News

Japan to allow payment of government fees via ATMs

January 22, 2004

TOKYO - The Japanese government on Jan. 19 conducted a ceremony commemorating the official launch of an electronic payment service that allows people to pay taxes or other government fees through banks' ATMs or online.

The new service, dubbed Pay-easy, is part of efforts to promote "e-government" strategies, according to a report in Japan Times.

Currently, people have to visit financial institutions to pay government fees over the counter or purchase government revenue stamps to do so.

Under the new Pay-easy system, people will be able to make payments through Internet banking with the use of personal computers or mobile phones, or via ATMs.