JP5933795B1 - Tax difference refund system and tax difference refund method - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To easily refund a difference of consumption tax to a tax exempt person. When a transmission request is received from a counter terminal, an extraction unit extracts, from purchase information recorded in a database, purchase information corresponding to identification information included in the transmission request. The creation means 33 creates an export duty-free article purchase record slip. The accommodating means 41 accommodates cash, for example, coins and banknotes. The reading unit 42 reads identification information from the card 50. The supply means 43 takes out the amount of cash indicated by the difference information corresponding to the identification information read by the reading means 42 from the storage means, and supplies the taken cash to the shopper. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for refunding a difference corresponding to a tax amount to a tax-exempt person who has made a purchase.

  Systems for automating part of the tax exemption procedure for shoppers who are foreign tourists are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a system for issuing a dedicated card in order to surely refund the difference in consumption tax when a duty-free product is purchased. In this system, it is disclosed that when a dedicated card is read together with a credit card at a store, the amount obtained by subtracting the amount equivalent to the consumption tax is deducted when the credit card usage fee is deducted from the bank account. Patent Document 2 discloses that a tax exemption procedure is performed at a tax exemption counter at an airport using a two-dimensional code issued to a customer and a two-dimensional code issued at a store when purchasing a duty-free product. Patent Document 3 discloses a system for creating an export duty-free article purchase record using a two-dimensional code. Patent Document 4 discloses a system for performing a tax exemption procedure at an airport using an IC tag.

JP 2004-62496 A JP 2012-234322 A JP 2014-32441 A Japanese Patent No. 5386654

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to request a credit card company for a refund process. In the technique of Patent Literature 2, since a two-dimensional code is issued every time a product is purchased, there is a problem that the amount of the two-dimensional code increases when products are purchased at a plurality of stores. In the technique of Patent Document 3, the difference cannot be returned. In Patent Document 4, it is necessary to attach an IC tag to a product, which is complicated.

  On the other hand, this invention provides the system which can perform refund of the difference of consumption tax etc. more easily to tax exempt persons, such as a foreign traveler.

The present invention includes a medium reader, a server, a counter terminal, and a cash payment machine, and the medium reader is configured to store the first recording medium from a first recording medium issued to a shopper. First reading means for reading identification information; and first transmission means for transmitting purchase information including the price and tax amount of the product purchased by the shopper and the identification information to the server, wherein the server includes the medium Storage means for storing a database in which purchase information transmitted from a reader is recorded in association with identification information of the first recording medium, and the counter terminal receives the first recording medium from the first recording medium; Second reading means for reading the identification information, and second transmission means for transmitting a transmission request including the identification information and requesting transmission of purchase information corresponding to the identification information to the server. And when the server receives the transmission request from the counter terminal, the server corresponds to the identification information included in the transmission request from the purchase information recorded in the database stored in the storage unit. Tax exemption obtained from extraction means for extracting purchase information, first transmission means for transmitting purchase information extracted by the extraction means to the counter terminal, and purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request 2nd transmission means which transmits the difference information which shows the amount of money which should be repaid with respect to an object person to the cash payment machine, The cash payment machine is issued to the shopper and the storage means which stores cash A third reading unit that reads information specifying the purchase information from the recorded second recording medium, and the information read by the third reading unit. The amount of cash indicated by the difference information removed from said containment means to provide a tax difference refund system having a supply means for supplying the extracted cash to the shopper.

  The second recording medium may be the same medium as the first recording medium.

  The second recording medium is a medium different from the first recording medium, and the counter terminal writes information specifying purchase information corresponding to the first recording medium received from the server to the second recording medium. You may have a writing means.

  The counter terminal may include a creating unit that creates an export duty-free article purchase record using the purchase information received from the server.

  According to the present invention, the medium reader reads the identification information of the first recording medium from the first recording medium issued to the shopper, the price and the tax amount of the product purchased by the shopper, The medium reader transmits the purchase information including the identification information to the server, and the server associates the purchase information transmitted from the medium reader with the identification information of the first recording medium in the database. A recording request, a step in which the counter terminal reads the identification information of the first recording medium from the first recording medium, and a transmission request for requesting transmission of purchase information including the identification information and corresponding to the identification information The counter terminal transmits to the server, and when the server receives the transmission request from the counter terminal, the data Extracting the purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request from the purchase information recorded in the base, and transmitting the extracted purchase information to the counter terminal. A step of transmitting to the cash payment machine difference information obtained from purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request and indicating the amount to be refunded to a tax exempt person; and Reading the information specifying the purchase information from the second recording medium issued to the bank, and storing the cash of the amount indicated by the difference information specified by the read information from the storing means for storing cash And providing a tax difference refund method comprising: taking out and supplying the taken-out cash to the shopper.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides storage means for storing a database in which purchase information transmitted from a medium reader is recorded in association with identification information of the first recording medium; and when the transmission request is received from a counter terminal, From the purchase information recorded in the database stored in the means, extraction means for extracting purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request, purchase information extracted by the extraction means, A first transmission means for transmitting to the counter terminal, and second information for transmitting to the cash payment machine difference information indicating an amount to be refunded to the tax exempt person obtained from purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request. A server having transmission means is provided.

