Because it is a union that respects diversity, we support the voices of employees who want to align current laws with actual operational realities. An open legislative project with participation from all citizens for discussion
Federation of Tokyo Metropolitan Youth Unions
April 22, 2026
The Global Union (National Tax Union) officially launched the National Tax Union Politician Production Project today. This project is a groundbreaking initiative that provides full support, as a free-dues union, to National Tax Agency employees who wish to reform the current Act on General Rules for National Taxes to align with operational realities.
The starting point: the frank reality of the gap between current laws and operational practices.
First, there is an objective fact that we would like society at large to correctly understand.
First, the current General Rules for National Taxes Act does not mandate face-to-face inspections at all in criminal tax investigations. Inquiry methods such as in-person, written, telephone, or online are all legally permissible.
Second, under current law, the place of execution for questionnaire surveys is not limited to within the country. For taxpayers residing overseas, methods such as written documents and online means are naturally permitted by law.
On the other hand, there are indeed officials within the Regional Taxation Bureau who remain convinced that tax inspections cannot function without face-to-face investigations. Our union includes members who hold this perspective, and as a union that values diversity, we strongly support members in this position as well.
The purpose of this project: Solving issues through legislation
What is important here is that if there is a gap between the current law and actual operations, there are only two ways to resolve it.
The first approach is to align operations with current laws. Specifically, based on the non-mandatory legal nature of in-person investigations during inspection audits, the direction is to standardize responses via written documents and online methods.
The second approach is to align current laws with actual operational practices. In other words, it is a legal revision aimed at legally mandating face-to-face surveys and limiting the place of execution to within the country.
Up to now, our union has carried out advocacy activities to promote the first method with the participation of all citizens. However, as our organization values diversity, we are convinced that the voices of the National Tax Agency officials who prefer the second method should also be subjected to social debate through the legislative process.
Target Audience――For National Tax Agency officials who share these thoughts
For this project, we are widely recruiting current and former National Tax Agency officials who share the following aspirations as political candidates.
First, those who wish to amend the General Act on National Taxes to limit questioning and inspection to in-person only.
Secondly, those who aim for a legal amendment to limit the place of performance of questionnaire surveys to domestic locations.
Third, those of you who feel that the flexibility of current laws has become an operational burden in the field.
I am ready to challenge the current laws and align the General Rules with actual operational practices—the Free Union for Dues fully supports the endeavors of those who are convinced of this.
Support details from our union
In this project, all of the following support will be provided free of charge.
First, organizational support through a 400,000-member network.
Second, policy-making support. Our cooperative's network of experts assists with drafting legislative amendment clauses, organizing legislative facts, and analyzing impacts.
Third, providing a forum for public debate. Through our network of union members, we will encourage a debate on the proposed legislative amendments in which all citizens can participate. A healthy legislative process is one in which both supporting and opposing arguments are debated in a public forum.
Fourth, support for media and social media outreach. We will deliver the candidates' policy messages broadly to society through the union's technological infrastructure.
Diversity is our union’s strength.
Our organization is the world's first union built on three pillars: free membership, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the utilization of cutting-edge technology. At its core is the philosophy of providing a platform where members from diverse backgrounds and with diverse convictions can make their voices heard in society.
Whether union members believe that “we should improve the implementation of the current law as it stands” or that “we should amend the current law to better reflect actual practices,” they are all equally important members of our union. When the views of both sides are debated in a public forum, and the legislature and the public ultimately make the decision—this is precisely the sound policy-making process of modern democracy.
Feedback coordinated with the Kumamoto Regional Taxation Bureau
The progress and results of this project will be officially fed back to our partner, the Kumamoto Regional Taxation Bureau, in the same manner as the previous questionnaire recommendations.
We will deliver the voices of officials gathered through this project, who advocate for "mandatory in-person audits and limiting the place of fulfillment to domestic," to the Kumamoto Regional Taxation Bureau—an advanced operational bureau under the dedicated personnel system—as material for discussion within the organization. As a result, both operational challenges in the field and legislative challenges will be shared in a visualized manner. We will inform the general public of the feedback results at a later date.
Conclusion: Legislation Begins with the Voices of the Field
Among IRS officials, there are indeed those who feel that the flexibility of current laws is resulting in an increased burden on the ground. Bringing those voices to society through the legitimate process of legislation is an extremely healthy activity in a democratic nation.
As a free-membership union, we will fully support the challenge of those who voice such opinions to step up as politicians and reflect their convictions in legislation. We will promote the realization that diverse voices are debated in parliament and society in diverse forms—with the participation of all citizens.
If you are a current or former National Tax Agency official interested in this matter, please feel free to contact our union.
Global Union (National Tax Union)
