Japan tax-free refund calculator

From 1 November 2026 you pay the price including consumption tax, complete the tax-free sales procedure at the store, and get the tax back, in principle after customs verification when leaving Japan (Refund Method). Enter one receipt for an estimate.

One receipt (one store, one day)

Enter only goods covered by the tax-free sales procedure. Exclude direct shipments, tax-exempt and other ineligible goods. This is an estimate subject to purchaser eligibility and customs verification of all covered goods. The entered amount alone does not determine legal eligibility. Select the tax rate printed on your receipt.

Purchase date (on the receipt)

Service fee (% of the tax amount)

Blank means 0% for this estimate, not the actual store fee. Fixed fees, fees based on the purchase price, and returns are not reproduced. Ask the store about charges and who pays them. The government does not charge a refund fee.

What changed on 1 November 2026

You pay the full price including tax. In principle, the refund follows customs verification.
The minimum is ¥5,000 before tax, per person, per store, per day. You can combine purchases made at different times on the same day at the same store.
No more "general goods" vs "consumables", no ¥500,000 limit and no sealed packaging. You can only buy what you can carry out of Japan yourself.
Gold and platinum bullion, gold and platinum coins, and goods exempt from consumption tax are not eligible.

An eligible common tax-free counter may combine purchases from participating stores; arbitrary different stores cannot be combined. Ask the store. ↗

Main eligible groups

Visitors with "Temporary Visitor" status (most tourists), within 6 months of entering Japan.
Japanese non-residents who have continuously had a domicile or residence outside Japan for at least 2 years, within 6 months of a visit to Japan, with proof (e.g. 戸籍の附票 copy, 在留証明, or My Number Card showing the move abroad).
People resident or employed in Japan, including most students, workers and permanent residents, are generally ineligible. Eligibility depends on non-residence and qualifying status, not possession of a residence card alone.
If you used an automated gate and have no landing stamp in your passport, ask an officer for a stamp — you need it for tax-free.

Eligible purchasers are non-residents. Check the official list for diplomatic or official status, qualifying landing permissions, US military members and required documents. Diplomatic or official status and US military members are exceptions to the six-month entry condition. ↗

At the airport or port

Obtain customs verification at departure within 90 days of purchase, counted from the next day. Bought on 1 Nov → by 30 Jan. This does not extend your permitted stay.
Do the customs check BEFORE you check in your bags. Scan your passport at the tax-free kiosk: GREEN = done, RED = show the goods at the customs counter.
Customs verification is per purchase record, usually a receipt. If any covered item is missing or any consumable has been wholly or partly consumed, no items on that record qualify for a refund. Other goods may be used in Japan if you personally take them out of Japan.
Do not consume consumables in Japan; keep identifiable packaging and tags. If you have wholly or partly consumed any consumable, do not use the terminal or online procedure; tell a customs officer.
Shipping goods home separately does not qualify. A store sending goods abroad directly for you is a different (export) rule.
At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, Fukuoka and Naha you can also do it with Visit Japan Web in the tax-free Wi-Fi area before security. Register with Visit Japan Web, connect to the designated Wi-Fi, select “Refund Procedure”, check the purchase records, select Confirm, and check the result. The procedure screens are English only. Completed means verification is complete; Not Completed means proceed to customs inspection. If you have difficulty, use a terminal; Visit Japan Web registration is not required for terminal procedures.
For a domestic connection, use the final airport where you leave Japan; for a cruise departing from and returning to an overseas port, the final Japanese port. For goods with a unit price of ¥1 million or more before tax, customs may ask for an appraisal or warranty. Export the goods without delay after verification; failing to export can lead to tax collection and penalties. See the official FAQ for cruises and passport reissues.

Online procedure guide ↗ · Online FAQ ↗

How the refund is paid

In principle, the store or its refund company pays after obtaining customs verification information. A store may make an advance refund at its own responsibility. Ask the store about supported methods (bank, card, app or cash at the departure airport or port), timing, fees and claim deadlines. Consumption tax legislation sets no uniform nationwide rules for these. Follow the store’s instructions, including registering your refund destination. Customs does not pay refunds; ask the store about missing or incorrect purchase records.

For food tax rates from April 2027, check the latest National Tax Agency guidance. This calculator supports 10% and 8%. ↗

Official leaflet (Japan Tourism Agency) ↗

Sources

Last checked: 2026-11-01. This calculator is for guidance and is not tax advice. The exact refund depends on the store and refund company.