According to the group, which is made up of about 200 local shop owners, some ¥9.8 million in fixed property tax is expected to be imposed on the statues over the next 45 years.
The fixed property tax is imposed on land, homes and other properties used for businesses, including signs. The statues were taxed because they are considered “properties used for promoting” businesses, according to the Setagaya Tax Office.
“We were surprised. We didn’t know such a tax would be imposed on the statues,” Kenichi Sakaguchi, head of the local business group, told The Japan Times on Wednesday.
固定資産税は土地や家屋、看板を含む商用の財産に課税される。世田谷税務署によると、その彫像が課税されるのは、それらが「PR用の資産」と看做されるからである。
「私たちはびっくりしました。そんな税金が像に課税されるなんて知らなかった」地元商業団体の長サカグチケンイチ氏は水曜日ジャパンタイムズにそう語った。