Survey of 100 High-Net-Worth Individuals: The FY2026 Tax Reform and the '100 Million Yen Barrier' Expose a Critical Information Gap Among the 50s

Survey Overview and Background

LIS LLC, through its asset management media outlet for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, "AFFLUENT THEORY," conducted a survey targeting 100 individuals with net financial assets of 100 million yen or more and unrealized gains of 10 million yen or more over the past year. The survey focused on the reinforcement of measures to address the "100 million yen barrier" under the FY2026 tax system reform.

Discrepancies in Regulatory Awareness Highlighted by the Survey

Regarding the upcoming regulatory revisions—which will halve the special deduction amount from 330 million yen to 165 million yen and raise the tax rate from 22.5% to 30%—68.4% of respondents in their 50s answered that they "did not know." This is a significantly high figure compared to just 21.4% of those in their 40s, revealing a pronounced generational information gap.

HNWI Behavioral Intentions and Challenges

78.9% of individuals in their 50s remain effectively unprepared for the tax hike. This backdrop is driven by misconceptions such as "I won't be affected" and a lack of access to appropriate tax information. Notably, even among those who have access to consulting experts, there are many cases where regulatory information fails to reach them. Significant disparities are also evident between the 40s and 50s generations in the utilization of asset management companies, indicating that effective countermeasures depend heavily on the quality of dialogue with specialists.

Recommendations for Future Asset Protection

Because these tax reforms will apply starting from the 2027 calendar year (FY2029 tax year equivalent), certain strategies must be implemented during 2026, while other options become increasingly difficult to execute if timed poorly. Through the data gathered in this survey, LIS LLC emphasizes the importance of disseminating accurate tax system information to high-net-worth individuals and initiating strategic consulting at an early stage.