Japan tax-free by purchase date: which rules apply and how to pack

Which tax-free rules apply to each receipt, by purchase date — what to do at departure, how the deadline is counted, and how to pack for the flight home.

Reviewed 2026-09-29 · Last updated 2026-09-29

Which rules a receipt follows depends on the day the shop handed you the goods, not the day you fly. Sales from 2026-11-01 use the refund method; earlier purchases stay under the old in-store system even if you leave in November, and the two systems do not overlap. For the background, read our overview of the November 1 change.

Which procedure your receipt follows

	Bought before 2026-11-01	Bought from 2026-11-01
At the register	Tax-free price; consumables handed over in a sealed designated bag	Full price including tax; no sealed bag
At departure	Passport to customs, goods on you; customs confirmation before you check a bag holding them	Passport scanned at the tax-free kiosk before bag drop, every item on you; green is done, red means inspection with the goods
Item missing at departure	Customs collects the exempted tax	Nothing on that receipt can be confirmed or refunded
Deadline	Take the goods out yourself when you leave; customs checks you still have them	Customs confirmation within 90 days, counted from the day after purchase

Receipts from both sides of 2026-11-01 keep their own rules: old-system goods need your passport shown to customs with the goods on you; refund-method goods go through the kiosk before bag drop. Do not assume one kiosk read completes both procedures. Keep the receipts separate, arrive early, and follow customs directions for each purchase period.

Counting the deadline the official way

For refund-method receipts, "within 90 days of purchase" starts counting the day after you buy. Official example: buy on November 1, the count starts November 2, and the customs-confirmation deadline is January 30 of the following year. Without confirmation by then, no refund is paid. Flying a domestic leg first? Confirmation happens at the airport where you leave Japan, so arrange baggage so the goods remain available for customs at that final airport, before international bag drop.

Packing and departure checklist

Keep every receipt with your passport in your carry-on; under the refund method customs may ask to see them
Old-system consumables stay sealed until you have left Japan; do not open the bag to repack
Refund-method goods: keep boxes and packaging showing a model number until after customs confirmation, or customs may not match the item to your purchase record
Do not eat, drink or use consumables in Japan. Under the refund method a consumable used even in part cannot be confirmed and customs checks per receipt, so pay separately for anything you might open
For ordinary liquids bought in town, use checked baggage for containers over 100 ml (100 g); a tax-free bag does not waive this rule. Smaller containers need one clear resealable bag of 1 L or less per person, fully closed. Necessary medicines and airside purchases have separate rules; dangerous-goods limits still apply
Kiosk or customs confirmation first, then bag drop; a bag already checked cannot be pulled back if the kiosk sends you to inspection
Buy only what you can carry out yourself. The separate-shipping arrangement for travelers posting their own purchases ended on April 1, 2025. Do not mail your purchases yourself and expect tourist tax-free treatment; retailer-arranged exports are a separate procedure
Items of ¥1,000,000 or more before tax: keep the appraisal certificate or warranty card with the receipts; customs may ask for them
Visit Japan Web can replace the kiosk at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha, in the departure lobby before security; register beforehand

At the register, splitting receipts Please ring this up separately. I may use it while I am in Japan.

これは別会計でお願いします。日本にいる間に使うかもしれないので。

At the airport, before bag drop Where is the tax-free kiosk? I need to do the procedure before I check my suitcase.

免税手続きの端末はどこですか。スーツケースを預ける前に手続きをしたいのですが。

Refund-method payouts (bank transfer, card refund or app transfer) come from each shop or its refund operator after customs confirms. Check the method, timing and any fees shown by your shop at checkout.

Summarized from official sources as of 2026-09-29 for non-resident visitors who qualify as tax-free purchasers; if unsure, ask at the register. Kiosk and counter locations differ by airport; follow the signs and confirm on site.

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