1 month of consumption tax increase Points reduction Participating stores are one-third of the target

Consumption tax increase for 1 month Point return Participating stores are subject to 1/3 on November 1 at 16:38

The point-return system for cashless payments has increased to 640,000 stores, which is about one-third of the number of participating stores within one month from the start. On the other hand, since the voice of the complicated structure is constant, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to spread the system by holding local consultations.

The point redemption system is a system in which a maximum of 5% can be returned when paying with cashless payments such as credit cards at small and medium-sized stores.

It started with 500,000 stores on the 1st of last month. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the number of stores registered as of the day reached 640,000.

This is about one third of the 2 million small and medium-sized stores nationwide.

Also, the amount returned to users as points for the three weeks until the 21st of last month is an average of over 1 billion yen per day, and that amount is gradually increasing.

This is more than the 188.6 billion yen prepared in the budget for this fiscal year as a cost for the government's return, and this may be insufficient as it is, but the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry demands additional financial measures if necessary is.

On the other hand, in addition to pointing out that the cashless response is not progressing in the region, there are voices from elderly people that the settlement method and point return mechanism are complicated.

For this reason, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry would like to promote the system in the future by holding conferences for the elderly in rural areas.