COVUE is a brand operator and support partner for brands and OEMs that enter the Japan market. We work directly with brand owners and OEMs providing operational and White Labeled support, through our End-to-End services, enabling their smooth market entry and in-market success. Our services include, import & market compliance, logistics and fulfillment, manufacturing & product finishing, marketing & advertising, sales (eCommerce, distribution, retail), customer care and post-sale service support (depot & field service).
ACP stands for “Attorney for Customs Procedure.” As of October 1, 2023, all foreign sellers who operate on eCommerce marketplaces (such as Amazon Japan, Rakuten Ichiba, Yahoo Shopping) and their own webstores are required to have a Japan ACP. This requirement ensures that all customs procedures, including taxes, are handled correctly and in compliance with Japanese regulations.
For regulated products, such as cosmetics and beauty items, you will need an ACP and an Importer of Record (IOR) to handle the import and sale of these products. This dual requirement helps maintain compliance with Japan’s stringent import and sales regulations, ensuring that your business operates smoothly and legally within the Japanese market.
If you’re uncertain about whether you need an ACP or how to obtain one, our team at COVUE can provide expert guidance and support. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you navigate these requirements and successfully enter the Japanese market.
Japan’s tax obligations depend heavily on the type of transaction. The taxes apply differently for Foreign E-commerce Sellers, Wholesalers and Distributors.
Upon import, the following taxes may apply to you:
Sales Tax (Japan Consumption Tax): Sellers are responsible for collecting and paying sales tax. The selling price on a marketplace or webstore must include sales tax. This tax is declared and paid to Japan Customs at the port of entry.
Tariff Tax: This tax depends on the product, its country of origin, and trade agreements. Tariff taxes in Japan are updated quarterly. In some cases, a Certificate of Origin can reduce or eliminate tariff tax. COVUE can assist clients with obtaining Certificate of Origin documents.
Other Taxes: Certain transaction types and certain product categories may be subject to extra taxes as stipulated in their respective laws.
Each transaction type has its own tax obligations and to fully understand your company’s and product’s tax obligations, book a free consultation with us. At COVUE, we can provide the expertise and guidance you need to navigate Japan’s tax regulations and ensure compliance for your business.
For more information on Japan Tariff Duties, please refer to this link:
Japan’s Tariff Schedule ( Statistical Code for Import ) : Japan Customs
We can assist you with Door-to-Door shipping, customs clearance and last-mile delivery.
We also have a licensed 3PL (Third Party Logistics) warehouse facility in Amagasaki, Hyogo where we can receive and store your products, perform additional work orders and fulfill directly to your end customer or ship your products into Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) Fulfillment Centers or Rakuten Fulfillment Centers if you are selling on Amazon and/or Rakuten.
Our 3PL facility is also licensed to handle the receiving, performing of Incoming Quality Checks (IQC) and storage of certain goods such as Cosmetics, Quasi-drugs and Medical Devices which are required by law to land in a licensed facility first for inspections.
For more details, please refer to the Logistics and Warehousing section of our website, or book a consultation to learn how we can support you.
We can support you with the building, deployment and on-going management of your eCommerce store.
To enable your success in the Japanese market, we perform market consultations for ecommerce strategy, on-platform ad management, localization of listings and product images and performance analysis. Our team is able to handle Amazon, Rakuten, your own webstore and more, to assist you with reaching your sales goals.
For more details, please refer to the eCommerce section of our website, or book a consultation to learn how we can support you.
Our in-house COVUE marketing team are able to support a broad scope of marketing services for Japan. We can support you with each stage of strategy, execution and engagement for marketing.
To drive success in the Japanese market, we offer full marketing strategy solutions; branding, localization and package designs; digital marketing solutions and more.
Contact us to learn how we can support your marketing needs.
Customer Care enables you to have a team of local, native Japanese staff to assist with handling enquiries from your end customers via phone, email and chat.
For clients who are looking to import and sell more highly-regulated products, such as medical devices, our Customer Care team forms part of the legally required post-sale support infrastructure.
For more details, please refer to the Customer Support section of our website, or book a consultation to learn how we can support you.
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