Designing the process through to the refund
Under the new tax-free system, the process does not end when the store completes its procedures. It continues until the traveler receives customs confirmation that the goods are being taken out of Japan and a refund equivalent to the consumption tax.
Global Tax Free-Planet connects tax-free stores, approved data transmission providers, customs, payment service providers (PSPs) and travelers through data, supporting the process from purchase registration to refund.
Tax-free application details registered at the store are digitized and shared with customs through PSPs and the National Tax Agency’s tax-free sales management system. Once customs confirms that the goods are being taken out of Japan, the result is returned to the approved data transmission provider. PSPs then refund travelers using their selected method.
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Tax-free store
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Approved data provider
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Customs
- PSP
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Traveler
From purchase to refund
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Purchase at a tax-inclusive price
From November 1, 2026, sales to travelers will generally be made at tax-inclusive prices.
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Register tax-free information
Store staff use GTF’s registration system to record passport details and information about the purchased goods.
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Select a refund method
Travelers access GTF’s refund website using the QR code and select their preferred refund method.
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Obtain customs confirmation
Travelers depart within 90 days of purchase and obtain customs confirmation that the goods are being taken out of Japan.
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Share confirmation data
The customs confirmation result is shared with GTF through the tax-free sales management system and sent to the PSP.
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Receive the tax-equivalent refund
For transactions with completed customs confirmation, an amount equivalent to the consumption tax is refunded using the selected method.
Refund options for travelers
Planned refund methods
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Payment apps
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Bank transfer
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Credit card
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Other cashless payments
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Cash
Potential refund methods include payment apps, bank transfers, credit cards, other cashless payment methods and cash collection.
For cashless refunds, the time required may vary depending on the provider and payment method.
For cash refunds, collection from dedicated ATMs at airports and ports is envisaged, based on linked tax-free purchase information. Additional fees may apply to cash refunds.
Details of available methods, supported airports and ports, fees and refund timing will be provided based on the final service specifications.
Traveler guidance that supports refund completion
Under the refund system, travelers must select their refund method and obtain customs confirmation. Global Tax Free-Planet provides guidance tools, including in-store refund information displays and QR-code instructions near POS terminals, to help travelers proceed to the next step.
Helping travelers complete the actual refund, as well as registering their tax-free purchase, becomes even more important under the new system. Global Tax Free-Planet supports operations with improved refund completion in mind.
Simplifying store and head-office operations
POS and API integrations help streamline checkout tasks and tax-free administration at head offices. We build a connected process covering approved data transmission, customs confirmation results and refund processing, while keeping store operations as simple as possible.