Glossary entry

Consumption tax

Consumption tax is Japan's tax on many goods and services, similar in purpose to a sales tax. Prices may be shown with or without it, depending on the shop, so check the displayed price and the receipt. It is the tax involved in tax-free shopping for eligible visitors, whose rules are set by the authorities and can change. This glossary deliberately gives no rates, since figures are the details most likely to be revised; see the National Tax Agency for current information. See also: tax-free shopping, National Tax Agency, and the guide Tax-Free Shopping in Japan.