Further, the present invention provides an accommodation unit that accommodates cash, a reading unit that reads information specifying purchase information related to a product purchased by the shopper from a recording medium issued to the shopper, and the reading unit. The cash of the amount indicated by the difference information indicating the difference equivalent to the tax to be paid back to the shopper, which is specified by the information read by, is taken out from the accommodation means, and the taken-out cash is supplied to the shopper A cash payment machine having a supply means is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to more easily refund a difference such as a consumption tax to a tax exempt person such as a foreign traveler.

The figure which shows the outline | summary of the tax difference refund system 1 which concerns on one Embodiment. The figure which shows the function structure of the tax difference refund system 1 The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the shop terminal 10 The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the server 20 The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the counter terminal 30 The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of ATM40 The figure which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment of the tax difference refund system 1. The figure which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 1st Embodiment of the tax difference refund system 1. The figure which illustrates the data currently recorded on the database 211 The figure which shows the function structure of the tax difference refund system 1 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of the tax difference refund system 1. The figure which shows the operation | movement which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of the tax difference refund system 1.

1. Outline 1-1. Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a tax difference refund system 1 according to an embodiment. The tax difference refund system 1 includes a store terminal 10 (an example of a medium reader), a server 20, a counter terminal 30, an ATM (an example of an automated teller machine) 40, and a card issuing machine 60. The tax difference refund system 1 is a system for refunding a difference equivalent to a consumption tax to a tax exempt person such as a foreign traveler.

  Here, an example in which the tax difference refund system 1 is used in a shopping mall will be described. The store terminal 10 is installed at each store in the shopping mall. In this example, store terminal 10A is installed in store A, and store terminal 10B is installed in store B. The server 20 is installed in a data center outside the shopping mall. The counter terminal 30 is installed at a tax-free counter in the shopping mall. ATM40 is installed in the ATM corner in a shopping mall.

  Store terminal 10, counter terminal 30, ATM 40, and card issuing machine 60 are connected to server 20 via network N (for example, the Internet or a dedicated line).

  In the tax difference refund system 1, a first recording medium and a second recording medium issued to a shopper who is a tax exempt person are used. The first recording medium is used when shopping at a store. The second recording medium is used for refunding the amount equivalent to the consumption tax after the shopping is completed. A single recording medium may serve as both the first recording medium and the second recording medium, and the first recording medium and the second recording medium may be different media.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which a card 50 is used as the first recording medium and the second recording medium. The card 50 is a magnetic stripe card issued to a shopper. Identification information for uniquely identifying the card is recorded on the magnetic stripe. The card 50 indicates that the shopper is a tax exempt person, and the shopper presents the card 50 at the time of payment at the store. The card 50 is issued at a tax-free counter in the shopping mall.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the tax difference refund system 1. The store terminal 10 includes a reading unit 11 and a transmission unit 12. The server 20 includes a storage unit 21, an extraction unit 22, a transmission unit 23, and a transmission unit 24. The counter terminal 30 includes a reading unit 31, a transmission unit 32, and a creation unit 33. The ATM 40 includes an accommodation unit 41, a reading unit 42, and a supply unit 43.

  The reading unit 11 reads recorded identification information from the card 50. The transmission unit 12 transmits purchase information to the server 20. The purchase information includes the main body price and tax amount of the product purchased by the shopper at the store, the identification information of the card 50, and other information.

  The storage unit 21 stores a database 211. The database 211 is a database in which purchase information transmitted from the store terminal 10 of each store in the shopping mall is accumulated, that is, recorded. When the server 20 receives new purchase information from the store terminal 10, the server 20 adds the received purchase information to the database 211.

  The reading unit 31 reads identification information from the card 50. The transmission unit 32 transmits a transmission request for requesting transmission of purchase information corresponding to the identification information read by the reading unit 31 to the server 20.

  When receiving the transmission request from the counter terminal 30, the extracting unit 22 extracts purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request from the purchase information recorded in the database 211. The transmission unit 23 transmits the purchase information extracted by the extraction unit 22 to the counter terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the transmission request. The transmission means 24 transmits to the ATM 40 difference information obtained from purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the transmission request and indicating the amount to be refunded to the tax exempt person.

  When the purchase information is received from the server 20, the creation means 33 creates a document (for example, an export duty-free article purchase record slip) on which at least a part of the purchase information is described.

  The accommodating means 41 accommodates cash, for example, coins and banknotes. The reading unit 42 reads identification information from the card 50. The supply means 43 takes out the cash of the amount indicated by the difference information (obtained from the server 20 in this example) corresponding to the identification information read by the reading means 42 from the storage means, and supplies the taken cash to the shopper. To do.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the store terminal 10. In this example, the store terminal 10 is a so-called credit card terminal (credit inquiry terminal or Credit Authorization Terminal).
In some cases). In another example, the store terminal 10 may be a device different from the credit card terminal.

The store terminal 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a read only memory (ROM) 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103, a storage unit 104, a card reading unit 105, a communication unit 106, an input unit 107, and a display unit 108. Have The CPU 101 is a control device that controls each unit of the store terminal 10. The ROM 102 is a nonvolatile storage device that stores programs and data used for the operation of the store terminal 10. The RAM 103 is a volatile storage device that functions as a work area when the CPU 101 executes a program. The storage unit 104 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various programs and data, for example, a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Card reader 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a device that reads information from the magnetic stripe of the card 50, that is, a magnetic card reader. The communication unit 106 is a device that performs communication via the network N, and includes, for example, a network interface. The input unit 107 is a device for a user of the store terminal 10 (that is, a store clerk) to input information, and includes, for example, a touch screen, a keypad, and buttons. The display unit 108 is a device that displays information. For example, an LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display).

