"Total amount display", which is the price of goods and services plus consumption tax, will be compulsory in April.
While consumers will be able to see the price they will pay at a glance, some businesses will give the impression of a price increase and are concerned that it may affect sales.
The Special Measures Law, which came into effect in October 2013 before raising the consumption tax rate from 5% to 8%, which allows conditional display at the tax-excluded price, expired in March, and from April 1st. It is obligatory to display the total amount by adding the consumption tax to the main unit price.
If you are currently displaying in the format of "price without tax + tax", you will need to show the price including tax from April.
Both tax-excluded price and tax-included price are allowed.
Mandatory total display applies not only to price tags and display shelves, but also to leaflets and homepages.
Consumers will be able to see at a glance what prices they will actually pay, making it easier to compare prices with other stores.
On the other hand, some businesses are worried that the impression of a price increase will affect sales and that the burden of work such as changing price tags will temporarily increase.
The Ministry of Finance says, "We would like to respond to consultations and inquiries from businesses so that the transition can be smooth."