Tax Authority

A suspect living abroad was detained upon arrival in Israel on suspicion of tax evasion and maintaining secret bank accounts in Russia. The court released him under restrictive conditions.

Leonid Lepshov, a former Haifa resident currently living mostly abroad, is suspected of selling and converting virtual currencies totaling approximately 2 million shekels and holding bank accounts in Russia without reporting them to the Tax Authority.

Israel's 2026 revenues are deceptive. Despite strong tax collection, Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich warns of significant fiscal challenges ahead in 2027–2028.

As part of a joint and extensive investigation by Lahav 433, several suspects were arrested this morning on suspicion of operating an illegal financial system that moved huge sums under the radar.

The Tax Authority arrested a brother and sister suspected of running a sophisticated network of shell companies, whose sole purpose was the distribution and offsetting of fictitious invoices in unprecedented volumes for various companies.

Shay Aharonovich warns that the compensation fund is about to run out, and revealed that the Tax Authority is examining a series of dramatic moves, including imposing property tax, taxing advanced study funds (karanot hishtalmut), and a mandatory reporting requirement on rent that alone would bring in about 1.5 billion shekels a year.

The Tax Authority has decided to expedite the second installment of the work grant, allowing citizens to access funds ahead of the Tishrei holidays. Payments will be deposited into accounts starting September 9.

The State Attorney's Office has indicted former senior Tax Authority official Shimon Cohen. He is charged with concealing income, tax evasion, and money laundering totaling 29 million shekels.

Ohad Ratzon is suspected of theft from clients, assisting in tax evasion, and money laundering. He was previously investigated for reporting 1.4 million shekels in fictitious expenses. The court has issued a 180-day travel ban.

A massive fraud case involving the beverage company BLU and its owner Anan Shamshum is heading toward indictments. The scheme, which cost the state treasury hundreds of millions of shekels, centered on falsifying beverage container recycling reports.

Former football star Shimon Abuhatzira has filed a petition with the Haifa District Court, claiming that the Tax Authority had previously guaranteed he would be exempt from National Insurance contributions on income earned while playing in Greece. Despite this, the National Insurance Institute is now demanding approximately 350,000 shekels from him.

In a letter sent to religious institutions, they are required to declare that they do not have students who are subject to the draft but have not regulated their status, and to provide a full list of students and their ID numbers. An institution that does not meet the requirements may lose its Section 46 approval, which grants donors a tax credit: "Benefits provided in direct or indirect...

Ahead of election day, the Tax Authority has published clear guidelines regarding tax deduction rates for temporary election workers, clarifying procedures for both adults and minors.

Those planning to work temporarily during the election period will benefit from a special tax arrangement: how much will be withheld, who is exempt, and why tax coordination is not required.

The French tax authority's database was breached, and information on approximately 678,000 citizens is now being offered on the darknet. In addition to the harm to taxpayers, this is an embarrassing incident for a country that promised technological leadership.

Roi Cohen, President of the Chamber of Independent Businesses (LAHAV): "This is an action that tramples on businesses in Israel and will plunge many into a liquidity crisis." He appealed to the Minister of Finance and the Director of the Tax Authority to stop the reform immediately.

The Compensation Fund is opening the option to file claims for war damages and loss of wages, with the daily compensation amount potentially reaching hundreds of shekels for each absent employee.

Police and the Tax Authority conducted a raid against tax debtors in Baqa al-Gharbiyye, seizing 10 vehicles during a joint enforcement operation. The activity focused on outstanding debts to the Haifa VAT and Income Tax offices.

The reform promoted by the Tax Authority is intended to fight fictitious invoices by collecting VAT in real-time, instead of the periodic reporting practiced today. The Institute of Certified Public Accountants warns of damage to the cash flow of small businesses and the passing of costs onto consumers. At the same time, the question arises as to how input VAT offsetting will be carried out and...

According to the suspicion, a construction company owner from the center of the country deducted fictitious invoices through his company totaling approximately 26 million shekels, while offsetting input tax of about 4 million shekels. After being questioned by the Tax Authority, he was released under restrictive conditions.

The real estate market is facing a wave of negative headlines, including arrests of senior figures, license suspensions, and new investigations. A contractor has now been arrested on suspicion of offsetting fictitious invoices totaling 26 million shekels.

The tax on sugary drinks was canceled over three years ago, but a new Tax Authority study reveals that part of the price hike remains in effect. The data is particularly notable for products from the Central Bottling Company, including Coca-Cola, Fuze Tea, and Prigat.

The Israel Tax Authority is promoting a new plan, "Israel Invoice 2.0 - VAT Online," aimed at shifting VAT reporting and payment to a real-time digital infrastructure. The reform seeks to reduce tax fraud and streamline business operations.

Did you immigrate to Israel in recent years? The Tax Authority reminds you of the benefits that can reduce your tax liability in your first years in the country, alongside tax exemptions on certain income from abroad. And what has changed for those who immigrated in 2026?

The entrepreneur and social activist launches a frontal attack against the Tax Authority's new VAT reform, claiming that the new digital mechanism will not stop criminals but will specifically harm law-abiding businesses.

