Japan Tax Refund 2026: Tax-Free Shopping Guide for Tourists
Japan doesn’t call it VAT. The tax on almost everything you buy is consumption tax, charged at 10%, and visitors can shop without it at tens of thousands of stores showing the “Japan Tax-free Shop” symbol. For years that meant the tax simply came off at the register. That is about to change.
Japan Tax Refund Calculator
Section titled “Japan Tax Refund Calculator”Enter what you plan to spend to see the consumption tax inside the price.
Tax inside your purchase · 10% rate
¥9,091reclaimable
- Typical refund deskfees vary by shop
- GoodVat app90% of the Tax¥8,182
Minimum spend in Japan: ¥5,000, before tax, same store, same day. Japan refund rules
GoodVat is coming to Japan. Be first in.
The GoodVat app handles your tax-free claim automatically, with no refund-desk queue, and pays out 90% of the Tax. 1,300+ refunds issued so far. It's in private beta, and Japan is next. Join now to get in first.
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See how the app worksEstimate only. Uses the standard tax rate and a typical operator commission; your refund depends on the goods, the retailer and the refund operator.
Who Can Shop Tax-Free in Japan?
Section titled “Who Can Shop Tax-Free in Japan?”- You must be a short-term visitor, typically on Temporary Visitor status. If you have been in Japan for six months or more since you entered, you are not eligible.
- Japanese nationals qualify only if they have lived outside Japan for at least two years and can document it.
- The goods must be for personal use and must leave Japan with you. Buying to resell is not covered.
- You need your actual passport with you. A photo or a photocopy is not accepted.
Minimum Purchase Amount
Section titled “Minimum Purchase Amount”You need to spend ¥5,000 or more, before tax, at the same store on the same day. That is ¥5,500 at the register once the 10% tax is added.
From 1 November 2026 the rules get simpler in two ways. The old split between “general goods” and “consumables” (food, cosmetics, medicine) disappears, so everything counts toward one total. The ¥500,000 cap on consumables goes too, along with the sealed bags you were not allowed to open before leaving.
The Tax Rates
Section titled “The Tax Rates”| What you buy | Rate | Tax inside a tax-inclusive price |
|---|---|---|
| Most goods | 10% | 9.09% |
| Food and non-alcoholic drinks to take away | 8% | 7.41% |
Prices in Japan are usually shown both ways on the shelf tag. The larger “税込” figure includes tax.
How It Works Until 31 October 2026
Section titled “How It Works Until 31 October 2026”- Shop at a tax-free store and show your passport at the register or the store’s tax-free counter.
- The tax comes off on the spot, or you pay in full and collect it at the store’s counter a few minutes later. Some department stores keep a small handling fee.
- Take the goods out of Japan. Consumables are sealed in a bag you must not open until you leave.
There is nothing to do at the airport unless customs asks to see the goods.
How It Works From 1 November 2026
Section titled “How It Works From 1 November 2026”- Pay the full price, tax included. Show your passport and the shop registers your purchase electronically.
- Confirm your goods with customs before you check your bags. At the airport or port, scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk in the departure area. The kiosk pulls up your purchases and tells you whether an officer needs to see anything. Keep the goods out of checked luggage until this is done.
- Get your refund. The shop, or the refund company it uses, pays you back after customs confirms. Depending on the shop that can be cash at the airport, a refund to your card, a bank transfer or an app payment.
You have 90 days from the day after purchase to complete customs confirmation, and the clock runs separately for each purchase.
How Much You Actually Get Back
Section titled “How Much You Actually Get Back”The tax is 10% of the pre-tax price, which is 9.09% of what you pay at the register. On a ¥110,000 purchase that is ¥10,000.
Under the new system, the shop or its refund company can deduct a fee before paying you, and the fee is not set nationally. Ask what it is before you pay, because it varies from shop to shop. Cash at the airport and a refund to your card may not cost the same.
Deadlines and Common Mistakes
Section titled “Deadlines and Common Mistakes”- Checking in your bags first. From November 2026, customs confirmation comes before baggage drop. Once the goods are in the hold you cannot show them.
- Missing the 90 days. A long stay or a second trip can push an early purchase past the deadline.
- Using or opening the goods in Japan. The refund is for goods you export, not things you used on the trip.
- Shipping it home yourself. Posting your purchases separately no longer qualifies; that option ended on 31 March 2025. A shop can still ship directly overseas for you, which is handled as an export with no tax charged.
- Expensive single items. For any one item priced at ¥1,000,000 or more before tax, the shop has to record details such as the model and serial number, so allow extra time.
- Assuming every shop is tax-free. Only registered tax-free shops can do this. Look for the symbol or ask before you queue.