International Tax Accountant in Givatayim

Who This Is Relevant For — and How Much It Matters

International taxation is not just for multinational corporations or precious metals traders. In Givatayim and its surroundings, we see daily freelancers who established a business in Israel but still receive foreign income, employees who received grants from American companies, startup founders who bring in foreign investors, or new immigrants who still have assets abroad.

Each of them needs to know: What must be reported? Which taxes must be paid? Do I have a special annual reporting requirement? This is exactly where things become confusing — and the tax authority does not send emails explaining the rules in simple terms.

Ben Or Kook helps you navigate this. We specialize in assisting international cases — from FBAR and foreign reporting, through tax treaties to full relocation. Each case is handled properly, without leaving gaps that the tax authority may later challenge.

What Exactly Is International Taxation — and Why It Matters

International taxation means: you are an Israeli resident (or you've been here for a long time), but you have income, assets, or a business abroad. Israel wants to know about it. The United States wants to know about it. And typically, the country where your money is located wants to know about it too.

The problem: every country speaks a different language. We're not talking just about actual language — we're talking about laws. Israel has one way to calculate income tax. The United States has a completely different way. England has a third. If you receive income from two countries, you could end up owing taxes in both — and that's called double taxation. That's also exactly why there are international treaties: to prevent it.

Another thing that's not always clear: Israel imposes tax on residents on all their income worldwide. If you are an Israeli resident, you are required to report every shekel you receive from anywhere. It's not optional. It's the law.

Who Needs Guidance on International Taxation in Givatayim

If you fall into one of the following categories, you are exactly our audience:

• Self-employed and independent professionals who have a business in Israel but also earn income abroad (online consulting, graphic design for foreign companies, physical products sold overseas)
• Private company owners who receive international income or have owners abroad
• Employees who received bonuses from a foreign company, stock options, or compensation abroad
• Startup founders who raise investors from abroad or whose company is registered overseas
• New immigrants who still have a bank account, real estate, or investments abroad
• Foreign residents who work in Israel or have a business here

The Reports You Need to Know About

When discussing international taxation, it's not just "regular income tax." There are several different reports that the Israeli Tax Authority requires. If you miss one of them, it's not just a "minor mistake" — it can result in significant penalties.

Foreign Assets Report (Foreign Report): If you have a foreign bank account, investments, real estate, or any other asset valued above a certain threshold, you must report it in an annual report. This is not optional. The Tax Authority receives information directly from foreign banks (through international agreements), so it knows if you haven't reported it.

FBAR — Report of Foreign Bank Accounts: If you have a foreign bank account (including PayPal, Stripe, or a business account), you must report it on the FBAR form. This is not a direct tax report — it's an account reporting requirement. However, failure to report can result in substantial penalties.

Foreign Income Report: Any income you receive from abroad must be reported in the annual report. This includes salary, dividends, interest, fees, self-employment income — everything. You must report it in Israeli shekels (at the average annual exchange rate set by the Tax Authority), and you must also pay tax in Israel on this income.

Real-World Examples — Stories of Clients We Support

Example 1: Freelancer in Givatayim with Foreign Income
A freelance graphic designer opened a business in Israel, but most of his clients are abroad (USA, UK, Germany). He receives payments through Stripe and maintains a foreign bank account. In his first year, he did not report this properly — and when the tax authority audited him, it turned out he was required to file FBAR reports and foreign asset reports. We arranged his filings, submitted an amended return, and set up his reporting for future years to prevent this from recurring.

Example 2: New Immigrant with Real Estate Abroad
A new immigrant from America purchased an apartment in Israel but still owns an apartment in New York. He did not know he was required to report this on a foreign asset report in Israel. When he contacted us, we helped him prepare the report, understand the tax implications (tax on rental income from foreign property), and implement benefits available to new immigrants during a certain period.

Example 3: SaaS Startup with Foreign Investors
A SaaS startup offered stock options to foreign investors. The company owners did not know they were required to report this on a foreign ownership report and were unaware of the tax implications. We arranged their filings, helped them understand the consequences, and established a system to keep them updated annually.