  The card reading unit 105 is an example of the reading unit 11. The communication unit 106 is an example of the transmission unit 12.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the server 20. The server 20 is a computer device having a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a storage unit 204, and a communication unit 205. The CPU 201 is a control device that controls each unit of the server 20. The ROM 202 is a nonvolatile storage device that stores programs and data used for the operation of the server 20. The RAM 203 is a volatile storage device that functions as a work area when the CPU 201 executes a program. The storage unit 204 is a nonvolatile storage device that stores various programs and data. The storage unit 204 stores a program for causing the computer device to function as a server in the tax difference refund system 1. The communication unit 205 is a device that performs communication via the network N.

  The storage unit 204 is an example of the storage unit 21. The CPU 201 executing the server program is an example of the extracting unit 22. The communication unit 106 is an example of the transmission unit 23 and the transmission unit 24.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the counter terminal 30. The counter terminal 30 is a computer device having a CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, storage unit 304, card reading unit 305, communication unit 306, input unit 307, display unit 308, and image forming unit 309. The CPU 301 is a control device that controls each unit of the counter terminal 30. The ROM 302 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data used for the operation of the counter terminal 30. A RAM 303 is a volatile storage device that functions as a work area when the CPU 301 executes a program. The storage unit 304 is a nonvolatile storage device that stores various programs and data. The storage unit 304 stores a program for causing the computer device to function as a counter terminal in the tax difference refund system 1. The card reading unit 305 is a device that reads information from the magnetic stripe of the card 50. The communication unit 306 is a device that performs communication via the network N. The input unit 307 is a device for a user of the counter terminal 30 (that is, a shopping mall staff) to input information. The display unit 308 is a device that displays information. The image forming unit 309 is a device that forms an image on a recording medium (for example, paper), that is, a printer.

  The card reading unit 305 is an example of the reading unit 31. The communication unit 306 is an example of the transmission unit 32. The CPU 301 and the image forming unit 309 are an example of the creation unit 33.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the ATM 40. The ATM 40 includes a CPU 401, ROM 402, RAM 403, storage unit 404, reading unit 405, communication unit 406, input unit 407, display unit 408, cash storage unit 409, and cash supply unit 410. The CPU 401 is a control device that controls each part of the ATM 40. The ROM 402 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data used for the operation of the ATM 40. The RAM 403 is a volatile storage device that functions as a work area when the CPU 401 executes a program. The storage unit 404 is a nonvolatile storage device that stores various programs and data. The card reading unit 405 is a device that reads information from the magnetic stripe of the card 50. In this example, the card reading unit 405 has a card insertion slot (not shown), and reads information after taking the card 50 into the apparatus. The cash storage unit 409 stores coins and banknotes for each type. Under the control of the CPU 401, the cash supply unit 410 takes out coins and banknotes corresponding to the specified amount from the cash storage unit 409, and supplies the taken out coins and banknotes to the user. The cash supply unit 410 has, for example, a motor and a roller for taking out coins or banknotes from the cash storage unit 409, a banknote entrance and exit and a coin entrance and exit for depositing and withdrawing banknotes and coins, respectively.

  The cash accommodation unit 409 is an example of the accommodation unit 41. The reading unit 405 is an example of the reading unit 42. The cash supply unit 410 is an example of the supply unit 43.

1-2. First Embodiment FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating an operation according to a first embodiment of a tax difference refund system 1. Shoppers stop at duty-free counters when entering shopping malls. The tax exemption counter is a counter for issuing the card 50. A card issuing machine 60 is installed at the duty-free counter, and a staff (shopping mall staff) for operating the card issuing machine 60 is stationed there.

  In step S100, a card 50 is issued to a shopper who is a tax-exempt person. Details are as follows. The shopper presents the passport to the staff and requests the card 50 to be issued. The staff will refer to the information on the passport to determine if the shopper meets the tax exempt requirements. When it is determined that the shopper satisfies the requirements of the tax-exempt person, the staff inputs the shopper's personal information to the card issuing machine 60. The personal information input here includes, for example, a passport number, name, nationality, date of birth, and date of entry. The card issuing machine 60 writes the input personal information on the card 50. The card 50 stores an identification number of the card 50 itself.

  The CPU 501 transmits a set of personal information and a card identification number to the server 20. The server 20 records a set of personal information and a card identification number in the database 211. The server 20 manages the set of personal information and the card identification number, so that the card can be reissued even when the card 50 is lost, for example.

  In step S <b> 101, the shopper shop at the store A. In the store A, a store terminal 10A is installed. When purchasing a product, the shopper pays the price including consumption tax with cash or a credit card. At the time of payment, the shopper presents the card 50 to the store clerk of the store A. The store clerk can recognize that this shopper is a tax exempt person by receiving the presentation of the card 50.

