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National Tax Agency Updates Special Site on Temporary Consumption Tax Cut for Food and Drink

The National Tax Agency has refreshed its special website explaining a proposed two-year reduction in the consumption tax rate on food and beverages, adding new videos, a draft tax return form and briefing information.

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Key Points

  • • Site explains a proposed two-year cut in consumption tax on food and beverages from a September 15, 2026 Cabinet outline
  • • Agency stresses the change only takes effect if a bill passes the Diet
  • • New additions include a detailed video (Oct 6), a draft revised tax return form (Oct 9), and online briefing info (Nov 4)
  • • Leaflets, pamphlets, Q&A and summary/detailed videos are already posted for the public

The National Tax Agency has updated its special website dedicated to a proposed temporary reduction in the consumption tax rate on food and beverages, the agency announced [1]. The site was created to explain the contents of a government outline titled "Outline Concerning the Temporary Reduction of the Consumption Tax Rate on Food and Beverages and the Introduction of a Support Payment to Reduce the Burden on Workers," which was decided by the Cabinet on September 15, 2026 [1]. According to the agency, the outline called on relevant ministries and agencies to publicize details of the plan as early as possible and to provide careful explanations to the public and local governments, which is why the site was set up [1].

The agency stressed that the site's content is based on a proposed amendment and that the described two-year reduction in the consumption tax rate on food and beverages will only take effect if a bill is submitted to the Diet, deliberated, and passed into law [1]. This means the reduction is not yet decided policy, and readers should treat the materials as explanations of a proposal rather than confirmed rules [1].

Since opening on September 15, 2026, the site has posted a leaflet and pamphlet titled "Regarding the Two-Year Reduction of the Consumption Tax Rate on Food and Beverages," a Q&A document on the same topic, and explanatory videos, including a roughly 2-minute-30-second overview version and a roughly 28-minute detailed version, both posted on YouTube [1]. On October 6, 2026, the agency added the detailed explanatory video, and on October 9, 2026, it posted a draft version of a revised consumption tax return form reflecting the proposed rate change, intended for use by point-of-sale and system developers, with revised sections marked in yellow or red text [1]. The agency noted that an official, finalized version of the form will be posted on the site at a later date [1]. On November 4, 2026, information about an online briefing session was added, linked to an external site [1].

The agency also said that system developers handling cash register or other system modifications related to the proposed rate change can find contact information for tax-related inquiries through a link on the site [1]. The National Tax Agency stated it plans to continue posting the latest information on the site as it becomes available [1].

Source credit 出典：「「消費税率引下げ特設サイト」の更新」（国税庁）（https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/zeimokubetsu/shohi/keigenzeiritsu/zeiritsuhikisage.htm）、PDL1.0（https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0）を加工してJapan News (j.apan.news)が作成 This article is Japan News's own English summary of the Japanese original. It has been translated and edited by Japan News; it is not an official translation, and the National Tax Agency did not write or review it.

Sources

This article was written by AI from these Japanese-language reports. Check them before acting on anything here.

  1. [1] National Tax Agency — original report (Japanese)

AI-written summary of Japanese reports; not human-reviewed; check the linked sources. How we write articles