Visitors to Japan will soon have to wait until their departure for a refund of consumption tax?paid on eligible goods, rather than simply receiving the refund in the form of a discount at the time of purchase.
The new system, which comes into effect on Nov. 1 and is being implemented in part to reduce fraud, will offer a few benefits as well, including no cap on tax-free consumable purchases and the end of a requirement that consumables be packaged in a special bag and remain in that bag until departure.
Japan charges a consumption tax of 10% on the purchase of most goods. As is the case in many countries, short-term visitors are exempt from this tax under certain conditions.
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