In step S <b> 102, the store clerk of the store A operates the store terminal 10 </ b> A to read the identification information from the card 50 via the card reading unit 105 in addition to the settlement process with cash or a credit card. Specifically, it is as follows. The display unit 108 of the store terminal 10 displays a menu screen. The menu screen includes a button for starting a procedure for a tax exempt person. When the store clerk presses this button, the display unit 108 displays a screen that prompts the user to read the card (card 50) issued to the tax exempt person. The store clerk passes the card through the card reading unit 105 according to the instruction on the screen and reads the identification information. When the identification information is read from the card 50, the display unit 108 displays information related to the purchase of the product (for example, identification information of the store where the product is purchased, purchase date and time, purchased product name, quantity, unit price, sales price, and tax amount). A screen prompting you to enter is displayed. Information related to product purchase is, for example, POS (Poin
t of Sale) input from a terminal (not shown). In this case, the POS terminal and the store terminal 10 </ b> A are connected by wire or wirelessly, and information related to the purchase of the product is input to the store terminal 10 through this connection. Alternatively, information relating to the purchase of the product may be input by the store clerk operating the input unit 107.

  When the input related to the purchase of the product is completed, the CPU 101 adds the identification information read from the card 50 to the information related to the purchase of the product to generate purchase information (step S103). The CPU 101 transmits the generated purchase information to the server 20 (step S104). The server 20 to which the purchase information is transmitted is determined in advance.

  When the purchase information is received from the store terminal 10, the CPU 201 of the server 20 registers (adds) the received purchase information in the database 211 (step S105).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating data recorded in the database 211. In this example, the database 211 stores identification information of the card 50, identification information of the store where the product was purchased, purchase date and time, purchased product name, quantity, unit price, sales price, and tax amount. These pieces of information are included in purchase information transmitted from the store terminal 10. This data further includes a record slip flag and a withdrawal flag. The record slip flag is a flag that indicates whether each purchase information has been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the export duty-free article purchase record slip is being created, or is not filled in the export duty-free article purchase record slip It is. The initial value of the record slip flag is “not filled in”. The withdrawal flag is a flag indicating whether or not the difference has been refunded for each purchase information. The initial value of the withdrawal flag is “not yet” indicating that the refund has not been completed.

  When this shopper shop at another store, for example, store B, purchase information is registered in the database 211 in the same manner.

  Refer to FIG. 7 again. When registration of the purchase information in the database 211 is completed, the CPU 201 transmits a completion notification to the store terminal 10 (step S106). Upon receiving notification of completion of purchase information registration, the display unit 108 displays an image indicating that purchase information has been registered. When viewing this image, the store clerk returns the card 50 to the shopper.

  When shopping is complete, the shopper stops at the duty-free counter. The tax exemption counter is a counter for preparing an export tax exempt goods purchase record slip, more specifically, for tax exemption procedures. A counter terminal 30 is installed at the duty-free counter, and a shopping mall staff is stationed to operate the counter terminal.

  The shopper presents the card 50 and requests the creation of an export duty-free article purchase record slip (step S107). The duty-free counter staff operates the counter terminal 30 to read the identification information from the card 50 via the card reading unit 305 (step S108). When the identification number of the card 50 is read, the CPU 301 transmits a purchase information transmission request to the server 20 (step S109). This transmission request includes the identification information of the card 50 read in step S105.

When receiving the purchase information transmission request, the CPU 201 of the server 20 extracts the identification information of the card 50 from the received transmission request. Further, the CPU 201 includes purchase information that includes the same identification information as the extracted identification information from the data recorded in the database 211 and is indicated by a record slip flag that is not filled in the export duty-free article purchase record slip. And personal information corresponding to the identification information is extracted (step S110). In the database 211, the CPU 201 rewrites the record slip flag of the purchase information extracted here to “Creating”. The CPU 201 transmits the extracted purchase information and personal information to the counter terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the transmission request (step S111).

  Upon receipt of purchase information and personal information from the server 20, the counter terminal 30 creates an export duty-free article purchase record slip (step S112). That is, the CPU 301 extracts information used to create an export duty-free article purchase record form from the received purchase information and personal information, and creates data of the export duty-free article purchase record form according to the format. The counter terminal 30 prints the export duty-free article purchase record slip on paper according to the created data. The counter terminal 30 may create a purchase pledge (a purchase pledge for a consumption tax tax-free purchase of an article to be finally exported) together with the export tax-free article purchase record slip.

  When the creation of the export duty-free article purchase record slip is completed, the CPU 301 transmits a completion notification to the server 20 (step S113). The completion notification includes identification information of the card 50 issued to the shopper.

  Upon receipt of the completion notification, the CPU 201 of the server 20 “fills in” the purchase slip record flag of the purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the completion notification in the database 211 whose purchase slip flag is “being created”. It is rewritten to “Done” (step S114).

  When the creation of the export duty-free article purchase record slip is completed, the staff attaches the record slip to the shopper's passport and presses the index. The staff returns the passport with the export duty-free article purchase record slip attached (step S115). The staff further returns the card 50 to the shopper.

  Upon receipt of the export duty-free article purchase record, the shopper goes to the ATM corner. The display unit 408 of the ATM 40 displays a menu that includes a refund of the tax difference as an item. When the shopper gives an instruction to start the tax difference refund process via the input unit 407, the display unit 408 displays an image that prompts the user to insert the card 50 into the card insertion slot. The user inserts the card 50 into the card insertion slot according to the image guidance.

  The reading unit 405 reads the identification information of the card 50 inserted from the card insertion slot (step S116). The CPU 401 transmits a refund information transmission request including the identification information read by the reading unit 405 to the server 20 (step S117). Note that the refund information is information including a difference to be refunded.

