Source: https://rivet.global/blog/japan-company-receiving-usd-from-overseas-clients
Published: 2026-07-01 · Updated: 2026-07-01 · By Alexia M.

# Japanese companies receiving USD from overseas clients

How Japanese companies receive US dollars from overseas clients: incoming wire fees, lifting charges, yen conversion, the 30 million yen payment report and holding USD.

## Key takeaways

- Japanese banks usually charge an incoming fee on overseas remittances, and many add a lifting charge when foreign currency is credited without conversion.
- Converting to yen at the bank's TTB rate includes a margin over the mid-market rate.
- Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, cross-border payments and receipts above 30 million yen must be reported to the Minister of Finance; ask your bank how it handles the report.
- Holding USD for USD costs, such as software, ads and overseas contractors, avoids converting twice.

Google suggests "Japan money transfer" and "Japan wire transfer" well before anything about receiving, but for a Japanese company selling software, design or consulting abroad, receiving is the costly direction.

## What happens to a US$25,000 wire

1. The US client's bank sends a SWIFT payment. An intermediary bank may take a fee.
2. The Japanese bank charges an incoming remittance fee.
3. If credited in yen, the bank converts at its rate, which includes a margin.
4. If credited to a USD account, many banks charge a lifting charge instead.

The company invoiced $25,000 and receives somewhat less, with the gap spread across three lines on the statement.

## The reporting rule

Under Article 55 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, a payment or receipt above 30 million yen between Japan and abroad must be reported to the Minister of Finance. Sources differ on whether the bank or the company files for a given transaction, so ask your bank before your first large receipt. The rule does not stop or delay the payment.

## Ways to keep more of the invoice

- Ask clients to send on OUR terms so intermediary fees are theirs.
- Hold USD and pay USD costs from it: cloud services, ads, overseas contractors.
- Convert yen needs in larger, planned amounts instead of every receipt.
- Give US clients US details they can pay by ACH, where your provider supports Japanese companies.

## Consumption tax on exports

Services supplied to overseas businesses are often export transactions for consumption tax and exempt, but the rules on place of supply are detailed. Our article on [Japan's qualified invoice system](/blog/japan-qualified-invoice-system-foreign-transactions) covers the invoice side.

## Paying into Japan: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | Zengin System |
| Run by | Japanese Banks' Payment Clearing Network (Zengin-Net) |
| Settlement | Within the day in core hours; the More-Time System settles around the clock for participating banks |

Source: [Zengin-Net](https://www.zengin-net.jp/en/). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet gives registered companies USD details for ACH and wires on the free Starter plan, and EUR and GBP details on Growth, with conversion shown before you confirm. Check our eligibility list for Japanese companies. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [receive USD payments from US clients](/blog/receive-usd-payments-from-us-clients).

## Questions

### What is a lifting charge?

A fee some Japanese banks charge when a foreign currency payment is credited in the same currency, without converting to yen. It is often a percentage with a minimum.

### Do I have to report receiving money from abroad?

Receipts above 30 million yen per transaction must be reported under FEFTA. Banks often guide or handle this; confirm with your bank, since sources differ on who files.

### Should I convert USD to yen straight away?

Only what you need for yen costs. Keeping dollars to pay dollar costs avoids a second conversion and its margin.

### Can US clients pay a Japanese company by ACH?

Only into US account details. A Japanese bank account receives an international wire.