News
The Ministry of Finance (MOF)'s Customs and Tariff Bureau is in the process of reviewing the items to fill in on import declarations and the system for administrators of customs matters.
With the growth of cross-border e-commerce, imports to Japan of mail-order and other products are increasing. Many illegal drugs, products violating intellectual property rights and other smuggled goods are detected. As for products that are on sale in Japan by way of fulfillment services provided by e-commerce platform operators, there are apparent tax evasion cases in which import declarations are made at unreasonably low prices. As such, the bureau is reconsidering the items to fill in on import declarations and the system for administrators of customs matters to maintain smooth imports, ensure the workability of border crackdowns and realize appropriate tax imposition.
On Oct. 1, 2023, importers' mailing addresses and names were added to the items to fill in on import declarations in the Order for the Enforcement of the Customs Act, while it was stipulated that import declarers' intentions be clarified. To the procedures for the notification of administrators of customs matters, relations between notifiers and administrators of customs matters were added. It was required to attach documents on delegation agreements with administrators of customs matters.
On Oct. 12, 2024, the items to fill in on import declarations in the Order for the Enforcement of the Customs Act will be enhanced, including the locations and names of imported product destinations, whether or not imported products will are on sale in mail-order services and the names of e-commerce platforms if imported products are on sale in mail-order services. Also, declarations will be required for such procedures.