  When receiving the refund information transmission request, the CPU 201 of the server 20 calculates the difference to be refunded (step S118). Specifically, the CPU 201 includes the same identification information as the identification information included in the transmission request among the purchase information recorded in the database 211 and is included in the purchase information whose withdrawal flag is “unpaid”. Sum the tax amount and calculate the difference to be refunded. In response to the transmission request, the CPU 201 notifies the ATM 40 of the calculated difference to be refunded (step S119).

  When receiving the difference to be refunded, the CPU 401 of the ATM 40 controls the cash supply unit 410 so as to supply banknotes and coins corresponding to the difference to be refunded. The cash supply unit 410 takes out the designated amount from the cash storage unit 409, and supplies it to the shopper, that is, pays back (step S120). Moreover, ATM40 accommodates the card | curd 50 inserted from the card insertion slot in the card | curd accommodating part 411, ie, collect | recovers cards 50 (step S121).

When the supply of the refund money is completed, the CPU 401 transmits a completion notification to the server 20 (step S122). The completion notification includes information for specifying the corresponding purchase information, for example, identification information of the card 50.

  When the completion notification is received, the CPU 201 of the server 20 rewrites the withdrawal flag of the purchase information including the same identification information as the identification information included in the completion notification to “refunded” (step S123).

  As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to more easily refund the difference corresponding to the consumption tax. Traditionally, at shopping malls and department stores, the duty-free counter staff manually created export duty-free article purchase record sheets while looking at receipts and slips issued at each store and central cashier counter. This work was complicated and required time and manpower. However, according to the present embodiment, the export duty-free article purchase record slip can be created with fewer man-hours.

1-3. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the card 50 serves as both a recording medium (first recording medium) used for recording purchase information and a recording medium (second recording medium) used for refunding the difference. An example was explained. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a recording medium different from the card 50 is used as the second recording medium.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the tax difference refund system 1 according to the second embodiment. The tax difference refund system 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the configuration of FIG. 2 in that the counter terminal 30 includes a writing unit 34.

  The writing means 34 writes information specifying purchase information corresponding to the card 50 (an example of the first recording medium) received from the server 20 in a second recording medium different from the card 50. In this example, the second recording medium is paper, and the information specifying purchase information is identification information of the card 50. The identification information of the card 50 is recorded, that is, printed on paper in the form of a two-dimensional barcode.

  In this example, the reading unit 405 of the ATM 40 has a scanner for optically reading a two-dimensional barcode.

  FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are sequence charts showing an operation according to the second embodiment of the tax difference refund system 1. Since the processing of steps S200 to S207 is the same as that of steps S100 to S107, description thereof is omitted.

  In step S <b> 208, the tax-free counter staff operates the counter terminal 30 to read the identification information from the card 50 via the card reading unit 305. The staff at the tax-free counter collects the card 50 without returning the card 50 to the shopper. The collection of the card 50 may be performed by the counter terminal 30. The process of steps S209 to S214 is the same as the process of steps S109 to S114.

  In step S215, the counter terminal 30 creates a withdrawal code. The withdrawal code refers to paper on which the identification information of the card 50 is printed in the form of a two-dimensional barcode. Specifically, the CPU 301 of the counter terminal 30 first converts the identification information of the card 50 into a two-dimensional barcode. The CPU 301 controls the printer so as to form the obtained two-dimensional barcode image on paper.

In step S216, the tax-free counter staff gives the output export duty-free article purchase record slip and the withdrawal code to the shopper. Upon receipt of the export duty-free article purchase record slip and withdrawal code, the shopper goes to the ATM corner. The display unit 408 of the ATM 40 displays a menu that includes a refund of the tax difference as an item. When the shopper instructs the start of the tax difference refund process via the input unit 407, the display unit 408 displays an image that prompts the reading unit 405 to read the withdrawal code. The user causes the reading unit 405 to read the withdrawal code according to the guidance of the image.

  In step S217, the reading unit 405 reads identification information from the withdrawal code. The CPU 401 transmits a refund information transmission request including the identification information read by the reading unit 405 to the server 20 (step S218). The processing in steps S219 to S223 is the same as the processing in steps S118 to S120 and S122 to S123 (the processing corresponding to the card collection in step S121 is not performed here).

1-4. Third Embodiment In the present embodiment, the card 50 is automatically issued unattended by the card issuing machine 60. That is, the card issuing machine 60 is installed in the tax-free card issuing corner, and no staff is resident here. The card issuing machine 60 is a computer device having a reading unit that optically reads the description of the passport. The CPU of the card issuing machine 60 extracts personal information from the passport image read by the reading unit using a technique such as character recognition. The card issuing machine 60 transmits the extracted personal information and the identification information of the card 50 to the server 20. The following operations are the same as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

1-4. Fourth Embodiment In the present embodiment, the counter terminal 30 has a function of pasting an export duty-free article purchase record slip on a passport, and a function of pressing an index on the passport and the export duty-free article purchase record slip. That is, the counter terminal 30 has a function of automatically issuing an export duty-free article purchase record slip unattended and pasting it on a passport.

2. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. Hereinafter, some modifications will be described. Two or more of the following modifications may be used in combination. Moreover, the above-mentioned 1st-4th embodiment may be used in combination with each other or the following modifications.

