The selection criteria are the absolute number and the rate of increase of “the number of PVs of the special pages in the Furusato Tax Guide,” “the number of times keywords were searched in the Furusato Tax Guide,” and “the results of applications for returned goods by users via the Furusato Tax Guide” measured between January 2023 and November 2023.
The Furusato Tax Guide, operated by Carrigus, has released a list of seven keywords that will show trends in homeowners’ taxes in 2023.
Hometown Tax Guide, “The 7 Biggest Trending Words in Hometown Taxes in 2023”
September Demand for Donations In June, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the “Review of Furusato Tax Returns for the Next Stage of Designation,” and in October, some rules related to returned goods were changed. The number of applications through the “Furusato Tax Guide” in September increased by 499% y-o-y.
Later Select Applications for “Later Select,” which is also useful for year-end donation amount adjustments, are on the rise. Donations can be made for as little as 1,000 yen, and the gift codes are valid for one year from the date of issue, allowing for a more relaxed selection of gifts to be returned.
Scallops The relative value of scallop returns is increasing, partly due to the Chinese embargo over the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. There is also demand to support producers, and two scallops were among the BEST 3 in the December 10 ranking of the most popular returned goods.
Travel Coupons There is a growing interest in “travel coupon” returns that can be applied to the payment of travel expenses. Many people, who find it difficult to choose among the various returns, are using the full amount of their credit limit to apply for travel coupons.
Tokyo’s Returned Gifts Expanded This year, many local governments in Tokyo have expanded their lineup of returned gifts in an effort to increase the number of applications for hometown tax donations. Shinjuku City introduced its first return gift in October, and Setagaya City made headlines by adding valuable works of art.
One-Stop Special Exception System Online A service that allows those who have a My Number card and a smartphone to apply online for the “One-Stop Special Exception System” has become a hot topic of conversation for its convenience. In line with this, the number of municipalities that support services that allow online application is increasing.
© Source travel watch