UK JET Programme

Current JETs

Table of Contents

• Association of JETs (AJET)
• Resources and Links
• Taxes and Student Finance

 

Association of JETs (AJET)

The Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching (AJET) is a volunteer organisation created by and for active JET Programme participants. AJET serves the JET community by building support networks, organising useful information, and offering resources to enhance the lives of the Programme participants in Japan and abroad. At the national level, AJET represents the voices the opinions and concerns of JETs to CLAIR and the Japanese government ministries that manage the JET Programme. On the prefectural level, individual AJET chapters plan a variety of social and volunteer events, fund scholarships for schools participating in the Programme, and work to connect the community. AJET has existed since the inception of the JET Programme in 1987 and continues to expand each year.

Volunteering with AJET is an excellent way to enrich your time on the JET Programme while gaining useful professional skills and experience. To find out more about AJET and its chapters, visit their website below.

• National AJET
• AJET Chapters by Prefecture

Resources and Links

About the JET Programme

• JET Programme Main Website
• Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions (If you are not a British citizen, please visit to find out more from the Embassy/Consulate in the country where you hold citizenship.)

General Resources

• General Information Handbook
• Association of JETs (AJET)
• The British Embassy in Tokyo
• British Council in Japan

About Japan

• The Embassy of Japan in the UK
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
• Japan National Tourist Organisation

Resources for ALTs

• Teaching Materials Collection
• Japan Association for Language Teaching

Resources for CIRs

• CIR Forums

Learning Japanese

• Japan Foundation London
• CLAIR Japanese Language Courses
• Grant for the JLPT

Life in Japan

• Travelling by Train (Hyperdia)
• Japan Automobile Federation
• Japan Pension Service

After JET

• The JET Alumni Association (JETAA)
• The JET Alumni Association (International)
• Japan Society

Taxes and Student Finance

Your Contracting Organisation will issue a Statement of Earnings (gensen chōshū hyō / 源泉徴収表) in January. This details your annual income, tax paid, and how much you contributed to social insurance and pension, from January to December the previous year. Be sure to keep this document for your tax records. Monthly wage slips or statements of earnings may vary in format and delivery.

Taxes in Japan

Any taxes that you are liable to pay will be paid out of your monthly salary. Your Contracting Organisation and Supervisor will help you with setting up your bank account and organising your financial affairs.

Due to the nature of the tax treaties between Japan and the UK, UK JET Programme Participants may be subject to a Local Inhabitant Tax alongside more typical income taxes. This tax can be paid monthly or annually around June. Some Contracting Organisations may not be aware of this tax and some British JETs may be faced with a large tax bill collected over the entirety of their time on the Programme which they are expected to pay before they leave. Foreign workers in Japan from other nations may not be liable for this tax. Speak with your Supervisor and/or Contracting Organisation early regarding this tax to find a preferred method of payment.

Taxes in the UK

As UK JET Programme Participants are contracted to work in Japan for a minimum of one-year, they are classed as non-residents for UK tax purposes. This means that you are not required to pay income tax on earnings as per their contract and work on the JET Programme. For further, please contact HMRC and visit their website at the link below.

• Tax on Foreign Income

Student Finance Repayments

As UK JET Programme Participants work outside of the UK for more than 3 months, you need to update the Student Loans Company with your employment details and salary information. You may have to contribute to student loan obligations from within Japan. This is to be organised between the Participant and the SLC and can typically be settled with 3 months worth of wage slips/statements of earnings. Please note that as the UK JET Programme Office is not responsible for individual contracts, salaries, taxes, etc., we are unable to provide information to support queries with the SLC.

• Update Employment Details with the SLC

Disclaimer

Do note that the UK JET Programme Office are not experts in financial matters relating to taxes or student finance. CLAIR nor the UK JET Programme take responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor accepts responsibility for any financial loss incurred or any legal action taken against anyone (whether or not they are associated with the JET Programme) as a result of information contained in or omitted from this article. Information contained here may be changed at short notice by the relevant organisations. Please contact the relevant authorities for up-to-date information as it relates to your own financial circumstances.