 20% | 10% |
| Wealth tax | No | No |
| Inheritance tax | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign income | Temporary exemption | Remittance basis |
| Headline expat regime | FIG 4-year foreign income exemption | Non-permanent resident (remittance basis) |
| Cost of living (vs your country) | 89 | 65 |
| Population | 69,487,000 | 123,366,734 |
| Area | 244,820 km² | 377,835 km² |
| Population density | 284/km² | 327/km² |
| Airports (large + medium) | 88 | 108 |
| Annual tourists | 38,229,570 | 36,870,000 |
| Flight time from your country | · | · |
| Direct flight likely? | · | · |
| Life expectancy | 81.5 yrs | 84.8 yrs |
| Safety (homicides/100k) | 1.1 | 0.2 |
| Happiness (0-10) | 7.16 | 5.87 |
| Corruption index (higher = cleaner) | 77/100 | 74/100 |
| Double-tax treaties (approx) | ~130 | ~78 |
| Internet speed (median fixed) | 172 Mbps | 255 Mbps |
| Healthcare spend / person | $5,860 | $3,638 |
| Air quality (PM2.5, lower=better) | 9.46 | 11.45 |
| Time zone (approx) | UTC | UTC+9 |
| Digital nomad visa | · | Yes |
| Official languages | 1 (English) | 1 (Japanese) |
Green = more favourable. Cost of living shown as a percentage of your home country (under 100% = cheaper than home). Tax data: compiled by us, being re-verified; cost of living: World Bank PPP; area & population: GeoNames; life expectancy & homicide rate: World Bank.
* United Kingdom: Main rate 25% (profits >£250k); 19% small-profits rate up to £50k with marginal relief between. Scotland/Wales do not vary corp tax. · Japan: 23.2% national; combined effective corporate rate ~30-31% incl. local enterprise and inhabitant taxes.
Frequent United Kingdom and Japan comparisons
People comparing United Kingdom and Japan also look at these.
Not sure which fits your numbers?
Your income mix decides this, not the headline rate. Get a projection for your situation and a vetted advisor in both countries.
Get my personalised comparison →