Dudu Ohana was arrested in Hadera after, according to the Tax Authority, he had been evading an investigation for a period of time on suspicion of distributing fictitious invoices. Evidence was seized during a search of the suite, and his son is suspected of attempting to destroy documents.

Haim Etgar has exposed a particularly dangerous scam aimed at taking control of your personal device. The journalist explained what simple and innocent action you must avoid to prevent losing large sums of money.

The Tax Authority is promoting a smart system where businesses will transfer VAT to the state at the moment of payment, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and combat fictitious invoices. The move is expected to inject billions into public coffers. Meanwhile, the Treasury warns that VAT may rise to 19% in 2027.

At a festive ceremony, the cornerstone was laid for an advanced facility that will upgrade security enforcement and inspection capabilities at the Port of Ashdod. Which senior officials from the Authority attended the event and when is construction expected to be completed?

The artificial intelligence revolution is transforming tax collection in Israel. The Israel Tax Authority is transitioning from sample audits to analyzing 100% of reports, significantly increasing the likelihood of detecting undeclared income.

An illegal gas station was demolished in Segev Shalom after enforcement authorities seized approximately 6,500 liters of diesel fuel. During the operation against illicit businesses, three suspects were arrested, including two illegal residents from the West Bank, and three others were detained for questioning.

A new and particularly sophisticated phishing attack is trying to trap Israelis online. The fake messages threaten criminal proceedings and set a tough 72-hour ultimatum, but cyber experts warn of the real danger hidden inside.

A new study by the Tax Authority indicates a sharp change in the profile of Israelis moving abroad: the rate of departures from the top decile has risen by about 80%, and the number of those leaving the high-tech and healthcare sectors has more than doubled. The taxes paid by those leaving before their departure reached about 1.2 billion shekels per year. Simultaneously, the number of people...

Benefits worth millions of dollars accumulated from business purchases flow directly into the pockets of executives. However, a potential tightening of tax enforcement could shake the profitability model of major Israeli loyalty programs, primarily El Al's frequent flyer club.

A new policy from the Tax Authority and the Ministry of Finance regulates the taxation of marketing assets, introducing a significant relief that protects companies' tax benefits if income from such assets does not exceed 10% of total technological income.

A letter from the Tax Authority often causes concern, but it does not always indicate a violation. It is essential to remain calm, carefully review the content, check deadlines, and avoid ignoring the request to prevent potential fines.

The Israel Tax Authority's voluntary disclosure procedure, offering criminal immunity for reporting undeclared assets, ends in late August. With only 877 million shekels declared so far, the response has fallen short of official expectations.

An official notice warns against a new and dangerous fraud attempt, in which fake letters are sent regarding the opening of a tax investigation in order to steal personal details and access passwords of innocent citizens.

Tax Authority data reveals that during the war, the number of real estate investors in Israel grew at a much higher rate than single-apartment buyers. The most significant increase, 20%, was recorded among those holding nine or more apartments.

As part of a large-scale enforcement operation in Rahat that included the seizure of dozens of vehicles, inspectors encountered creative attempts to evade payment. In one bakery, a man was discovered posing as a gas technician while actually running a business without receipts on the premises, while a grocery store owner who hid a phone business claimed in his defense: "These are funds I received...

In a joint enforcement operation in the south, 26 vehicles and 7 trucks belonging to tax debtors were seized, and non-registration of income totaling approximately 1 million shekels and violations of the Cash Law amounting to 380 thousand shekels were uncovered.

The apartment-moving season is in full swing, rent is rising, and apartment landlords need to check whether they must report to the Tax Authority on rental income and, if so, which track to choose. Globes has compiled for you all the questions, options, and relevant data.

A bus company prepares to acquire a competitor, US interest rates remain unchanged, and Teva is on track for the S&P 500 — these are the top news stories of the week on Ice.

Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich is considering raising the tax on employee options from 25% to 30%. Critics warn that this move could drive away talent and harm the high-tech sector.

First publication: About two weeks after tax inspectors were violently attacked, the Tax Authority has accepted employee demands that operations in Bnei Brak and other high-risk localities will only proceed with prior coordination and police escort. The Tax Authority Director stated: "We will not tolerate any harm to employees while they are performing their duties."

A Be'er Sheva-based company owner is accused of deducting fictitious invoices, resulting in a VAT evasion of approximately 12 million shekels. The Customs and VAT legal department has notified the court of its intent to seek an actual prison sentence.

The undistributed profits reform, which generated 15–20 billion shekels in revenue, is facing scrutiny due to market distortions in the income-producing real estate sector. The Tax Authority is considering targeted adjustments as part of the upcoming Economic Arrangements Law.

Although the Tax Authority announced a renewal of activity in the city a week and a half ago, the Histadrut reiterated that employees will not return to the field. The chairman of the State Employees Union warned the Tax Authority director: "We will not hesitate to use all means until a safe and protected work environment is ensured."

The Tax Authority announces that business owners who served more than 21 days are eligible for compensation for indirect damage for May-June 2026, with payments issued within 14 days of approval.

The Israel Tax Authority is launching a major reform to grant non-profit organizations greater financial flexibility, stability, and modern management tools, acknowledging their central role in civil society.