Japan to revise duty-free rules, refund consumption tax on return

Japan plans to revise its duty-free rules for foreign visitors from the latter half of fiscal 2026, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.Among the proposed changes is reimbursing the consumption tax upon their return to their home country.Currently, foreign tourists to Japan are exempt from paying consumption tax, which is levied at 10 percent, when purchasing goods totaling 5,000 yen or more, provided they intend to use the items in their home country.The revision comes after the government of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba identified a series of abuses involving the illicit trade of …READ FULL ARTICLE