Japan’s 2028 Consumption Tax Reform: Cross-Border E-Commerce and Crypto Asset Taxation

• The current rule that deems imported personal-use goods at 60% of retail value will be abolished, normalizing the valuation method. [news.worldef.com], [vatabout.com]
• A unified de minimis exemption threshold of JPY 10,000 will be introduced for all imported goods, removing any distinction for personal use. [vatabout.com], [skadvisory.jp]

Taxation of Low-Value Imports

• Imports with an invoice value of JPY 10,000 or less will no longer be exempt and will be subject to Japanese consumption tax from 1 April 2028. [skadvisory.jp], [japannews….iuri.co.jp]

Obligations for Foreign Suppliers & Importers

• Foreign suppliers delivering goods into Japan without a Japanese office must register for consumption tax and appoint a tax agent.
• The supplier will be responsible for paying consumption tax.
• Importers benefit from exemption at customs if the supplier’s tax registration number is declared. [skadvisory.jp], [vatabout.com]

Platform Taxation Extension

• Digital platforms facilitating cross‑border e-commerce—both through direct overseas shipments and domestic fulfilment services—will be treated as deemed suppliers if:
  • They have annual intermediary sales over JPY 5 billion, and
  • They are designated by the National Tax Agency. [acpjapan.jp], [skadvisory.jp]
• These platforms will bear sole liability for consumption tax on such goods. This builds on the April 2025 regime already applied to digital services. [acpjapan.jp], [ibfd.org]

Taxation of Crypto Assets in Japan

Flat 20% Tax for Licensed Exchanges

• Under the proposed FY 2026 tax reform, gains from crypto assets traded through licensed providers will be treated as separate financial income and taxed at a flat 20% rate (15% national + 5% local), replacing the current progressive rates up to 55%. [cryptobriefing.com], [cryptonews.com], [cointelegraph.com]

Regulatory Alignment

• The Financial Services Agency (FSA) aims to amend the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, reclassifying crypto assets to align them with securities. This leads to mandatory disclosures and insider‑trading rules for exchanges handling designated tokens. [financemagnates.com], [cointelegraph.com], [coininsight.io]

Recommended Web Resources

• “Japan’s New Platform Taxation for Cross-Border E-Commerce (FY2026 Reform Outline)” — SK Advisory [skadvisory.jp]
• “Japan to Reform De Minimis Rule on Imported Low-Value Goods Amid Tax Concerns” — VATabout [vatabout.com]
• National Tax Agency overview of Platform Taxation of Consumption Tax (digital services) [nta.go.jp], [assets.kpmg.com]
• Reports on 20% flat tax rate for crypto gains by CryptoBriefing, CryptoNews, Cointelegraph [cryptobriefing.com], [cryptonews.com], [cointelegraph.com]