Starting in October, Japan will prohibit fundraising through intermediary websites that offer points as rewards for donations. This decision is part of the government’s efforts to regulate the Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) system, which allows taxpayers to donate to local governments and receive tax deductions in return.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has noted that competition among these intermediary sites has led to an excessive increase in point rewards, which could undermine the original intent of the donation system. The government plans to continue reviewing the regulations as necessary to ensure the system remains fair and effective.
Source: www3.nhk.or.jp