2-1. Modification 1
The recording medium (first recording medium) used for recording purchase information and the recording medium (second recording medium) used for refunding the difference equivalent to the consumption tax are not limited to those described in the embodiment. As the first recording medium and the second recording medium, a magnetic recording medium (such as a magnetic stripe card), a wireless IC card (not limited to a card-shaped one, a card mounted on a mobile phone or a smartphone, a coin-shaped card, etc. May be used), a sheet-like recording medium (paper or plastic) on which a code image (a so-called one-dimensional barcode or two-dimensional barcode) is formed, or a passport may be used. . Alternatively, biometric information (such as fingerprints and irises) of the shopper may be used as information for specifying the shopper. A combination of the first recording medium and the second recording medium is also free.

2-2. Modification 2
Information included in the purchase information is not limited to that described in the embodiment. The purchase information may include at least the tax amount of the product purchased by the shopper at the store and the identification information assigned to the shopper. Any other information other than these may be used, or other information may not be used. Further, as the identification information assigned to the shopper, information assigned by a system other than the tax difference refund system 1, such as a passport number described in the passport, may be used, as in the identification information of the card 50. The information allocated by the tax difference refund system 1 may be used. Further, the card 50 may not store the personal information of the shopper.

2-3. Modification 3
The export duty-free article purchase record slip has items such as “product name”, “quantity”, and “unit price” (hereinafter referred to as “product details”), but the method of providing the product details from the store terminal 10 to the server 20 is implemented. It is not limited to what was demonstrated with the form. For example, the following method may be used for providing the product specification.

(1) Conversion of receipt into image data In this example, the shop terminal 10 has a scanner (image reading means). The store terminal 10 optically reads a receipt on which product details are described with a scanner and converts it into image data. The store terminal 10 includes this image data in the purchase information and transmits it to the server 20. The server 20 transmits purchase information including receipt image data to the counter terminal 30. The counter terminal prints the receipt image on the export duty-free article purchase record slip.

(2) Receipt is converted into image data and OCR processing In this example, the store terminal 10 optically reads a receipt on which product details are described with a scanner and converts it into image data. Further, the store terminal 10 performs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing on the image data, and extracts the product details as character information. Store terminal 10
Transmits purchase information including the extracted character information to the server 20.

(3) Aggregation of product details by major classification In this example, the store terminal 10 stores a database in which items of major classification (for example, rough classification items such as men's clothing, women's clothing, and electrical products) are recorded. doing. The store clerk selects an item corresponding to the purchased product from the database stored in the store terminal 10. Further, the store clerk inputs the total amount and the consumption tax amount for each selected item. The shop terminal 10 transmits purchase information including information indicating the selected item and the input information to the server 20.

(4) Store product details in terminal In this example, store terminal 10 stores a database in which product details (product name and unit price) are recorded. This database is regularly updated via, for example, POS. The store clerk selects the details corresponding to the purchased product from the database stored in the store terminal 10. Further, the store clerk inputs the quantity for each selected item. The store terminal 10 transmits purchase information including information indicating the selected details and the input information to the server 20.

(5) Product details are not provided to server 20 In this example, store terminal 10 does not provide product details to server 20. Instead, two receipts are printed and one is given to the shopper for pasting on an export duty-free article purchase record. The store terminal 10 transmits the total amount and the consumption tax amount to the server 20. The shopper gives the staff a receipt for pasting at the duty-free counter. The staff attaches a receipt to the export duty-free article purchase record slip and stamps it.

2-4. Modification 4
The method of transmitting purchase information from the store to the server 20 is not limited to that described in the embodiment. For example, a receipt issued at a store may be read and converted into data, and the receipt image data may be transmitted to the server 20. The server 20 performs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing on the image data of the receipt, and extracts the items described in the receipt as character information.

2-5. Modification 5
The timing at which the server 20 calculates the difference to be refunded is not limited to that described in the embodiment. For example, the server 20 may calculate a difference to be refunded upon receiving a purchase information transmission request from the counter terminal 30 and store the difference.

2-6. Modification 6
The information recorded on the second recording medium is not limited to the example described in the embodiment (the identification information of the card 50, that is, the first recording medium). Any information that can identify the shopper or the refund process may be used.

2-7. Other Modifications The apparatus configuration of the tax difference refund system 1 is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. A part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted, or a physically single apparatus may have the functions of the plurality of apparatuses in FIG. For example, the card issuing machine 60 may be omitted. In another example, a single device may have the functions of the counter terminal 30 and the ATM 40. A plurality of devices such as the card issuing machine 60, the counter terminal 30, and the ATM 40 may be installed in a common place (such as a tax-free counter). Furthermore, the place where the tax difference refund system 1 is used is not limited to a shopping mall. The tax difference refund system 1 may be used in a department store or an electronic store.

  The hardware configuration of each device constituting the tax difference refund system 1 is not limited to that illustrated in FIGS. In addition to or instead of the components illustrated in these drawings, other components (for example, a scanner, a printer, a biometric authentication device, and the like) may be included.

3. Specific Application Examples Hereinafter, some specific application examples of the tax difference refund system 1 will be described.

3-1. Example 1
In this example, a shopper's passport is used as the first recording medium, and a magnetic stripe card is used as the second recording medium. In this example, the card issuing machine 60 is installed at a tax-free counter and is used for issuing a card as a second recording medium.

