The internal affairs ministry said Friday that it will bar four municipalities from taking part in the country's furusato nōzei hometown tax donation program for two years from Monday due to their excessive spending on the program.

The municipalities affected are the city of Soja in Okayama Prefecture, the city of Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture, the town of Miyaki in Saga Prefecture and the town of Yamato in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Donations to the four municipal governments will not be eligible for income and residence tax deductions during the suspension period.