PIE VAT and AirREGI Team Up on Tax-Free Shopping

Pie Systems Japan has announced that its digital tax-free shopping service, PIE VAT, will integrate with Recruit’s POS register application Air Regi in the first half of 2027. Applications from stores using Air Regi and Air Pay will begin in September 2026.

The partnership is designed to simplify tax-free sales procedures for stores serving international visitors. Once the integration launches, sales data from Air Regi will be connected with PIE VAT, allowing information entered during checkout to flow into the tax-free processing system. This is intended to eliminate duplicate data entry, reduce input errors, and streamline tax-free sales operations at stores.

The integration will not require dedicated hardware. Stores can use their existing tablets for tax-free procedures, including passport scanning and transmission of required data to Japan’s National Tax Agency. Air Regi stores will also be able to use PIE VAT without additional costs, including no initial or monthly fees for the service or the POS integration.

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The collaboration comes as Japan prepares for a tax-free system change scheduled for November 2026, when the current process will transition to a refund-based system. According to Pie Systems Japan, PIE VAT already supports the revised system and has operated a refund-based model since 2021. The company says its system has five years of operational experience with this approach as of August 2026.

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Under the new arrangement, Air Regi stores will be able to connect their sales information directly with PIE VAT rather than re-entering product names and transaction amounts for tax-free processing. Pie Systems Japan also provides free support for procedures required to obtain permission to operate as a tax-free shop, helping stores prepare to introduce tax-free sales.

Pie Systems Japan CEO Hiroaki Mizuno said the integration is intended to reduce the operational burden associated with tax-free processing, particularly as inbound tourism demand expands while many stores face labor shortages. The company said it is focusing on supporting small and medium-sized businesses and individual stores that may have previously found tax-free operations costly or complicated.

Pie Systems, founded in the United States in 2018, entered the Japanese market in 2021. The travel technology company provides digital solutions designed to connect businesses and travelers through digitalized tax-free procedures.