  When shopping at a store, the shopper presents a passport to the store clerk. The store clerk looks at the passport and confirms that it meets the tax-exempt requirements. The store clerk will liquidate for a tax-included amount. The store clerk packs the product, attaches a receipt from the top of the package, and presses the index. The store clerk causes the store terminal 10 to scan the passport, and further inputs the product details. The store terminal 10 extracts the passport number from the image data of the passport. The store terminal 10 transmits purchase information including the extracted passport number as the identification information of the shopper and including the product details to the server 20. The clerk gives the shopper a letter and a product explaining that the consumption tax equivalent will be refunded at the duty-free counter.

When shopping is complete, the shopper stops at the duty-free counter. The shopper presents the purchased product and passport to the staff. The staff causes the counter terminal 30 to scan the passport. The counter terminal 30 reads the passport number from the passport. The counter terminal 30 transmits a purchase information transmission request including the passport number as identification information of the shopper to the server 20. The counter terminal 30 creates an export duty-free article purchase record form using the purchase information transmitted as a response to the transmission request. The staff asks the shopper to sign the purchase pledge. Signing is performed electronically using a sign pad. The counter terminal 30 prints the purchaser pledge including the signature. The staff attaches an export duty-free article purchase record slip (pledge) to the passport and presses the index. The staff operates the card issuing machine 60 to issue a card. The staff will give the issued card to the shopper and explain that it will be refunded at the ATM.

  The shopper goes to the ATM corner and inserts a card into the ATM 40. The ATM 40 transmits the identification information recorded on the card to the server 20 and acquires the calculated difference equivalent to the consumption tax. At this time, the ATM 40 confirms with the server 20 whether there is any omission in the procedure (whether there is purchase information that has not been described in the export duty-free article purchase record slip). If there is purchase information that has not been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the ATM 40 notifies the shopper of that fact. If there is no purchase information that has not been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the ATM 40 will refund the difference. The card is collected.

3-2. Example 2
In this example, a single magnetic stripe card (corresponding to the card 50 illustrated in the first embodiment) is used as the first recording medium and the second recording medium. This card is issued by the card issuing machine 60.

  Prior to shopping, shoppers stop at the card issue corner. A card issuing machine 60 is installed in the card issuing corner. In this example, the card issuing machine 60 has a touch screen. When the shopper inputs a card issuance instruction to the card issuing machine 60, the card issuing machine 60 inputs information used for determining whether or not the shopper is looking at the requirements of the tax exempt person (for example, entering the country). Day). The card issuer 60 issues a card based on the input information.

  When shopping at a store, the shopper presents a passport to the store clerk. The store clerk looks at the passport and confirms that it meets the tax-exempt requirements. The store clerk will liquidate for a tax-included amount. The store clerk packs the product, attaches a receipt from the top of the package, and presses the index. The store clerk causes the store terminal 10 to read the card and further inputs the product details. The store terminal 10 transmits purchase information including the identification information and the product details read from the card to the server 20. The clerk gives the shopper a letter and a product explaining that the consumption tax equivalent will be refunded at the duty-free counter.

  When shopping is complete, the shopper stops at the duty-free counter. The shopper presents the purchased product, card, and passport to the staff. The staff visually confirms the passport and causes the counter terminal 30 to read the card. The counter terminal 30 transmits a purchase information transmission request including the identification information read from the card to the server 20. The counter terminal 30 creates an export duty-free article purchase record form using the purchase information transmitted as a response to the transmission request. The staff asks the shopper to sign the purchase pledge. Signing is performed electronically using a sign pad. The counter terminal 30 prints the purchaser pledge including the signature. The staff attaches an export duty-free article purchase record slip (pledge) to the passport and presses the index. The staff operates the card issuing machine 60 to issue a card. The staff returns the card to the shopper and explains that it is refunded at the ATM.

The shopper goes to the ATM corner and inserts a card into the ATM 40. The ATM 40 transmits the identification information recorded on the card to the server 20 and acquires the calculated difference equivalent to the consumption tax. At this time, the ATM 40 confirms with the server 20 whether there is any omission in the procedure (whether there is purchase information that has not been described in the export duty-free article purchase record slip). If there is purchase information that has not been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the ATM 40 notifies the shopper of that fact. If there is no purchase information that has not been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the ATM 40 will refund the difference. The card is collected.

3-3. Example 3
In this example, the first recording medium is not used, and only the second recording medium is used. In this example, the card issuing machine 60 is installed at a tax-free counter and is used for issuing a card as a second recording medium.

  When shopping at a store, the shopper presents a passport to the store clerk. The store clerk looks at the passport and confirms that it meets the tax-exempt requirements. The store clerk will liquidate for a tax-included amount. The store clerk packs the product, attaches a receipt from the top of the package, and presses the index. The clerk further prints a receipt for pasting on the export duty-free article purchase record. The store clerk gives the shopper a document explaining that the amount equivalent to the consumption tax will be refunded at the tax-free counter, a receipt for pasting, and a product.

  When shopping is complete, the shopper stops at the duty-free counter. The shopper presents the purchased product, receipt, and passport to the staff. The staff causes the counter terminal 30 to scan the passport and the receipt. The counter terminal 30 reads information used to create an export duty-free article purchase record form such as a passport number from the passport. Further, the counter terminal 30 generates receipt image data. The counter terminal 30 creates an export duty-free article purchase record slip using information read from the passport. A scanned receipt image is also printed on the export duty-free article purchase record. The staff asks the shopper to sign the purchase pledge. Signing is performed electronically using a sign pad. The counter terminal 30 prints the purchaser pledge including the signature. The staff attaches an export duty-free article purchase record slip (pledge) to the passport and presses the index. The staff operates the card issuing machine 60 to issue a card. The staff will give the issued card to the shopper and explain that it will be refunded at the ATM.