Common Mistakes in International Taxation — and How to Avoid Them

In recent years, we have seen many mistakes that repeat themselves. Most of the time they are not intentional — simply a lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of the rules. But they can be expensive.

• "I receive income from abroad but in shekels, so it's not relevant" — This is not correct. If you receive income from abroad, whether in shekels or dollars, you need to report it. The Tax Authority does not look at the currency in which you received the money — it looks at the source.
• "I didn't report last year, so I'll just start from this year" — This is a problem. If you don't report last year, it won't go away. The Tax Authority can go back up to 7 years. If you discover that you missed a report, it's best to correct it early — voluntary correction is much better than an audit.
• "I didn't report my foreign bank account because it's not large" — The size of the account doesn't matter. If you have a bank account abroad, you need to report it. The Tax Authority receives information directly from banks, so it knows if you haven't reported.
• "I think I'm entitled to a benefit from a tax treaty, but I'm not sure" — This is exactly where an accountant can help. A tax treaty is not something you can "guess" — it needs to be applied properly, with the correct forms and certificates.
• "I didn't send the report on time, but it's okay because I sent it later" — This is not okay. If you are late with your report, it can result in a penalty. Even one day late is still late.

Working with an International Tax Accountant in Givatayim — What You Need to Know

When you're looking for an accountant to help you with international taxation, there are a few things you should check:

Experience in the field. Not every accountant works with international cases. This requires specialized knowledge of international agreements, special reporting requirements, and common pitfalls. At Ben Or Kook, we handle this every day, so we understand the complexities.

Clear communication. International taxation is a complex subject, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't understand it. A good accountant should explain things to you in simple language: what needs to be reported, why, and what the implications are. We believe our clients should understand what's happening, not just accept it with "okay, sure".

Up-to-date knowledge. International tax laws change constantly. In recent years, there have been significant changes in reporting requirements, international agreements, and FBAR regulations. An accountant needs to stay current.

Digital service. If you're in Givatayim or the surrounding area, you can meet us in person. But we also work digitally — you can send us documents, get updates by phone or video, all without having to come to the office.

Our Work Process — How It Works

Step 1: Initial consultation meeting (free). You tell us about your situation — where you have income, what assets you have abroad, what you've already reported and what you haven't. We listen, ask questions, and understand the full picture. At this stage, we can already tell you if there's an issue that needs correction, or if you're in the clear.

Step 2: Planning and strategy setting. If you want to continue with us, we set a strategy. What needs to be reported? What are the deadlines? Are there benefits you're entitled to? We explain to you exactly what we're going to do and why.

Step 3: Document collection and preparation. We tell you which documents we need (bank statements, income declarations, etc.). You send them to us (by email or secure platform), and we organize and prepare everything.

Step 4: Preparing the reports. We fill out all the forms, calculate the taxes, and update for all legal changes. You see the reports before we send them.

Step 5: Filing and reporting. We send the reports to the tax authority on time. You receive confirmation and complete documentation.

Step 6: Ongoing support. After filing, we're still here. If you have questions, if something is unclear, or if something needs to be corrected — you can call or email us.

When You Should Contact Us — Ben Or Kok

If you fall into one of the following categories, we are exactly what you need:

• You are a business owner or company in Givatayim with foreign income that you have not reported
• You are a new immigrant or returning resident of Israel with foreign assets
• You are self-employed or employed, and have received foreign income at some point and are unsure if you reported it correctly
• You are a startup owner with foreign investors or international income
• You want to understand if you are eligible for benefits under a tax treaty
• You are concerned about a tax authority review due to international reporting

Ben Or Kok helps all of these clients. We are an accounting firm specializing in guiding self-employed professionals, business owners, and companies in Givatayim, Ramat Gan, and the surrounding area. We work digitally, but we are also available for in-person meetings. Most importantly—we explain to you in simple language what is happening, not just fill out forms.