Point reduction system Total project cost of 700 billion yen to secure additional budget December 3: 8:14
The pointless system for cashless payments, which began in October, has been used more rapidly than expected. During the period up to June next year, the necessary total project cost is expected to expand to 700 billion yen, about 300 billion yen higher than originally expected, and the government intends to secure an additional budget.
In the point redemption system introduced in conjunction with the increase in the consumption tax rate, a maximum of 5% is returned when paying cashless payments such as credit cards and smartphone payments at small and medium-sized stores.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the number of participating stores that started at 500,000 stores increased to 860,000 stores as of the 1st of this month, and the average daily return amount was 1,250 million yen, significantly exceeding the initial assumption. .
According to the officials, we found that the total project cost required to fund the points to be returned by the end of June next year when the system ends and to assist in the introduction of payment terminals is expected to increase to 700 billion yen.
This is about 300 billion yen higher than the initial estimate, and the government will add about 150 billion yen in the supplementary budget proposal for this fiscal year and adjust it to secure nearly 300 billion yen in the next year's budget proposal. It is.
The system is aimed at supporting consumption after tax increases and the spread of cashless payments, but it is pointed out that the use of local and elderly people is low, and how to use it in the future by people who have not yet used it It has become an issue.