Roppongi, Tokyo

Payment Processing Options
for FCC Tokyo

Accepting digital donations - online, in-app, and in-person

Prepared by
March 19, 2026
Priest Meeting - 9:30 AM

Processor Comparison

Four options evaluated for accepting donations in Japan (JPY)

Square Recommended Stripe Apple Pay PayPay
Transaction Fee (Online) 3.6% 3.6% Via processor30% if via App Store 1.98%Standard merchants
Transaction Fee (In-Person) 2.5% (Visa/MC/Amex)Under ¥30M annual volume N/AOnline only N/A No % feeReligious donation program
Monthly Fee Free Free Free Free
Setup Fee Free Free Free Free
Hardware Cost Reader ~¥4,980one-timeTerminal ~¥46,980 (one-time) None needed None needed FreePrinted QR code
Japan / JPY Support Yes (native) Yes Yes Yes (Japan only)
Recurring Donations Yes Yes Limited No
In-Person Donations YesTap, chip, QR NoQR code for easy online payment via phone NoQR code for easy online payment via phone YesQR code scan
Online / In-App Yes Yes YesVia processor LimitedPayPay app only
QR Code Donations Yes No No Yes (primary)
International Cards Yes Yes Yes NoJapan bank/cards only
Setup Complexity LowPlug and play LowAccount setup MediumRequires processor LowRegister online
Payout Speed Next business day 2-7 days (Japan) Via processor Next business day
FCC Website Integration? Yes Yes Via Square No

Recommendation: Square + PayPay

  • Square for international visitors and the global parish community - accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex from any country. Essential for FCC, where a large portion of the congregation are visitors and expats
  • PayPay for the Japanese community - lowest fees (1.98%), no hardware needed, and most Japanese parishioners already have PayPay on their phones. A simple QR code at the chapel is all that's needed
  • Square is already integrated into the FCC Tokyo app - no additional development needed
  • Both support in-person donations at the chapel (Square via card reader, PayPay via QR scan)
  • Both offer next-business-day payouts
  • Together, they cover every parishioner - local residents and international visitors alike

What does this look like on a real donation?

Example: a parishioner donates ¥5,000

Square (Online)
¥180 fee
Church receives ¥4,820
3.6%
PayPay (Religious)
¥0 fee
Church receives ¥5,000
No % fee for 宗教法人
Stripe
¥180 fee
Church receives ¥4,820
3.6%
Apple In-App Purchase
¥1,500 fee
Church receives ¥3,500
30% App Store cut

What if the donator covers the processing fee?

Many churches offer a checkbox: "I'd like to cover the processing fee so 100% goes to the church." The donator pays slightly more, and the church receives the full amount.

Square (Online)
Donator pays ¥5,187
Church receives ¥5,000
+¥187 covers the 3.6% fee
PayPay (Religious)
Donator pays ¥5,000
Church receives ¥5,000
No fee to cover
Stripe
Donator pays ¥5,187
Church receives ¥5,000
+¥187 covers the 3.6% fee
Apple In-App Purchase
Donator pays ¥7,143
Church receives ¥5,000
+¥2,143 covers the 30% fee

Apple Pay via web browser uses the underlying processor's rate (no extra fee). PayPay only works for Japan-based users with Japanese bank accounts.

Registration as a 宗教法人

What FCC Tokyo needs to get started with each processor

Square Recommended Stripe Apple Pay PayPay
Registration Type Standard merchant Standard merchant Via underlying processor Religious donation programDedicated 宗教法人 track
Documents Required 登記簿謄本Certificate of registered matters (within 6 months) Corporate registration number + representative ID + bank details Apple Developer account ($99/yr) + Benevity registration 法人番号 + representative ID + location photos
Approval Timeline Same day - few days 2-5 business days 1-2 weeksVia Benevity ~1 week
Religious Orgs Allowed? YesNot on prohibited list YesNot restricted in Japan YesNonprofit program YesDedicated program launched 2024
Japan Church Precedent Yes日本基督教団 uses Square YesVia Donorbox/WordPress Limited Yes50+ temples/shrines registered
Nonprofit Discount? NoStandard rates apply NoUS/Canada only No Apple feeOn donations YesNo % fee for religious donations
Setup Complexity LowOnline signup + one document LowOnline signup MediumBenevity + Apple Developer LowDedicated contact form

Tax Considerations for 宗教法人

  • Religious activity income (献金, お布施, 賽銭) is non-taxable for the religious corporation, regardless of whether received by cash or digital payment
  • Consumption tax does not apply to donations - they are classified as 不課税取引 (non-taxable transactions) because there is no consideration (対価性)
  • The processing fee paid to Square, Stripe, or PayPay does not reclassify the donation as taxable business income
  • Donations to religious corporations are generally not tax-deductible for individual donors under Japanese income tax law - this is true for all payment methods