訪日客の免税、「リファンド方式」がスタート

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is November first. Japan has changed how tax-free shopping works for foreign visitors. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down.

Japan's tax-free system for foreign travelers changed on November first.

It means tax-free.

It means a system.

The new system is called the refund method.

It means a method or system.

Until now, showing a passport at a store let visitors shop without consumption tax.

It means consumption tax, a sales tax.

But many people resold tax-free goods inside the country, and that became a problem.

It means inside the country.

So now, shoppers first pay the price including the tax.

It means to include.

Then, when leaving the country, they get checked by customs at the airport or port.

It means customs.

It means a check or confirmation.

Once it's clear the goods are leaving the country, the tax is given back.

It means to give back.

The refund can be received by credit card or in cash.

It means cash.

This must be done when leaving the country within ninety days of the purchase.

It means within.

Also, the limit of five hundred thousand yen in purchases per day is gone.

It means an upper limit.

But if even one item on a receipt is used in the country, nothing on that receipt is refunded.

It means all of it.

The customs check must be done before checking bags at the airport.

It means to leave something in someone's care, like checking a bag.

The government hopes the new system will stop fraud.

It means fraud or wrongdoing.

It means to prevent.

Now listen to the full story again.

Quiz time. Listen and answer.

From November first.

Within ninety days.

Five hundred thousand yen.

That's all for this evening. Thanks for listening. See you next time.