You have left a job in Japan, but one more payslip arrives and the amount is different from your usual monthly pay. Start with the pay period and payment date, then compare each payment and deduction line with the previous month. A final payslip can contain adjustments from a different period; ask payroll which dates a line covers before assuming it is an error.
Labels to look for
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning / question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 給与支給日 | きゅうよしきゅうび (kyūyo shikyūbi) | Payment date |
| 対象期間・勤怠締日 | たいしょうきかん・きんたいしめび (taishō kikan / kintai shimebi) | Pay period / attendance cutoff date |
| 基本給 | きほんきゅう (kihonkyū) | Base pay |
| 日割計算 | ひわりけいさん (hiwari keisan) | Prorated calculation; ask which dates and rule were used |
| 時間外手当 | じかんがいてあて (jikangai teate) | Overtime payment |
| 通勤手当・精算 | つうきんてあて・せいさん (tsūkin teate / seisan) | Commuting allowance / adjustment or settlement |
| 控除 | こうじょ (kōjo) | Deduction |
| 健康保険料・厚生年金保険料 | けんこうほけんりょう・こうせいねんきんほけんりょう (kenkō hokenryō / kōsei nenkin hokenryō) | Health insurance / employee pension premiums |
| 所得税・住民税 | しょとくぜい・じゅうみんぜい (shotokuzei / jūminzei) | Income tax / resident tax |
| 差引支給額 | さしひきしきゅうがく (sashihiki shikyūgaku) | Net amount paid |
A five-minute check
- Line up three dates: your final workday or resignation date, the payroll period, and the payment date. A payment after your final day can still cover work before you left.
- Compare payment lines with your prior payslip. Look for base pay, overtime and allowances. If a line says 日割計算, ask payroll for the dates and calculation behind it. Check separately whether an approved expense claim is paid through payroll or another route at your company.
- Compare deduction lines. Do not assume an insurance line must disappear immediately. The Japan Pension Service’s explanation of premiums when employment ends shows why the resignation date and insurance coverage month matter. Ask payroll which month a deduction is for.
- Check the net amount and bank deposit. Keep the payslip and the relevant payment record. If a line is unfamiliar, send a question with the exact label and amount rather than sharing the whole document with unrelated people.
- Confirm access. If payslips live in an employee portal, ask how you will receive this one after your account closes.
Short messages to payroll
Ask about a deduction: 「最終給与明細の厚生年金保険料は、何月分の控除でしょうか。」
Saishū kyūyo meisai no kōsei nenkin hokenryō wa, nangatsu-bun no kōjo deshō ka?
“Which month does the pension deduction on my final payslip cover?”
Ask about a missing line: 「申請済みの経費精算は、最終給与とは別に支払われますか。」
Shinsei-zumi no keihi seisan wa, saishū kyūyo to wa betsu ni shiharawaremasu ka?
“Will my submitted expense claim be paid separately from the final salary?”
Request the breakdown: 「日割計算の対象期間と計算方法を教えていただけますか。」
Hiwari keisan no taishō kikan to keisan hōhō o oshiete itadakemasu ka?
“Could you tell me the period and method used for the prorated calculation?”
Keep the payslip and tax document separate
A monthly 給与明細 is different from the annual 給与所得の源泉徴収票 (withholding statement). The National Tax Agency says an employer must provide the latter within one month after a person leaves during the year; see its guidance on withholding statements. Our guides explain the ordinary payslip labels, the 源泉徴収票, and other documents to receive when leaving.
Payment timing and adjustments depend on the employer’s payroll cycle and the circumstances of departure. If you request unpaid wages on resignation, Article 23 of Japan’s Labor Standards Act provides a seven-day rule for payment after a rights holder’s request; a disputed amount is treated separately under the provision. For a question about your particular pay, ask payroll for the dated breakdown and seek an appropriate labor consultation service if it remains unresolved.
