All tools

Japan Tax-Free Refund Calculator (new system from November 1, 2026)

From November 1, 2026 you pay consumption tax in the shop and get it back after a customs check when you leave Japan. Work out your refund and your deadline.

Your purchase (one shop, one day)

8% applies to food and non-alcoholic drinks; most other goods, including alcohol, are 10%. Shops round tax per item or per receipt, so the result can differ by a few yen.

Step by step (purchases from Nov 1, 2026)

  1. At the shop: show your passport. You pay the price including tax. The shop sends your purchase record to the National Tax Agency system.
  2. Keep everything together: you must be able to show every item from that purchase at customs. Tax-free goods are limited to what you can carry out yourself.
  3. At departure, before checking in bags: scan your passport at the tax-free kiosk in the departure lobby and get the customs confirmation. It cannot be done after your luggage is checked in. Leave time before boarding. According to JNTO, at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also do the first part online with Visit Japan Web.
  4. Deadline: leave Japan within 90 days, counted from the day after the purchase (bought November 1 → last day January 30).
  5. Refund: after customs confirms, the shop or its refund operator pays back the consumption tax, by whatever method it offers (for example bank transfer, credit card, app, or cash at the port).

Purchases made by October 31, 2026 still follow the old method (tax removed at the till). This calculator is for the new refund method.

Disclaimer: This is an independent calculator, not an official service. This is not tax advice. Prices and rules can change; always confirm with the official source before you buy. We are not responsible for losses from using these results.

FAQ

When does Japan's new tax-free refund system start?

It applies to tax-free purchases made on or after November 1, 2026. There is no transition period where both systems run together.

How does the new tax-free system work?

You show your passport and pay the full price including consumption tax in a tax-free shop. When you leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase, you get a customs confirmation at the airport or seaport before checking in your bags. After that, the shop (or its refund operator) refunds the consumption tax.

What is the minimum purchase?

¥5,000 excluding tax per shop per day. General goods and consumables are no longer separated, and the ¥500,000 limit on consumables is abolished.

Can the shop charge a fee?

The law does not fix how refunds are paid (bank transfer, card, app or cash at the port are all possible). Some shops or refund operators may deduct a fee, so enter the fee they show you.

What if I use or leave the items in Japan?

If you cannot show all items from the same purchase record at customs, you cannot get the confirmation for that purchase. Items confirmed by customs must be taken out of Japan; if not, the tax is collected and penalties can apply.

Sources (checked September 25, 2026)