Japan mulls removing tax-free limit on consumable goods purchases

The Japan Tourism Agency said Tuesday it is considering removing a 500,000 yen ($3,500) tax-free limit for purchases of consumable goods such as cosmetics, alcohol, food and medicine, as it seeks to boost spending by inbound travelers.As part of its tax reform requests for fiscal 2025, the agency also called for scrapping a requirement that tax-free items be packed and sealed in bags, a rule put in place to prevent consumption or reselling of the items before leaving Japan.The issue is instead expected to be addressed by shifting to a system where tax is refunded after travelers are confirm…READ FULL ARTICLE