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Japan's proposed departure tax draws mixed views, poses challenges

26 Comments
By Noriyuki Suzuki

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26 Comments
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how the revenues will be spent.

If folks are asking about THIS tax increase, and how the revenues will be spent, when will they start demanding accountability for all the other wasted tax money? This one is minuscule in comparison!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I reckon this tax should be limited to tourists

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I have mixed feeling about this tax, in the past when I've been to Japan, I've not bothered about getting the tax back, although I could and I was entitled to do so, i just didn't, but IF they introduce this tax, ok then I will be get every receipt and Ill claim every thing that I am entitled to, just to be awkward!. IF they introduce this tax, how much will it cost to instigate and how much will it cost to administer? is this going to slow things down at the customs point? how will it be collected? will you get a small discount if you pay in advance?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Clarity on exactly where this money's disappears to? Having watched the Japanese government absorb money and give no clear explanation nor feel the need to do so. Just a cash grab resulting in a government gaining cash with no accountability. Great job.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

i'm sure some bureaucrat in some newly formed part of gov't is gonna make a ton of money out of this tax.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If it’s a tax on everyone leaving Japan, will it be raised over the years until no Japanese person will want to leave? Sort of Closing Japan without the threat of death?

Or do the powers that be hope to regulate visitors by raising and lowering the tax like a spigot? Too many foreigners?? Raise the tax. Not enough foreign income? Lower the tax.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

But first a message from your friendly military recruiter.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Seem to have passed the law in record time?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Before you all get your knickers in a twist, this is not uncommon it's just not always obvious that you have paid it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departure_tax

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There is no two ways about it. The Government will implement it so if people don't like it then don't travel out of Japan ( into then out for tourist ) ! It's just 1,000 yen so no use creating a big fuss about it ... I mean if people can afford to buy those expensive tickets then another 1,000 yen isn't a big deal ! I'm surprised as to the amount of complaining Japanese people are doing and yet almost half of them never go to vote during elections!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

tourists should be charged 5000Y

0 ( +2 / -2 )

※They already have a exit-fee for foreigners. It's called the pension program. You pay into it but don't get your money back if you move out.

But in regards to the new proposal, it just sounds like a money grab.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

They already have a exit-fee for foreigners. It's called the pension program. You pay into it but don't get your money back if you move out.

Not true. dattai ichijikin / 脱退一時金

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hopes are high that the recent tourism boom will continue beyond the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

not if you rip people off and steal their money before they leave

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Good strategy to get revenue to pay the country balooning debt by targeting the most profitable industrial sector.

But if the reason is for insfrastructure, then the tax is not necessary. Japan infrustructure is already the best in the world. So its a waste of money. Stop spending just to “show off”.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Nonsense. Like going back to middle ages... pay your toll at every bridge and crossing. Even Philippines stopped implementing departure tax... Stop feeding politicians greed and stop building useless clinics and dentists shops, all funded by tax revenues and all asking you to go back 10 times to do a job you can solve in one sesions, just to enrich the medics running them.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Don't y'all boys remember the previous exit tax, ¥2,000 per person? I had to pay it for many visitors who didn't have yen when they left! This kind of exit tax is very inconvenient! Just add it to the ticket price or some other way to pay other than having to keep yen with you when you leave. Mendokusai da yo.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bangkok among others had a Departure tax 20yrs ago, nothing new or that only exist in Japan.

Nothing to get all worked up about, IMHO.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Not true. dattai ichijikin / 脱退一時金

Not not true. You don't get all your money back.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

So I pay tax leaving the UK for Europe, where my connecting flight to Japan attracts more tax... and then I will need to pay more tax when I leave Japan and also when I fly from Europe back to the UK. Joy :(

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Gee my wife buys 5000 yen worth of stuff the first day we are back in Japan to take back home. I guess we won't be taxed 1000 yen at the airport!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not true. dattai ichijikin / 脱退一時金

Not not true. You don't get all your money back.

Never said you did but it's not nothing as you contend

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

JOKE:

"I cannot afford to leave Japan!"

In many ways of interpreting the word "afford,"

that's how I feel anyway!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Never said you did but it's not nothing as you contend

Didn't contend any such thing. I said you don't get your money back. If you get back all but 3 years worth, you still don't get your money back for those 3 years.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Didn't contend any such thing. I said you don't get your money back

Then my English must be terrible then because what you wrote below sure looks like you are claiming you get nothing back.

 You pay into it but don't get your money back if you move out.

I doubt you even knew about dattai ichijikin before I mentioned it, so next time try using words like "maybe you don't get ALL your money back". Stop backtracking and pretending you know what you are talking about.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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