Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Conner Houghtaling | YOKOSUKA, Japan (Apr. 10, 2024) — Sailors and community members onboard Commander,...... read more read more
Subscribe
Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, or CFAY, wrapped up the 2024 Road Tax Campaign April 11 in the late afternoon.
The annual event was scheduled for four days over two different campaign periods at the installation’s Fleet Theater. Saury Sawada, CFAY Security’s Vehicle Registration Office supervisory administrative specialist, said local tax officials visited the base and worked with CFAY Security officials. This service makes it easy for many SOFA-members to pay the tax and verify all other vehicle ownership documentation in a convenient, one-stop shop and free of language barriers.
“We assist about 300 families per day here,” Sawada said. “So about 1,200 families in total.”
Sailors and families who couldn’t attend the campaign can still pay this year’s Road Tax, but the process must be completed off base before the May 31 deadline. Fortunately, City of Yokosuka officials have streamlined the process as efficiently as possible and provided signs in English.
Fire Controlman 1st Class Roberto Ruvalcaba of CFAY Security’s Visitor Control Center was the event’s petty officer in charge and has already helped several Sailors complete their vehicle’s documentation.
“If you own a yellow plate mini-car or motorcycle, you will need to go to Yokosuka City Hall. Regular white plate vehicles, like the 300 and 500 series plates, will need to pay at the city tax office,” Ruvalcaba said.
The tax office Ruvalcaba is referring to is the Kanagawa Prefectural Yokosuka Tax Office. The building is located on a small street off National Route 16 in Hinode-cho and offers free parking. Yokosuka City Hall also provides free parking in their attached garage, though visitors will need to ask for their parking be validated by staff.
“Please remember to bring cash and pay the tax in the exact amount,” Ruvalcaba said of both locations. “The staff can’t make change and can’t accept overpayment.”
Once the tax is paid, the city official will provide a receipt. The receipt is a vehicle owner’s proof that the tax was paid, so it’s a best practice to keep the receipt with the vehicle’s title. “Then just bring the Road Tax receipt, your vehicle’s documents, and ID to VRO to get a new USFJ [or United States Forces Japan] decal,” Ruvalcaba said. He also clarified that the vehicle’s document are the vehicle’s title, JCI, proof of insurance, parking certificate, base inspection sheet, and the driver’s license. Civilian employees may also need to bring their Letter of Employment.
Reagan Sailors May Receive a Temporary Pass This year does have one difference from most years. The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is scheduled to depart Yokosuka sometime this summer for the last time to make room for the USS George Washington (CVN 73)’s return. Chief Master-at-Arms Christazchai Kendrick is the CFAY Security Physical Security Officer. She said Reagan families may be issued a temporary base access pass for their vehicle or vehicles dependent on the sponsor’s orders.
“Instead of receiving the USFJ base decal after paying Road Tax, Reagan Sailors will be issued a temporary base access pass,” Kendrick said.
USFJ issues the decals to each installation in Japan. Each installation receives an appropriate number of decals for each requested shipment. The decals are serialized and each serial number is assigned to a DOD ID number.
“After we [VRO] see the Road Tax receipt and update the vehicle’s information, we will issue either a USFJ decal or a temporary vehicle access pass,” Sawada said. “Reagan Sailors will still be able to transfer their car to another Sailor normally. The only difference is that most Reagan Sailors won’t have this year’s USFJ decal.”
• Reagan Sailors and their families who plan to complete their permanent change of station (PCS), sell their vehicle, or properly dispose of their vehicle – often called junking – before May 31 simply finish the check out or vehicle transfer process. The current decal is valid through May 31.
• Reagan Sailors or their families with a vehicle and either orders or documentation such as an approved Continued Logistical Support stating they are departing between June 1 and August 31 are authorized to be issued a temporary vehicle access pass from VRO after satisfying this year’s Road Tax requirements. This must be complete by the May 31 deadline.
• Reagan Sailors or family members with a vehicle who have documentation stating they are expected to be in Yokosuka after August 31 will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Road Tax and either a temporary pass or a decal must be issued by VRO by the May 31 deadline.
The new decal or temporary base access pass must on display inside the windshield before May 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
Maps for Yokosuka City Hall and the Kanagawa Prefectural Yokosuka Tax Office are available on CFAY’s official website: https://cnrj.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/CFA-Yokosuka/Departments/Security/Vehicle-Registration-Office/Road Tax is an annual tax levied on all vehicle owners in Japan. The tax is a significant part of vehicle ownership costs in the country and varies depending on several factors, including the type of vehicle, its size, engine displacement, and environmental performance. Vehicle owners in Japan are responsible to fund the nation’s road infrastructure development and maintenance. A portion of the revenue may also be allocated to environmental initiatives.
For more information, please contact the CFAY Security Vehicle Registration Office at 243-5011.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2024 03:34 |
| Story ID: | 469313 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CFAY Wraps Up Road Tax Campaign, by James Kimber, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT