# Article 131, paragraph (1), its wordings — Act on General Rules for National Taxes

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/national-tax-general-rules-act/history/art-131/par-1. Every law, and how to address a provision: https://japanlaw.org/llms.txt. The same laws as MCP tools (no sign-in): https://japanlaw.org/mcp.

How the wording of Article 131, paragraph (1) (第百三十一条第一項) changed with each amendment, and how it will change.

- Law: Act on General Rules for National Taxes (国税通則法) — https://japanlaw.org/en/national-tax-general-rules-act
- Provision: Article 131, paragraph (1) (第百三十一条第一項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/national-tax-general-rules-act/art-131/par-1 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/national-tax-general-rules-act/art-131/par-1)
- The law's amendments: https://japanlaw.org/en/national-tax-general-rules-act/amendments
- 2 wordings, oldest first.

## 1. Before Act No. 12 of 2026

- State: In force

Japanese:

> 国税庁等の当該職員（以下第百五十二条（調書の作成）まで及び第百五十五条（間接国税以外の国税に関する犯則事件等についての告発）において「当該職員」という。）は、国税に関する犯則事件（第百三十五条（現行犯事件の臨検、捜索又は差押え）及び第百五十三条第二項（調査の管轄及び引継ぎ）を除き、以下この節において「犯則事件」という。）を調査するため必要があるときは、犯則嫌疑者若しくは参考人（以下この項及び次条第一項において「犯則嫌疑者等」という。）に対して出頭を求め、犯則嫌疑者等に対して質問し、犯則嫌疑者等が所持し、若しくは置き去つた物件を検査し、又は犯則嫌疑者等が任意に提出し、若しくは置き去つた物件を領置することができる。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> When it is necessary in order to investigate a criminal case concerning national taxes (hereinafter referred to as a "criminal tax case" in this Section, except in Article 135 (On-Site Inspection, Search, or Seizure in Flagrant Offense Cases) and Article 153, paragraph (2) (Jurisdiction over and Transfer of Investigations)), the relevant officials of the National Tax Agency, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "relevant officials" up to Article 152 (Preparation of Written Records) and in Article 155 (Accusation of Criminal Tax Cases, etc. concerning National Taxes Other than Indirect National Taxes)) may request a suspect or witness (hereinafter referred to as a "suspect, etc." in this paragraph and paragraph (1) of the following Article) to appear, question a suspect, etc., inspect articles possessed or left behind by a suspect, etc., or retain articles voluntarily submitted or left behind by a suspect, etc.

## 2. 1 October 2027 — Act No. 12 of 2026

- State: Not yet in force
- Takes effect: 1 October 2027
- The amendment: Reworded (Act No. 12 of 2026) — https://japanlaw.org/en/national-tax-general-rules-act/amendments/20271001_508AC0000000012

Japanese:

> 国税庁等の当該職員（以下第百五十二条（調書の作成）まで、第百五十五条（間接国税以外の国税に関する犯則事件等についての告発）及び第百五十九条第二項（検察官への引継ぎ）において「当該職員」という。）は、国税に関する犯則事件（第百三十五条（現行犯事件の臨検、捜索又は差押え）及び第百五十三条第二項（調査の管轄及び引継ぎ）を除き、以下この節において「犯則事件」という。）を調査するため必要があるときは、犯則嫌疑者若しくは参考人（以下この項及び次条第一項において「犯則嫌疑者等」という。）に対して出頭を求め、犯則嫌疑者等に対して質問し、犯則嫌疑者等が所持し、若しくは置き去つた物件を検査し、又は犯則嫌疑者等が任意に提出し、若しくは置き去つた物件を領置することができる。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> When it is necessary in order to investigate a criminal case concerning national taxes (hereinafter referred to as a "criminal tax case" in this Section, except in Article 135 (On-Site Inspection, Search, or Seizure in Flagrant Offense Cases) and Article 153, paragraph (2) (Jurisdiction over and Transfer of Investigations)), the relevant officials of the National Tax Agency, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the "relevant officials" up to Article 152 (Preparation of Written Records), in Article 155 (Accusation of Criminal Tax Cases, etc. concerning National Taxes Other than Indirect National Taxes) and in Article 159, paragraph (2) (Transfer to a Public Prosecutor)) may request a suspect or witness (hereinafter referred to as a "suspect, etc." in this paragraph and paragraph (1) of the following Article) to appear, question a suspect, etc., inspect articles possessed or left behind by a suspect, etc., or retain articles voluntarily submitted or left behind by a suspect, etc.

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## Sources

- The dates and the amending laws: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/337AC0000000066)
- English name of the law: Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3119/tb)
- English titles of the amending laws: Written for this site with AI
- The Japanese text before: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/337AC0000000066/20261101_507AC0000000013)
- The Japanese text after: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/337AC0000000066/20271001_508AC0000000012)