  The shopper goes to the ATM corner and inserts a card into the ATM 40. The ATM 40 transmits the identification information recorded on the card to the server 20 and acquires the calculated difference equivalent to the consumption tax. At this time, the ATM 40 confirms with the server 20 whether there is any omission in the procedure (whether there is purchase information that has not been described in the export duty-free article purchase record slip). If there is purchase information that has not been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the ATM 40 notifies the shopper of that fact. If there is no purchase information that has not been entered in the export duty-free article purchase record slip, the ATM 40 will refund the difference. The card is collected.

4). Effect of Tax Difference Refund System 1 Conventionally, tax exemption has been handled by one of the following methods.
(1) A method in which a shopper presents a passport when purchasing a product, and a store sells at a duty-free price that does not impose consumption tax.
(2) A method in which the shopper pays the tax-included amount at the cash register at the store, then returns the product at the duty-free counter in the store during the same day, and sells it again at the duty-free price.

  In the above method, for example, the staff at the store or duty-free counter will calculate the duty-free price or the difference, which may cause a calculation error. There is a problem that there is a possibility that the process takes time, so there is a queue at the time of congestion, which inconveniences the shopper, and the staff is unfamiliar with the response, which makes the shopper feel uncomfortable. The tax difference refund system 1 can solve these problems.

  In the above example, instead of a tourist, a shopping mall staff may operate the ATM 40 to take out cash and give it to an environmental customer. In this case, ATM40 may be installed in the tax-free counter.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tax difference refund system, 10 ... Store terminal, 20 ... Server, 30 ... Counter terminal, 40 ... ATM, 50 ... Card, 60 ... Card issuing machine, N ... Network, 11 ... Reading means, 12 ... Transmission means, 21 ... storage means, 211 ... database, 22 ... extraction means, 23 ... transmission means, 24 ... transmission means, 31 ... reading means, 32 ... transmission means, 33 ... creation means, 41 ... accommodation means, 42 ... reading means, 43 ... Supply means 101 ... CPU 102 ... ROM 103 ... RAM 104 ... Storage unit 105 ... Card reading unit 106 ... Communication unit 107 ... Input unit 108 ... Display unit 201 ... CPU 202 ... ROM 203 ... RAM, 204 ... storage unit, 205 ... card reading unit, 206 ... communication unit, 301 ... CPU, 302 ... ROM, 303 ... RAM, 3 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Memory | storage part, 305 ... Card reading part, 306 ... Communication part, 307 ... Input part, 308 ... Display part, 309 ... Image forming part, 401 ... CPU, 402 ... ROM, 403 ... RAM, 404 ... Memory | storage part, 405 ... Reading unit, 406 ... Communication unit, 407 ... Input unit, 408 ... Display unit, 409 ... Cash storage unit, 410 ... Cash supply unit

Claims (6)

A payment processing terminal that is installed in a store where a shopper who is tax-exempt is shopping, and reads the identification information of the card for the payment from a card used for payment of the purchase price of the product by the shopper. A media reader ;
Counters terminal and
Have,
The medium reader is
First reading means that is issued to a shopper and reads identification information of the shopper from a first recording medium different from the card ;
First transmission means for transmitting purchase information including the price and tax amount of the product purchased by the shopper and the identification information to a server ;
Before Symbol counter terminal,
Second reading means for reading identification information of the shopper from the first recording medium;
Second transmission means for transmitting a first transmission request including the identification information and requesting transmission of purchase information corresponding to the identification information to the server;
A tax difference refund system comprising: first receiving means for receiving purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the first transmission request from the server as an answer to the first transmission request . The medium reader is
An input means for receiving the purchase information;
The tax difference refund system according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit transmits the purchase information received via the input unit to the server. The input means includes
Third reading means for optically reading a receipt issued by the payment processing terminal and converting it into image data;
The tax difference refund system according to claim 2, wherein the first transmission unit transmits the purchase information including the image data generated by the third reading unit to the server. The counter terminal is
The writing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a writing unit that electromagnetically writes the identification information of the shopper received from the server to a second recording medium different from the first recording medium. The tax difference refund system described. The counter terminal is
5. The tax difference refund system according to claim 1, further comprising a creation unit that creates an export duty-free article purchase record using the purchase information received from the server. A payment processing terminal that is installed in a store where a shopper who is tax-exempt is shopping, and reads the identification information of the card for the payment from a card used for payment of the purchase price of the product by the shopper. A medium reader is issued to the shopper and reads identification information of the shopper from a first recording medium different from the card;
The medium reader transmits the purchase information including the price and tax amount of the product purchased by the shopper and the identification information to the server, and the counter terminal reads the identification information of the shopper from the first recording medium. Steps,
The counter terminal transmits a transmission request for requesting transmission of purchase information corresponding to the identification information, including the identification information, to the server;
Tax difference refund process and a step of receiving the purchase information corresponding to the identification information included in the prior Kioku signal request from the server, as a reply to the previous Kioku Shin request.

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