Starting in November, shopping for travelers in Japan will undergo significant changes.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization and the National Tax Agency, the Japanese government will implement a consumption tax refund system for foreign tourists beginning November 1.
Previously, travelers could purchase items at duty-free shops by presenting their passports and paying prices excluding consumption tax. However, starting next month, travelers will need to pay the total amount including consumption tax upfront. They can then receive a refund for the tax amount upon verification of their purchases at customs when leaving Japan.
The elimination of immediate tax exemption does not mean that tax benefits are entirely gone. If the total pre-tax amount of items purchased at the same store in one day exceeds 5,000 yen, those items may still qualify for tax exemption. However, travelers must depart within 90 days of the purchase date and have their purchases verified by customs.
The refund process begins at the point of purchase. Travelers must present their passports at duty-free shops, pay the total amount including consumption tax, and register their preferred refund method.
When departing, travelers must complete the duty-free verification process at designated locations in airports or ports using their passports. If customs requests a physical inspection, travelers must present the purchased items.
Travelers intending to place duty-free items in checked luggage should be cautious. They must complete the customs verification process before handing over their bags to the airline to comply with any requests to show the items.
Major airports, including Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Fukuoka, will offer procedures through the Visit Japan Web. However, using this service does not exempt travelers from necessary customs verification or physical inspections.
Changes also apply to the purchase of consumables like snacks and cosmetics. The previous requirement for separate sealed packaging for consumables has been abolished, but items intended for tax exemption must be taken out of Japan.
According to the Japan National Tax Agency, if travelers do not possess any of the duty-free items included in the same purchase record at the time of departure, they will not be able to receive customs verification for any items in that purchase record.
For example, if a traveler pays for snacks and cosmetics together but consumes the snacks in Japan, they may not receive a refund for the remaining cosmetics from that purchase.
Once customs verification is complete, the duty-free shop or the refund agency designated by the shop will return the amount equivalent to the consumption tax. Travelers should check with individual stores for refund methods and timing, as customs does not directly issue refunds to travelers.
The Japanese government's revision of this system is aimed at addressing the issue of illegal resale of duty-free items domestically. The procedures have been strengthened to apply tax exemption benefits only to items that are taken out of Japan.
Therefore, if you are planning to travel to Japan after November, it is crucial to confirm the refund process at duty-free shops and complete the verification of duty-free items before checking in your luggage on the day of departure.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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