Israeli Government Portal to Integrate Tax and National Insurance by Year-End
Israel's National Digital Agency announced that the National Insurance Institute and Tax Authority will integrate into the unified gov.il personal portal by year-end.
Israeli citizens have long been accustomed to using the government's personal portal on gov.il, which aggregates numerous services and operations across various ministries. However, three prominent state bodies have notably remained outside this unified framework: the National Insurance Institute, the Tax Authority, and the Employment Service, each operating independently with separate authentication methods and login credentials.
Moving Toward a Unified National Identity
Following a public complaint on social media highlighting the inconvenience of managing separate credentials for these essential authorities, Nati Cohen, head of the National Digital Agency, responded to clarify the timeline for integration. "We are working on a unified national identity under the MyGov personal area," Cohen stated. "I believe that by the end of the calendar year, logging into the government personal portal will also grant access to the National Insurance Institute and the Tax Authority."
Currently, the national authentication system boasts approximately 5.3 million registered citizens, representing over 80% of the relevant population excluding children. The secure remote platform already supports more than 900 public services, allowing citizens to interact with government agencies without visiting offices in person. The ultimate vision extends beyond merely eliminating extra passwords; it aims to establish a seamless digital identity ecosystem across a wide array of public and governmental institutions.
Integration Progress and Remaining Challenges
Recent milestones include the National Insurance Institute connecting to the national system following a lengthy process completed about a month ago. Citizens can now log into the National Insurance personal area using the unified national authentication mechanism, allowing the agency to test the platform gradually. Meanwhile, integration efforts with the Tax Authority have been underway for roughly three years and are currently in advanced stages, with a target completion date by the end of the year.
"We are promoting a unified national authentication through the National Authentication System, which is a secure and safe platform for citizens to identify themselves before the government and public sector," said Yogev Shani, Deputy CEO and VP of Technologies and Digital Services at the National Digital Agency. "With about 5.3 million registered citizens, we record around 7 million authentication processes per month across more than 900 services."
Shani emphasized that while digital transformation is a priority, special accommodations are being made for vulnerable populations who may struggle with online registration. Physical registration assistance is available through agencies such as the Enforcement and Collection Authority, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing. Additionally, millions of shekels are being invested in physical workshops in local authorities and the dedicated 1299 hotline to support elderly citizens in navigating the digital transition.
