The increase had been postponed in 2015 and again in 2017 amid worries of a slump in consumer spending, which happened after a previous raise to the tax in 2014.
It says, understand company structures, tax rates, deductions, employer obligations, profits—so we do have profit here—and loss statements okay, and GST and budgeting for tax.
The only other consumption tax rise, of 2% in 1997, was blamed for consigning Japan to a second lost decade, though this coincided with other events such as the Asian financial crisis.