JP Tax Refund

Ginza, Tokyo · Photo: Basile Morin (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Getting your money back: methods, fees and timing

The refund is not paid by the government or by customs. It is paid by the shop where you bought the goods, or by a refund company working for that shop.

On this page
  1. Possible refund methods
  2. Each shop decides
  3. Why you get back less than 10%
  4. When the money arrives
  5. Questions to ask in the shop

Possible refund methods

  • Back to a credit card
  • Bank transfer
  • Payment through an app or e-wallet
  • Cash at the airport after the customs check (only where the shop’s refund company offers it)

Each shop decides

Which methods are available depends on the shop and the refund company it uses. You are told how to register your refund method when you buy. If you shop at several stores, you may have to register separately for each one.

Why you get back less than 10%

The tax is already inside the price you paid. For general goods taxed at 10%, the tax is 10/110 of the price, about 9.1%. For food and non-alcoholic drinks taxed at 8%, it is 8/108, about 7.4%.

Refund companies are moving to a model where a handling fee is deducted from your refund. There is no single national fee; it depends on the company and the shop. Ask in the shop how much you will actually receive.

When the money arrives

The refund is paid after the customs check confirms that you took the goods out of Japan. Cash at the airport is the fastest where available. Card, bank and app refunds are processed after your departure; the timing depends on the refund company.

Questions to ask in the shop

  • Which refund methods do you offer?
  • Is there a fee, and how much will I actually get back?
  • Do I register now, or later in an app or website?
  • Who do I contact if the refund does not arrive?