How much tax do I get back on appliances bought in Japan, and how is it calculated?
Appliances carry 10% consumption tax, so the refundable amount is 1/11 of the tax-included price, about 9.1% (for example, 5,000 yen back on 55,000 yen tax included). You need to spend at least 5,000 yen excluding tax (5,500 yen including tax) at one store on one day. From November 1, 2026 you pay the tax-included price and get the refund after leaving Japan, and stores or refund agents may deduct a fee, so the amount you actually receive depends on the store.
The formula
As of October 2026, Japan's standard consumption tax rate is 10%, with a reduced 8% rate for food and drinks. Appliances are all taxed at 10%:
- Price tag says 税込 (tax included): refundable tax = tax-included price ÷ 11
- Price tag says 税抜 (tax excluded): refundable tax = tax-excluded price × 10%
- Tax-free price (price excluding tax) = tax-included price ÷ 1.1
Japanese stores often show both prices, such as "税込 ¥54,780 (税抜 ¥49,800)". Use the 税抜 figure to check whether you've reached 5,000 yen.
Examples
| Tax-included price | Tax-excluded price | Refundable consumption tax |
|---|---|---|
| 5,500 yen | 5,000 yen | 500 yen |
| 33,000 yen | 30,000 yen | 3,000 yen |
| 55,000 yen | 50,000 yen | 5,000 yen |
| 110,000 yen | 100,000 yen | 10,000 yen |
Exchange rates change daily, and card payments use your bank's settlement rate, so any conversion into your own currency is only an estimate.
What you actually get under the old and new rules
- Purchases on or before October 31, 2026: you pay the tax-excluded price at checkout, so you save the consumption tax shown above.
- Purchases from November 1, 2026: you pay the tax-included price first and get the refund only after customs confirms the goods when you leave. Refunds are handled by the store or its refund agent, the method (credit card, e-payment, cash at the airport, etc.) varies by store, and a fee may be deducted, so you may receive less than the table shows. No refund is given if you don't take the goods out of Japan, if any item on the receipt is missing, or if more than 90 days have passed. See Japan's new tax-free rules.
A tax refund doesn't automatically mean a bargain
- The refund saves only about 9%. Whether to buy in Japan also depends on the warranty and carrying the item home; you can check what the same model costs locally before deciding. Many Japanese brands are sold overseas too; if the difference is small, a local warranty and not having to carry the item home may be worth more.
- Store points (ポイント), coupons and credit card promotions also affect the final price; check at checkout.
- When you get home, purchases above your country's duty-free allowance may need to be declared and taxed, which can cancel out what you saved. Check your own country's customs rules before you travel; for mainland China, see China's 5,000-yuan allowance.
To work out a specific model, use the tax refund calculator: enter the shelf price to get the tax-free price and refund amount.