Improved Customs Rights for New Immigrants

Improved Customs Rights for New Immigrants (Olim Hadashim) and Returning residents (Toshavim Hozerim)

The following items, which were not previously exempt from taxes, are now tax exempt (for Olim and Toshvim Hozrim):
·         Indoor exercise equipment (Treadmills, Exercise Bicycles)
·         Camping Equipment
·         One each of small household electronics
·         Two Air Conditioners
·         Television Games (x-Box, etc…)
·         One Fax Machine
·         Outdoor (Garden) Furniture / Patio Swings

Please note: The following items are not tax exempt and are still taxable:
·         Outdoor goods, like storage sheds, swimming pools, etc.
·         Garbage disposals.

Changes in Toshvim Hozrim Rights and Status
Toshavim Hozerim who arrive in Israel on or after 1 October 2012, will no longer receive a discount for importing or buying a new car.

As of 1 October 2012, there will only be one status for Toshavim Hozerim who return after more than 2 years with rights similar to olim chadashim with the following differences:

·         Two shipments of household goods can be imported within 9 months of arrival in Israel
·         No discount on taxes for vehicle.

Key to Success Found near Bethlehem

Most business people search for the “key to success” throughout their career. 
Sonigo International in Israel may have finally found the key…

Built in 2008 just outside Bethlehem in the Palestinian Authority, the pictured key weighing nearly one ton is almost 9 meters in length. 
When the 7^th Berlin Biennale wanted to include the key in their exhibition, they turned to Sonigo to “remove” the key from its display position at the town entrance, truck it to Sonigo’s carpentry shop and  crating facility and from there to port for shipping to Berlin.

Key to Success

The 1 ton key is being lowered onto the flatbed as many “assistants” help direct the loading operation.

Key in Cradel

The key is lashed into place in the open top container into the purpose built cradle.

Removing Key from Arch

The delicate and complicated  operation of dismantling the key from the arch at the town entrance required 2 heavy cranes. 

According to David Sonigo, Managing Director, “we have done many special and unusual projects over the years, but this was one of the most interesting.” 
Coordinating the key’s removal from its display stand 12 meters high, lowering it by crane onto the truck into the purpose built cradle, particularly satisfying.

Sonigo continued, “Although our principle business is personal effects and house hold goods, a special project like this is a great challenge to our crews and an opportunity to show how we can exceed expectations.”

After crating and lashing in place, the key was moved to the port where it was shipped to POE Bremerhaven. 

At the end of the Exhibition in Berlin, Sonigo is looking forward to bringing the key back home and returning it to the top of arch at the entrance to town.

Sonigo concluded with, “After seeing this magnificent key and what it represents, I can only hope this key to success  will be the key to peace and allow me to meet with my agents in Lebanon and throughout the Arab world and share a good cup of Arabic coffee.”

Madonna in Israel - MDNA tour (By Sonigo)

Equipment for MDNA tour

Some of the 1400 tons of equipment imported for Madonna’s first concert on her MDNA World Tour.  Note the heavy duty aluminum portable flooring protecting the grass.  Designed to handle landing jetliners, Sonigo’s semi-trailers were easy to handle.

Building Madonna Stage

Raising the 45 ton roof of the stage for Madonna’s concert was a study in artful technology.  It took over 6 hours to raise and then the riggers and lighting specialists went to work hooking everything into the system that produced a magnificent spectacle for over 33,000 fans.  

INFORMATION CONCERNING CAR SHIPPING TO ISRAEL

INFORMATION CONCERNING CAR SHIPPING TO ISRAEL

Prior to shipping a car to Israel, you must check if the car is approved by the official importer or authorized garage in Israel.
We recommend you forward the following documents to our local representative in Israel, Mr. Sonigo:

FOR "OLIM" (IMMIGRANTS) and "TOSHAVIM HOZERIM" (RETURNING CITIZENS)**

• A copy of your foreign and/or Israeli  passport
• A copy of your car driver's license (Foreign and/or Israeli)
• A copy of your car title
• The car bill of sale or invoice (Please provide the exact date of the car manufacture and country of manufacture as well)

After receiving the above documents, we will be able to offer you an estimate of the duties and taxes you will have to pay for your car import.

**PLEASE NOTE  For "Toshavim Hozerim" ONLY: the date of the car manufacture (not the date of the car registration) must be less than 4 years upon vehicule arrival to Israel.

Later Aliya Planning

• Schools
  
  
• Shipping
  
  
• Finding a Place to Live
  
  
• Bringing Your Pet
  
  
• Bring a Car on Aliya
  
  
• Finding a Job

Aliya: Split Aliya, Special Needs

Sometimes it is necessary for spouses to make Aliya at different times, due to employment needs, or other personal reasons.

While it is not usually preferable, it is possible.

It is very important that all people or companies involved in your Aliya Process (The Jewish Agency, NBN, your Shipping Company, your accountant) be aware that you are making a split Aliya, so that there are no problems or delays once you are in Israel.

Special Needs

If you or one of your family members have special needs, be sure to let the Jewish Agency, NBN, and any other organization you are working with know about them in advance.

Sometimes it makes sense to hire a private agency to help with your pre and post-Aliya plans.

For more information contact:

• Aliya121
  www.aliyah121.com

Commercial Shipments – Air or Sea – When Starting a Business

If you are in a hurry to get your product, you will consider air cargo.
While very expensive, it is also very quick. 
With light weight and compact products, this may be the most economical way to ship.  
When considering small air shipments, courier (such as DHL, UPS or Fedex) is often the best way to ship as they will provide door to door service.

If the shipment is larger, then you will probably ship via air cargo. 
When considering air cargo, you must verify the maximum size of a pallet. 
Different planes have different loading capacities. 
You don’t want your shipment delayed until the plane with the right size cargo hold, flies on your lane. 

Air shipment charges are based on weight with a minimum charge of 10 lbs to the cubic foot (or 167 kg to the cubic meter.)   
This means a bulky light weight item will be very expensive to ship via air. 
The only exception is the post office which charges by weight and does not consider volume. This can change and you should check the current terms and conditions.

Ocean shipments take longer and are significantly cheaper than air shipments. 
An ocean shipment can be via an exclusive container, called an FCL (Full Container Load).  FCLs come in three sizes – 20 foot, 40 foot and 40 foot “High Cube” which is one foot higher.

If you have less than a full container, you will probably ship your goods as an LCL (Less than Container Load). 
In this case you will pay by volume – either per cubic foot or per cubic meter. 
In rare cases where you ship heavy items such as printed goods or stone, your charge will be weight at the rate of 1 ton being charged at the rate of 1 cubic meter.

Your forwarder will handle all shipping arrangements.

In both cases, air or sea shipment, you will need a licensed Customs Broker to clear your goods through Customs. 
Most brokers have representatives at the airport (Ben Gurion) and the sea ports (Ashdod, Eilat and Haifa). 
Once cleared, you or your forwarder will arrange delivery of the goods from the port to your warehouse. 
You will want to do this as quickly as possible to avoid or at least limit expensive port storage fees.

This brief outline gives you a few pointers to help make your business a success, but obviously there is much more to learn and check before making the decision to start an import business. You must prepare a cash flow projection (don’t forget the VAT payment required to clear your goods through Customs – an outlay long before you have any income) and a profit and loss projection.

These projections will include all your operating expenses. 
Remember, your salary is one of those important expenses as well.

With a lot of hard work, long hours, much luck, you can make a business succeed in Israel.