企業移転税制、延長へ　東京一極集中是正で―政府・与党

　政府・与党は３日、東京２３区から地方へ本社機能を移すなどした企業を税優遇する「地方拠点強化税制」を２年間延長する方向で調整に入った。同税制は２０１９年度末に期限切れを迎えるが、安倍政権が看板政策として「地方創生」を掲げる中、東京一極集中の是正に向け引き続き企業の地方移転を促す必要があると判断した。２０年度与党税制改正大綱に盛り込む。
　同税制は１５年度に創設。東京２３区から管理部門や研究開発拠点を地方に移転したり、地方にある本社機能を拡充したりする企業を対象に、建物などの取得額や雇用者の増加数に応じて法人税を軽減する。
　ただ、実際に同税制が適用されたのは、１５～１７年度の３年間で７４件止まり。利用実績が少ない上、政策効果が不十分だとして、政府内には延長に慎重な見方もあった。（2019/12/03-05:50）

Japan's government and ruling bloc plan to extend for two years current tax breaks for companies relocating their key functions from Tokyo's 23 wards to rural areas, it was learned Tuesday.
   The tax measure is slated to expire at the March 2020 end of fiscal 2019. The extension comes as the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe finds it necessary to continue incentivizing firms to relocate to the countryside toward resolving the concentration of businesses in Tokyo, informed sources said.
   The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito will include the plan in its tax reform program for fiscal 2020, according to the sources.
   The tax incentives were introduced in fiscal 2015 as part of Abe's mainstay policy of promoting regional revitalization. Companies will have their corporate tax payments reduced based on the number of employees hired or the value of buildings acquired as a result of relocating their administrative functions or research and development hubs from central Tokyo to rural areas, or boosting the functions of their headquarters already located in the countryside.
   The tax break system was used for only 74 cases in the three years through fiscal 2017. Some in the government had been wary of giving the scheme an extension, noting that its use and effects were limited.