According to Japanese media reports, recently, the Japanese government plans to implement a new consumption tax system, and foreign tourists who consume in Japan will be directly exempted from the previous counter to a tax refund when leaving Japan.
The report also said that in order to avoid airport congestion, the Japanese government's latest adjustment to the relevant policy is that the refund method may increase cashless refund channels such as credit cards in addition to the previously planned cash.
According to the current policy, the consumption tax is simply "erased" from the tax-free counters of all stores when foreigners visit Japan for shopping.
For example, a tourist buys 8,800 yen of cosmetics with 800 yen consumption tax. When you settle at the tax-free counter, you only need to pay 8,000 yen, and you don't have to pay the 800 yen tax.
From 2025, the new tax law will stipulate that tourists must settle consumption tax at the counter and apply for a refund at the airport after departure.
They use the goods they buy in duty-free shops to resell them in Japan, and they earn the difference in price by exempting them from consumption tax.
According to the usual rules, foreign tourists are required to bring goods purchased in Japan within 180 days of special duty-free packaging, and they are not allowed to use them in Japan.
However, Japan, which is exempt from tax on the spot, is particularly relaxed in this regard, and everything depends on self-consciousness. According to most tourists, Japanese airports seem to be less concerned about whether the bags were damaged before departure.
The Japanese government's decision was intended to show goodwill to tourists visiting Japan, but it turned out to be taken advantage of by people with good intentions, and some overseas tourists came to Japan to buy duty-free goods in large quantities and then illegally resell them for profit.
In the past, students could enjoy the tax exemption policy for the first six months of their stay in Japan on a student visa, so many people took advantage of this loophole to ask some international students to use their passports to help settle the bills with a reward of several thousand to tens of thousands of yen.
By the end of 2023, there will be 53,000 duty-free shops nationwide, 10 times more than 10 years ago. 53.6% of visitors to Japan use the duty-free service, which means that they have spent at least 5,000 yen or more on a "budget" basis, rather than doing business or traveling on a budget.
The yen has continued to fall in the past two years, and the inbound tourism market is even hotter than in 2019, before the pandemic. There is a view that the adjustment of the tax-free system at this time is the best time for Japan to "keep up with the rest of the world." However, there are also concerns in the industry that this will hinder the enthusiasm of visitors to Japan, and their travel and shopping experience in Japan will be greatly reduced.
The "May Day" holiday is approaching, many Chinese will choose to travel abroad, among which Japan is not a few, the Consulate General in Osaka reminds tourists to pay attention to the following matters:
1. Conduct a full assessment before departure
Before traveling, please consider whether you and your family, especially the elderly and children, are medically fit to travel overseas. The cost of medical treatment in Japan is relatively high, so it is recommended to purchase personal safety and medical insurance in advance that is suitable for your own situation, so that you can travel with more peace of mind.
2. Keep communication open
After confirming the itinerary, please inform your relatives and friends of your itinerary, ID information, contact information, hotel address, etc. in time. Especially when you go to a remote area without a signal, or after a natural disaster occurs there, you should take the initiative to contact your relatives and friends in time to report your safety.
3. Keep the items properly
Please keep your passport, mobile phone, wallet, and other important items, and keep copies of your passport information page and visa page separately. If you accidentally lose your passport, please report the loss to the nearest police station and contact the Consulate General to apply for a travel document.
Fourth, pay attention to traffic safety
Traffic rules in Japan differ from those in Japan, so please strictly follow the local traffic rules and wear your seatbelt when driving. In the event of a traffic accident, call the emergency and police immediately.
5. Prevent natural disasters
Recently, earthquakes have occurred in various parts of Japan. Please pay close attention to local earthquake dynamics, weather warnings, and disaster prevention information. In the event of a disaster, please follow the local official guidelines and do not act without permission.