How the wallet works
Log every tax-free receipt as you shop. The wallet works out your refund, counts down each 90-day customs deadline, and lists what you must bring to the kiosk. It then plans your departure day so the customs step happens before bag drop, and tracks which refunds have arrived. Everything stays on this device and works offline. Background: the November 2026 changes explained · what to do at the airport.
What changes on 1 November 2026
Until now, Japanese tax-free shops have simply not charged consumption tax to eligible visitors. From purchases made on 1 November 2026, Japan switches to a refund method. You pay the tax like everyone else, and it is refunded once customs confirms, as you leave, that the goods are going out of Japan with you. The rule that applies depends on the purchase date. There is no transition period during which shops can use both.
| Bought up to 31 Oct 2026 | Bought from 1 Nov 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| At the till | You pay the price without tax | You pay the full price including tax |
| Minimum spend | ¥5,000 before tax per store per day, for general goods and consumables separately (unless the shop seals general goods in with the consumables) | ¥5,000 before tax per store per day, everything combined |
| Upper limit | Consumables up to ¥500,000 before tax | No upper limit, but only what you can carry out yourself |
| Packaging | Consumables sealed in a special bag. Don’t open it in Japan. | No special bag, but anything used up in Japan loses its refund |
| Not eligible | Items clearly for business or resale, gold and platinum bullion, tax-exempt items | Gold and platinum bullion, gold and platinum coins, tax-exempt items |
| When you leave | Show your passport at customs. Goods may be inspected. | Within 90 days of purchase, use the kiosk (or Visit Japan Web) before checking bags. Green means done, Red means inspection. |
| Getting the money | Already saved at the till | Paid by the shop or its refund company: card, bank, app or cash at the port |
Who can shop tax-free
- Foreign visitors on a temporary stay (and a few landing permits, such as transit or cruise passengers) who arrived in Japan less than six months ago.
- Japanese nationals living abroad who have lived outside Japan continuously for two years or more, are in Japan for less than six months, and can show a copy of the Koseki no Fuhyō, a Residency Certificate or a My Number Card that records the move abroad.
- People who live in Japan, including foreign residents on work, student or spouse visas, cannot shop tax-free.
How the refund is calculated
Japanese price tags show the price including tax. To find the tax inside a price, multiply by 10/110 for most things, or by 8/108 for food and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcohol, cosmetics and medicine are taxed at 10%. The ¥5,000 minimum applies to the price before tax. At the 10% rate that means a shelf price of ¥5,500; for food only, it is ¥5,400.
Example: on 3 November you buy ¥8,800 of cosmetics and ¥3,240 of snacks at one drugstore. Before tax that is ¥8,000 + ¥3,000 = ¥11,000, well over the minimum. The tax is ¥800 + ¥240 = ¥1,040, which you get back after the customs check, minus any fee the refund company charges.
At the airport, step by step
- Go to the international departure lobby before check-in, with all your tax-free goods and your passport.
- Find a tax-free procedure kiosk. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also use Visit Japan Web on the dedicated Wi-Fi before security.
- Scan your passport. Green means you are finished. Red means you take the goods to the customs inspection area.
- Check in your bags, then go through security as normal.
- The shop or refund company sends your refund using the method you registered.
Easy ways to lose your refund
- Checking your suitcase before going to the kiosk.
- Eating or using any item from a receipt. The whole receipt is then disqualified.
- Leaving more than 90 days after the purchase.
- Splitting a purchase over two days or two stores so neither reaches ¥5,000 before tax.
- Posting the goods home yourself.
- Arriving at the airport too late. If you leave before an inspection is finished, it counts as not completed. If you miss your flight because of the tax-free procedure, neither the airline nor Customs will compensate you (Japan Tourism Agency).
Frequently asked questions
I bought some things before 1 November and some after. Which rules apply?
It depends on the purchase date on each receipt, not on when you arrive or leave. Anything bought up to 31 October 2026 follows the old system: the shop takes the tax off at the till, and you keep the goods sealed and show your passport at customs when you leave. Anything bought from 1 November 2026 follows the refund system: you pay the full price and get the tax back after customs confirms the export. The calculator handles both on the same trip.
How much tax do I get back?
