Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sought to double the VAT exemption for personal online imports to $150, but lawmakers rejected the proposal. He subsequently signed an order raising the exemption to $130, a move that has been appealed to Israel's top court. The change affects the VAT treatment of online purchases by Israeli consumers.
He proposed doubling the exemption to $150 for online personal imports.
The new exemption is set at $130 for online personal imports.
An appeal has been filed with Israel's top court.
The exemption applies to online purchases of personal imports.
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Jerusalem Post · 11 days ago
The Knesset rejected Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s order to double the VAT exemption ceiling on personal imports to $150, voting 59 against and 25 in favor. The order was intended to lower the cost of living and reduce online purchase prices, but critics warned it would harm local businesses.
The Media Line · 11 days ago
The Israeli Knesset voted on 24 February 2026 to revoke a ministerial order that would have raised the VAT exemption threshold for online purchases from $75 to $150. The order, which had been in effect since December 24, was defeated 25–59 after Prime Minister Netanyahu allowed a free vote for coalition lawmakers. The revocation removes the exemption for imported packages valued up to $150, restoring the previous $75 threshold.
The Invoicing Hub · about 2 months ago
Israel’s e‑invoicing mandate is expanding in 2026, lowering the invoice amount thresholds that trigger mandatory electronic invoicing. From 1 January 2026 invoices above 10,000 NIS must use the SHAAM allocation system, and from 1 June 2026 the threshold drops to 5,000 NIS. The ITA’s approach is based on invoice value rather than overall turnover, and suppliers must obtain and display an allocation number on each invoice.
NatLawReview · about 21 hours ago
UAE businesses are discovering that self‑managed VAT filing can lead to significant penalties, lost refunds, and audit complications. The new penalty regime effective 14 April 2026 and the five‑year limitation period for VAT credits introduced on 1 January 2026 have increased the cost of DIY compliance. Professional services now offer measurable savings through accurate filing, proactive deadline management and timely refund claims.
Crowe UAE · 4 days ago
The UAE Ministry of Finance has issued new Electronic Invoicing Guidelines, mandating B2B and B2G transactions to use Peppol-based XML invoices from 2027. The rollout is phased: businesses with ≥ AED 50 million revenue go live on 1 January 2027, smaller businesses on 1 July 2027, and government entities on 1 October 2027. The system requires 51 mandatory data elements and real‑time reporting via accredited service providers.
EIN Presswire · 14 days ago
Federal Decree‑Law No. 16 of 2025 introduced a five‑year limitation period for VAT refund claims in the UAE, effective 1 January 2026. Businesses must now file returns strategically to avoid permanent loss of input‑VAT credits, with transitional relief until 31 December 2026 for credits older than five years. The change turns VAT compliance into a cash‑flow optimisation tool.
