A payment slip is a slip of paper that customers can use to pay utility bills, taxes, and other debts. Customers use payment slips when making payments to a specific account at convenience stores, banks, post offices, etc. Other names for these slips include bank transfer slips or bank transfer forms.

The tax authority standardizes the format of the payment slip and requires that it include the number of the account accepting the transfer, the party accepting payment, the payer’s information, the payment amount, and so on.

Payment slips existed before the ubiquity of the internet, so most Japanese residents have used them. In this article, we will explain the types of payment slips, convenience store fees for using these slips, payment methods other than cash, and which payment slips can be used at convenience stores.

What’s in this article?

• Payment slips customers can use at convenience stores and banks: red slips and blue slips
  
• How much is the fee for handling payment slips at convenience stores?
  
• Can I pay a convenience store payment slip with a method other than cash? What about a credit card?
  
• What payment slips can be used at convenience stores?
  

Payment slips customers can use at convenience stores and banks: red slips and blue slips

Most people in Japan have used payment slips to pay utility bills and make similar payments at convenience stores and banks. But did you know that there are two types of payment slips, red and blue slips, and that there is a big difference between them regarding handling fees?

Red payment slips

With red payment slips, the sender pays only the specified payment amount, and the recipient pays the handling fee.

Blue payment slips

With blue payment slips, the sender pays the specified payment amount and the handling fee.

When shopping online, you will probably receive a red payment slip with your order, meaning the business you order from will pay the transfer fee. But if you are preparing payment slips, be careful not to use the wrong slip and cause issues for the other party.

How much is the fee for handling payment slips at convenience stores?

If possible, it is best to avoid paying the fees for convenience store payment slips. Even if you have to pay this handling fee, ideally it should be kept as low as possible. The amount of the fee differs depending on the agency you use. Also, the business owner can decide whether they or the customer will pay the fee.

Fees from the customer’s perspective

There is often no need to pay a handling fee when paying utility bills and taxes. Also, even if you pay at a convenience store when ordering from an online marketplace, there is often no handling fee. As a result, many people probably think there is no handling fee when paying a payment slip at a convenience store.

However, as mentioned, the business owner can decide who pays the handling fee for the payment slip, so you might have to pay a fee depending on where you shop or how much you buy. Also, if you inadvertently let the payment deadline pass and then ask for the slip to be reissued, you can be charged a fee. Before assuming there are no fees, confirm your payment details with the convenience store beforehand.

Fees from the business’s perspective

When a business introduces a convenience store payment system, various costs are involved. These include initial costs, basic fees, payment fees, and payment agency fees. These fees vary depending on the receiving agent business.

From the business owner’s point of view, the payment fee affects profit and the purchaser should pay the fee. But for online shops and other such circumstances, it is typically the shop that bears the cost. Service providers might reluctantly deal with fees to keep up with the competition in terms of service and price.

There are two main payment methods for convenience store payments: the traditional payment slip method and the paperless payment number method. These methods differ regarding handling fees. When deciding whether to use the payment slip method or the payment number method, consider the customer targets and costs your business faces.

When using Stripe (for businesses)

Stripe offers a paperless payment number system, making it easy to introduce convenience store payments. If you introduce convenience store payment using Stripe, customers will be able to pay cash at convenience stores for invoices and online purchases. This will expand their payment options and make it more convenient to make purchases, likely leading to an increase in business. At Stripe, convenience store payment fees include a 3.6% merchant fee, a minimum fee of ¥120, and a fee of ¥250 plus a 10% consumption tax for refunds.

According to the Communications Usage Trend Survey (Household Edition) conducted in 2023 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “credit card payment” was the most common payment method at 76.7%, followed by “payment by electronic money” at 38.5%, and “payment at a convenience store” at 34.7%.

Even if costs are involved, customers conduct a significant portion of their payments via convenience store payments, so businesses should consider introducing the payment method.

Can I pay a convenience store payment slip with a method other than cash? What about a credit card?

When making payments or transfers at a convenience store using a payment slip, you cannot use a credit card; customers must often pay in cash. Depending on the convenience store, though, it might be possible to pay using methods other than cash (businesses can be charged handling fees for some payment methods):

• FamilyMart: At FamilyMart, you can pay with cash or the electronic money system FamiPay. You cannot pay directly with a credit card, but you can add electronic money to your FamiPay account using a credit card with the JCB brand and then pay with FamiPay. (Some items cannot be paid for using FamiPay.)

• Lawson: At Lawson, you can make payments using payment slips, but only in cash.

• Ministop: You can pay some utilities and taxes with cash or the electronic money WAON. You cannot pay the payment slip directly with a credit card, but you can use a credit card indirectly by going through WAON.

• Seicomart: At Seicomart, you can make payment slip payments only in cash.

What payment slips can be used at convenience stores?

To determine whether you can use a payment slip at a convenience store, check whether the payment slip has a barcode.

Payment slips without barcodes

If the payment slip does not have a barcode, you will not be able to pay it at a convenience store, regardless of whether it is a blue or red slip. If there is no barcode, you will have to pay at the counter or ATM of a bank or post office. The back of the payment slip will typically list locations where you can pay, so check it before trying to make a payment.

Payment slips with barcodes

If the payment slip has a barcode, you can pay at a convenience store. But some convenience stores do not have agreements with the receiving agencies, so you cannot pay a slip at those stores. Regardless of whether a slip has a barcode, you should check whether the convenience store you will use is affiliated with your payment slip.

In this article, we introduced what a payment slip is, the fees for paying at a convenience store, payment methods other than cash, and the payment slips that can be used at convenience stores.

In addition to the traditional payment slip method, there is also a paperless payment number method for convenience store payments. If you are a business owner considering introducing convenience store payments, refer to the Stripe convenience store payment page and the fees for businesses of all sizes page.