Shelf prices in Japan include tax. The tax is 10/110 of the price (about 9.1%) for most goods, and 8/108 (about 7.4%) for food and non-alcoholic drinks. For example, a ¥55,000 camera includes ¥5,000 of tax. The amount that reaches you can be lower if the shop or its refund company deducts a fee, or if your card or bank charges for a foreign transfer.
Are there refund fees?
The official Customs, Japan Tourism Agency and National Tax Agency pages do not set any fee. They say the refund is paid by the shop or a refund company the shop hires, and that methods vary by shop. Ask at the till before you pay. In the wallet, each receipt’s fee starts as “unknown” and is never guessed. If the shop tells you a percentage or a fixed amount, enter it and the expected refund updates.
Where is my data stored, and does it work offline?
Your receipts, flight plan and refund statuses are saved only in your browser’s local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded. After your first visit, the wallet, the departure planner and our two tax-free guides also work offline, which helps at the airport. You can install the page to your home screen, print or save a PDF summary, and download a backup file to move to another device.
When do I actually receive the money?
Under the refund system, the shop or its refund company pays you after customs has confirmed the export at your departure airport or port. That may be a card or bank transfer, an app payment, or cash at the port. The timing depends on the shop, so ask when you buy.
Can I pack tax-free goods in my checked suitcase?
Yes, as long as you go to the tax-free kiosk before you check the bag. You need all the goods with you at the kiosk. If the screen shows Red, customs may want to see them, and a checked bag cannot be retrieved. This is also handy for liquids such as cosmetics that would be too big for your carry-on.
What exactly does “within 90 days” mean?
It counts from the day after the purchase up to the 90th day. The National Tax Agency’s example is that goods bought on 1 November must be confirmed at customs by 30 January. The calculator shows the deadline for each receipt.
I live in Japan. Can I use this?
No. Tax-free shopping is for temporary visitors who have been in Japan for less than six months since they arrived. Japanese nationals qualify only if they have lived abroad for at least two years and can show a document proving it, such as a copy of the Koseki no Fuhyō, a Residency Certificate or a My Number Card that shows the move abroad. People living in Japan on work, student or spouse visas do not qualify.
Is food really going to be taxed at 1% from April 2027?
That is a government proposal. The Cabinet approved an outline on 15 September 2026, and it still has to be passed by the Diet. If you enter a purchase date between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2029, the calculator uses 1% for food and flags it, so check the tax printed on your receipt.
Sources
Rules last checked against these official pages on 23 October 2026. Where an official page and this summary disagree, the official page wins. If you spot a change, please tell us.
- Japan Customs: Tax Exemption (Refund) Program for Foreign Visitors
Used for: ¥5,000 minimum, excluded items, 90-day window, Green/Red result, Visit Japan Web airports - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT): Special page for travellers: the Refund Method
Used for: Kiosk before check-in, per-receipt rule, consumed goods, domestic connections, cruises - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT): Frequently Asked Questions for Travelers (Refund Method)
Used for: Quantity limits, refund channels, ¥1 million items, shipping, Japanese nationals abroad - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT): Changes to Tax-Free Goods (PDF)
Used for: Abolition of categories, the ¥500,000 cap and special packaging - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT): List of Eligible Tax-Free Goods Purchasers, Refund Method (PDF)
Used for: Under six months since entry; Japanese nationals abroad for 2+ years and their documents - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT): Consumption tax exemption system (rules up to 31 Oct 2026)
Used for: Old rules: general vs consumable items, ¥5,000–¥500,000, packaging - National Tax Agency: Tax-Free Shopping System will be shifted to the Refund Method (PDF, Apr 2025)
Used for: Start date by purchase date, 90-day counting example (1 Nov → 30 Jan), no overlap period - National Tax Agency: Q&A on the export goods sales site system, May 2023 (Japanese, PDF)
Used for: Old rules: Q14 (packing general goods as consumables), Q15 (¥500,000 cap) - National Tax Agency: Consumption Tax: basic knowledge (tax rates)
Used for: 10% standard rate, 8% for food and non-alcoholic drinks - National Tax Agency: Special site on the temporary food tax-rate cut (Japanese)
Used for: Proposed 1% food rate, 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2029, pending legislation
This page is general information, not tax advice. We are not affiliated with any government agency.