How to pay Japanese departure tax and how to collect Japanese departure tax?

Friends, you should have heard the news about Japan imposing a departure tax some time ago. The editor below will tell you about departure tax. Everyone also knows what departure tax is. Let's look down together.

Japan Departure Tax

Some people may not understand the concept of departure tax. In fact, many international air tickets include departure taxes, as well as entry and transit taxes. These three taxes are the most basic. Different countries have other taxes, which need to be analyzed in detail in each country. Today, let’s talk about Japan’s departure tax. Japan will levy a departure tax starting from the 7th of this month, not only for tourists visiting Japan, but also for citizens in Japan.

In other words, Japanese people have to pay tax to the country when they go out to play or work on their own, but children under two years old do not need to pay departure tax. If you stay in Japan for more than 24 hours and leave the country by plane or ship, you will have to pay a departure tax of 1,000 yen to Japan. If converted into RMB, it is 63 yuan. However, there are exceptions among these people. For example, diplomats sent by the country to Japan or people traveling abroad on government planes do not need to be levied departure tax. However, if you leave the country due to abnormal weather or other reasons, you will no longer be taxed when you leave the country again.

Generally speaking, if you leave Japan by plane, departure tax is collected by the airline; if you leave Japan by ship, it will be collected by the shipping company. Of course, if you're rich enough to own your own plane or ship, you'll need to handle departure tax yourself. Since it is levied on January 7, does it mean that air tickets or ferry tickets purchased on January 7 do not include departure tax?

It depends on which ticket you bought! Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have stated that departure taxes will not be levied on tickets purchased before January 7, but some airlines and shipping companies have stated when selling tickets that they will levy departure taxes on the basis of the ticket price. . So when buying a ticket, be sure to check whether you need to pay departure tax. Might as well save a little! If the itinerary is confirmed to be after January 7 or the departure date of the ticket is changed to after January 7, departure tax will be levied.

Although 1,000 yen is not much, there are already a lot of people in Japan. Coupled with the number of people who come here for tourism and work every year, 1,000 yen per person each time adds up to a huge number, which is expected to reach 50 billion yen, which will also be of great help to Japan's fiscal revenue. Why did Japan decide to impose a departure tax? Is there a problem with Japan’s fiscal revenue?

The number of tourists visiting Japan has increased rapidly in recent years, with the annual number of tourists expected to exceed 30 million. The Japanese government hopes to invest the new tax revenue into improving tourism resources and promoting domestic tourist attractions to achieve the goal of increasing the number of tourists to 60 million by 2030.

Starting from January 7, 2000, the Japanese government will impose an "international tourist tax" of 1,000 yen (approximately 60 yuan) on each person leaving Japan. Children under 2 years old and transit passengers are eligible for free tickets. According to sources, the relevant taxes will be collected by the airline or shipping company and attached to the air ticket or ship ticket to Japan.

How to collect it

First of all, let’s understand what departure tax is. Departure tax refers to a tax levied by airlines on behalf of the local government when citizens of a certain country go abroad to purchase international air tickets. There are three types of taxes on international air tickets: departure tax, transit tax, and entry tax. Some countries have other taxes. For example, in the United States, in addition to the above-mentioned taxes, there are also customs use taxes, airport taxes, animal and plant immunity inspection fees, etc. Secondly, how to calculate Japan’s departure tax. According to regulations, exit tax is levied regardless of nationality. That is to say, both Japanese nationals and foreigners will be taxed, including those who have been abroad for more than 2 years. Effective January 7, 2008, Japan will impose an international tourist tax (also known as an "exit tax") on people leaving Japan. The tax paid by each person is 1,000 yen (approximately RMB 63). In other words, Japan collects departure tax based on the number of people and the number of times, and anyone over the age of 2 who leaves the country must pay it. It is worth noting that diplomats sent to Japan and those who go abroad on government aircraft do not stay in Japan for more than 24 hours. Passengers in transit, as well as those returning home due to abnormal weather, do not need to pay departure tax when they leave the country again.

In principle, national tax will be collected by the operating company of the aircraft or ship leaving Japan. Airlines and shipping lines will increase the international visitor tax on fares, but not the overseas visitor tax. When you leave Japan by private jet or other own plane or ship, you need to handle the tax procedures yourself.

Who is the departure tax levied on?

This tax is not only for foreign tourists, but also for locals. If tourists purchase air tickets or ferry tickets with a confirmed date before next Monday, they are exempt in principle, but the final decision still depends on the airline or shipping company. Tourists can confirm with the relevant company. Seven situations can exempt you from paying the "International Tourism Tax":

1. Children under 2 years old.

2. Transit passengers who leave Japan within 24 hours after entering Japan.

3. Passengers who have to enter Japan urgently due to weather or other factors.

4. People who have to return home after going abroad due to weather and other factors.

5. Ship employees, crew members and offshore fishery operators.

6. People who go abroad on government planes.

7. Forced deportation of people who leave the country.