Q. Can the business address be a virtual office?

A. Yes, as long as it is a real, contactable address. However, transparency about your physical presence builds greater consumer trust.

Q. Is the notation required for free products or services?

A. If the transaction involves any commercial activity (including free trials that convert to paid), the notation is required. Consult legal counsel for specific cases.

Must-See for Beginners! Complete Guide to Writing the Specified Commercial Transactions Act Notation and Legal Compliance

When operating an EC site or online service, the "notation based on the Specified Commercial Transactions Act (Tokushouhou)" is something that cannot be avoided. This is not merely a formal administrative task, but one of the most important items for building a relationship of trust with consumers and protecting your own company from legal risks. In this article, we provide a detailed, MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) guide from mandatory items to points of caution, so that even beginners can master the "Specified Commercial Transactions Act Notation Writing Method" without hesitation.

Table of Contents (Click to Expand)

1. What Is the Specified Commercial Transactions Act Notation?

The Specified Commercial Transactions Act (Tokushouhou) is a law to protect consumers from aggressive solicitation and improper labeling by businesses. In mail-order sales (EC sites), since it is not face-to-face sales, an obligation to display specific information is imposed so that consumers can accurately grasp the true identity of the business and the contract details.

In particular, if you make a mistake in the "Specified Commercial Transactions Act Notation Writing Method", you may be subject to a business improvement recommendation from the Consumer Affairs Agency, or in the worst case, a business suspension order, so a precise response is required. This is also an extremely important foundation for maintaining D2C brand governance and avoiding reputation risk.

2. Required Items Checklist: Key Points for Proper Notation

The legally required disclosures under the Specified Commercial Transactions Act must include the following items. By covering all of these, you can improve Legal UX (user experience through legal transparency) and lower customers' psychological barriers.

Seller Name: Accurately state the corporate name (e.g., ○○ Co., Ltd.). Sole proprietors must use their full name.
Representative or Responsible Person: The name of the operations manager.
Address: Head office address. Include building name and room number without abbreviation.
Contact Information: Phone number and email address.
Sales Price: Tax-inclusive pricing is mandatory.
Payment Timing and Methods: Credit card, bank transfer, convenience store payment, etc.
Delivery Timing: Specify the estimated number of days from order to delivery (e.g., "Shipped within ○ days after order").
Returns and Exchanges: Clearly state the possibility and conditions for returns, and whether the shipping fee is covered.

3. Legal Compliance Importance in 2026

In recent years, with the spread of subscription models and the increase in digital content sales, the Specified Commercial Transactions Act has been trending towards strictness. In particular, regarding the clear statement of "cancellation conditions", a design (UX) that consumers can understand at a glance is required. This can be said to be part of due diligence showing sincerity as a brand, beyond mere legal compliance.

Q.Is it legally possible to set items to be non-returnable?

A. It is possible. However, the possibility of returns and conditions must be clearly stated in the "notation based on the Specified Commercial Transactions Act". If there is no statement, returns with return shipping paid by the consumer may be allowed for 8 days after receiving the product.