Middle East · Levant
Israel
The only country in the region that hands a qualifying family immediate citizenship and a ten-year tax holiday on foreign income — and, from January 2026, the only one that now demands you disclose every asset behind it.
Tax position
- Income tax (top)
- 50% — 47% top marginal rate plus a 3% surtax on taxable income above roughly ILS 721,560
- Capital gains
- 25% for individuals; 30% for substantial shareholders (10%+ holding). Since 2025 an ADDITIONAL 2% surtax applies to capital income above roughly ILS 721,560, on top of the 3% general surtax — so the effective top rate is 30% for ordinary holders and 35% for substantial shareholders. This is the figure most advisers get wrong.
- Wealth tax
- none
- Inheritance tax
- none — Israel levies no estate or inheritance tax. But heirs inherit the deceased's base cost, so selling inherited assets (especially real estate) triggers capital gains tax.
- Special regime
- 10-year exemption on foreign-source income and gains for olim chadashim and senior returning residents (Amendment 168, 2008) — the reporting exemption was repealed by Amendment 272 with effect from 1 January 2026. Separately, a new 2026-only regime exempts Israeli-source ACTIVE income up to a declining ceiling for those arriving between 5 November 2025 and 31 December 2026.
- Territorial
- No — worldwide income taxed
- CFC rules
- Yes
- Exit tax
- Yes — leaving has a cost
- CRS
- Participating
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