The Japan Corporate Number (法人番号) is a 13-digit ID automatically assigned by the NTA to corporations and organizations. Unlike My Number, it's **public information**.
Issuance
- Auto-generated after incorporation - No separate application required - Look up instantly on the NTA Corporate Number site
Uses
- Tax (annual returns, tax invoices) - Social insurance filing - Public procurement - Verifying counterparty existence
Format
"T-XXXXXXXXXXXXX" (T prefix + 12 digits) Effectively the 12-digit corporate number plus T prefix used for the Invoice System.
Relation to Invoice System
- Corporations are automatically taxable → register as qualified issuer to get a T-number based on the corporate number - Must display T-number on invoices
Difference from My Number
- Corporate Number: public, freely searchable - My Number: private, strictly protected
Practical tips
- Foreign firms verify Japanese counterparties via Corporate Number lookup - Crewtool's Japanese Legal page should carry it if 5years+ has a Japanese entity - Korean/foreign companies don't have one unless they set up a Japanese PE (permanent establishment)