With local government finances dwindling, some municipalities and prefectural governments have started accepting credit cards for tax payments.
The governments are advertising the service as a convenient way to pay taxes. Plus there is an added bonus: People can get points from their credit card companies.
The town of Tamaki, Mie Prefecture, started accepting tax payments by credit card in April. With the start of the new fiscal year, the town, with a population of about 15,000, began accepting credit cards to pay for fixed asset and residential taxes as well as taxes on minivehicles and public utilities charges.