-Strongly supporting tax-free shops in smoothly adapting to the new system and ensuring traveler convenience, backed by operations cultivated through over a year of advance implementation and the industry's most extensive range of receiving methods-


Digital Wallet Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Eiji Miyakawa; Funds Transfer Service Provider, Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director No. 00044; hereinafter "the Company") announces the full-scale launch of "TAX REFUND JAPAN" (hereinafter "this Service"). This international remittance service supports the refund method (post-purchase/post-departure refund method) for the consumption tax exemption system for foreign tourists visiting Japan. The launch coincides with the revised law transitioning to this system, which takes effect today, November 1, 2026.

This Service is a remittance solution designed for the new tax exemption system. It leverages the remittance platform of "Smiles Mobile Remittance" ("Smiles"), an international remittance service for foreign residents operated by the Company as a registered funds transfer service provider. The platform has been expanded, optimized, and reconstructed to execute consumption tax refunds for foreign tourists visiting Japan "safely, conveniently, and smoothly."

■ Establishing a Robust Operational Structure Through Over a Year of Advance Verification

Since the enactment of the revised law, the Company has been conducting preliminary verification tests for consumption tax exemption under the new system in collaboration with select businesses. Through more than a year of advance operations, we have established strict compliance with various financial regulations and guidelines, including Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT). We have also built swift remittance processing, a high refund execution rate, a remittance network covering over 200 countries and regions worldwide, and a multilingual customer support system—earning high praise from adopting businesses.

Refined through actual on-site operations, this Service will be sequentially introduced and operated by various tax-free-related businesses across Japan (approved transmission operators, retail businesses, POS system providers, etc.). Consequently, tax exemption refunds utilizing this Service will be handled at numerous retail tax-free shops and tax-free e-commerce services nationwide, covering home appliances, traditional crafts, reused luxury brand items, famous confectioneries, souvenirs, and more.

■ Supporting the Industry's Most Extensive Range of Receiving Methods

To flexibly accommodate the globally diversifying needs of inbound tourists, this Service maximizes its infrastructure as one of Japan's largest international remittance providers to offer the industry's highest number (*) of receiving methods.

For over 200 countries and regions worldwide, we offer an industry-leading lineup of consumption tax refund receiving methods. These include remittances to credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay), as well as mobile wallets and QR payment services in various overseas countries, bank account transfers, cash pickups at overseas affiliated merchant counters, and cash pickups via withdrawal terminals at major Japanese airports.

For businesses connecting to this Service, simply integrating with it allows them to flexibly meet the diverse needs of tourists. Furthermore, back-office operations such as accounting can be centralized, enabling efficient service operations and a tailored customer experience. We plan to continue expanding the supported receiving methods in response to traveler demands.

*Based on public information as of the end of October 2026 regarding various tax-free procedure services and refund remittance services supporting the consumption tax refund system provided by approved transmission operators or funds transfer service providers. Research by the Company.*Available receiving methods vary by country/region. Some countries/regions cannot handle remittances.

■ Features of "TAX REFUND JAPAN"

The three main features of this Service are as follows:

1. Highly reliable service operations and strict financial compliance based on the track record of Japan's No. 1 international remittance service, "Smiles" Under Japan's Payment Services Act, the Company has been registered as a funds transfer service provider (Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director No. 00044) with the Financial Services Agency. Under the supervision of financial authorities, we operate "Smiles Mobile Remittance" (Smiles), Japan's No. 1 (*) mobile international remittance service, which enjoys overwhelming support, primarily from foreign residents in Japan.

This Service is built on the robust infrastructure and operational foundation of "Smiles," which boasts one of Japan's largest international remittance networks. We achieve high stability and reliability while ensuring compliance with various related laws, regulations, and licenses. During remittances, we conduct anti-social checks and screenings for individuals subject to economic sanctions and PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) using our proprietary screening system and rigorous confirmation framework cultivated over many years, strictly adhering to Japan's financial laws.

This allows retail businesses, POS providers, and tax-free system providers to confidently outsource refund and remittance operations without taking on complex remittance management and burdensome financial compliance tasks themselves.

*The largest number of available partner ATMs for an international remittance service provided by a funds transfer service provider in Japan (over 77,000 available ATMs as of October 2026), and the highest rating in the international remittance service category on the App Store in the Japan region (★4.8 rating, as of June 2024). Both researched by the Company.

2. Can be implemented via API connection with existing store and tax-free systems Implementation and operation of tax exemption handling via the refund method are possible simply by connecting the Company's system with retail POS systems, tax-free procedure counter systems, or tax-free sales management systems provided by approved transmission operators via API. The "consumption tax exemption refund/international remittance function" can be smoothly integrated into existing tax-free processing flows without requiring large-scale additional development of store systems.

3. Flexible and diverse refund methods independent of the shopping payment method As a service provided by a funds transfer service provider, this Service allows refunds to be received via a "different method from the payment method used at the time of purchase." For example, if a traveler makes a purchase with a credit card, they can choose to receive the tax-free refund in their bank account rather than on the credit card. Travelers can personally select a receiving method to receive their tax-free refund.

Supported receiving methods include credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay), as well as mobile wallets and QR payment services in various countries, bank account transfers, cash pickups at overseas affiliated merchant counters, and cash pickups via withdrawal terminals at major Japanese airports.

■ Winner of the Japan Financial Innovation Award 2026

"TAX REFUND JAPAN" won the Startup Category at the Japan Financial Innovation Award 2026. This was in recognition of its "digital-first" approach, which dramatically simplifies the tax-free shopping experience for the rapidly expanding number of foreign tourists visiting Japan. It was also praised for contributing to the efficiency of businesses selling to visitors by providing a scheme that helps prevent system abuse.

*The Japan Financial Innovation Award (JFIA) is one of Japan's largest financial innovation awards, hosted by FINOLAB Inc. and the Financial Innovation Fora.

■ Regarding Considerations for Introducing

This Service For consultations or questions regarding the implementation of this service, please contact us via the inquiry form on the "TAX REFUND JAPAN" website.

"TAX REFUND JAPAN" Website: https://www.taxrefundjapan.com/

■ About "Smiles Mobile Remittance"

It is one of Japan's largest mobile international remittance services, used by a large number of users, primarily foreign residents in Japan. Developed in-house by Digital Wallet, it offers a service that can be used solely through a smartphone app, from user registration to international remittance procedures. It achieves remittances in as little as real-time to about 15 minutes, allowing money to be sent to over 200 countries and regions worldwide. Funding methods for the account include using a QR code at Seven Bank ATMs and using dedicated cards at Lawson Bank, Japan Post Bank, and Aeon Bank ATMs, making over 77,000 ATMs nationwide available. Bank transfers are also accepted. In 2021, it won the Good Design Award.

"Smiles Mobile Remittance" Website: https://www.smileswallet.com/

■ About Digital Wallet Corporation

Founded in 2014, primarily by former Sony engineers, Digital Wallet is a technology company aiming to realize a diverse and peaceful global society through AI x Fintech. We operate "Smiles Mobile Remittance," one of Japan's largest mobile remittance services, which won the Good Design Award in 2021, and we are expanding our business globally in countries such as the US, Canada, and Singapore. Additionally, we provide platform services to operating companies that realize marketing automation by performing real-time streaming analysis of massive user data. This includes real-time analysis of POS data and the development and operation of point and CRM services for major retail companies.

Digital Wallet Corporation Website: https://www.digitalwallet.co.jp/