Japan tax-free refund calculator (new system from 1 Nov 2026)
From 1 November 2026, you pay the full price including consumption tax in Japan's tax-free shops, and get the tax back after customs checks your goods when you leave. Enter what you buy, store by store. The calculator tells you which purchases qualify, roughly how much tax comes back, and the last day to claim it. Rules from the Japan Tourism Agency, JNTO and the National Tax Agency (checked 2026-10-08).
Your purchases
One line per receipt (or per tax rate on a receipt). Enter prices before tax. Lines with the same store name and date are added together for the ¥5,000 minimum.
Refund fee: the official pages do not say whether stores or refund companies take a fee. Ask the store and enter it here if they do.
How the new system works
- Buy at a tax-free shop and pay the full price, tax included. The tax is 10%, or 8% for food and drinks (not alcohol, not eating out).
- Before you check your bags at the departure airport or port, scan your passport at the tax-free kiosk. At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha you can also do this step online with Visit Japan Web, in the Wi-Fi area before security.
- Green result: done. Red result: take your goods to the customs inspection area.
- Get the refund from the shop or the refund company it uses. Methods (bank transfer, credit card, app, or cash at the port) depend on the shop. Ask when you buy.
Rules that decide your refund
- ¥5,000 minimum: ¥5,000 or more before tax, at the same store on the same day.
- 90 days: the customs step must be done within 90 days of the purchase date.
- Per receipt: customs checks each receipt as a whole. If one item from a receipt is missing, nothing on that receipt is refunded.
- Food, drinks, cosmetics: the special sealed bags are gone, so you can open them. But anything you eat, drink or use up in Japan is not refunded. Tell a customs officer at the counter instead of using the kiosk.
- No yen limit: the old ¥500,000 cap on consumables and the split between "general" and "consumable" goods are abolished. You can buy only what you can carry out of Japan yourself.
- Not covered: gold and platinum bars and coins, and items with no consumption tax.
- Do not check the goods in before the customs step. You cannot get them back from checked baggage.
- Bought on or before 31 October 2026? The old system applies: the shop takes the tax off at the till, so there is no refund to claim later.
Who can use tax-free shopping: see the official FAQ for travelers. The National Tax Agency says the tax rate on food will be cut for two years from 1 April 2027; check the rate on your receipt if you buy food after that date.
More calculators for your trip
- Hakone Freepass: is it worth it? Single tickets vs the pass for the Hakone loop.
- Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass vs Noriorikun Which Enoden ticket is cheapest.
Official sources (checked 2026-10-08)
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00021.html
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00028.html
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00027.html
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/content/001990234.pdf
- https://www.japan.travel/en/us/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-japans-new-tax-free-shopping-system/
- https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/zeimokubetsu/shohi/keigenzeiritsu/01.htm
- https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/