Has anyone here done tax-free shopping in Japan (for personal export) since the new processes came in?
It seems that the shops now transfer records electronically to the tax office and according to this brochure (
https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pa...nation_eng.pdf) we are supposed to scan our passport and show all goods, which therefore need to be in hand baggage.
Under the old system we could put the goods in our checked baggage and no one really checked anything on departure, just collected the paperwork. Do they now scan everyone’s passports and demand to see the goods? We are departing from HND and carrying a week’s shopping from Tokyu Hands would be pretty impractical. Or can we just stroll through customs without being scanned?
I purchased quite a few items with the weak yen during my visit the last two weeks.
My experience was most shops submit it electronically (particularly the big name brands), although some smaller shops and department stores still require you to pay tax then collect a refund.
However, nothing was asked or verified when I exited the country. Most of my items were in checked luggage.