Quick Answer: When leaving Israel, you must file a final income tax return for the year of your departure, notify the Israeli Tax Authority of your change in residency status, resolve any outstanding National Insurance (NII) obligations, and decide what to do with Israeli pension funds (which generally cannot be withdrawn early without a 35% tax penalty on the employer's portion). Non-residents who keep Israeli property have ongoing annual reporting duties from abroad.

Every year, thousands of foreign workers and expats finish their time in Israel and head home, or on to the next country. Some arrived on B/1 expert visas, others made Aliyah and later decided to move on, and many came as part of multinational assignments that ran their course. The Israeli tax system does not automatically close behind you when you board your flight. If you were an Israeli tax resident at any point during the year you leave, the Tax Authority expects a final accounting.

This guide covers the tax and financial tasks you should complete before, during, and after leaving Israel. It is written specifically for foreign nationals and expats, though most of it applies to anyone departing permanently. Topics like the exit tax on unrealized capital gains for long-term residents are covered in our exit tax guide; this article focuses on the practical steps that apply to most departing workers and property owners.

1. Who Needs This Checklist

Your obligations depend primarily on whether you were an Israeli tax resident or a tax non-resident during your time here.

Tax residents — typically anyone who spent 183 or more days in Israel in a calendar year, or 30 days in the current year combined with 425 days over the preceding two years — are taxed in Israel on their worldwide income. If you crossed either threshold in any year you worked here, you were a resident for tax purposes and must file a final return for your departure year.

Non-residents who worked in Israel and had Israeli-source income (salary, business income, rental income) were taxed only on that Israeli-source income. If this describes you, your Israeli tax exposure ends when your income stops — but you may still need a final assessment if Israeli withholding was over- or under-applied during the year.

The practical questions are the same for both groups: Have I filed everything I need to file? Are there taxes outstanding? What happens to my pension savings and property?

In Practice: Tax residency in Israel is determined under Section 1 of the Income Tax Ordinance [New Version], 5721-1961. The "centre of life" test — which looks at your home, family, economic ties, and social ties — overrides the day-count rules when there is a conflict. Someone who has spent 140 days in Israel but whose family, home, and business are all based here may still be classified as a tax resident. The Israeli Tax Authority (Rashut HaMissim) makes this determination and will look at multiple factors if residency is disputed.

2. Filing Your Final Tax Return

If you were an Israeli tax resident in the year you leave, you must file an annual income tax return (Form 1301) covering the period from January 1 of that year through your last day of Israeli residency. The form is the same one filed in any other year. There is no special "departure return" — you note your departure date on the form and report income only through that date.

Deadline and extensions

The standard filing deadline is April 30 of the year following the tax year. So if you leave Israel in October 2026, your departure-year return for the 2026 tax year is due by April 30, 2027. Licensed tax agents and certified public accountants (CPAs) in Israel can typically obtain an extension to May 31, or further in complex cases. If you plan to use a professional, engage one before you leave. Gathering documentation is far easier while you are still in the country.

What to include

  • All Israeli-source income from January 1 through your departure date (salary, freelance income, rental income, capital gains)
  • Worldwide income if you were a resident (subject to any applicable double-taxation treaty credits)
  • Any Israeli withholding tax already deducted at source (from your salary slips, Form 106)
  • Credit for foreign taxes paid on the same income, if applicable
In Practice: Your employer is legally required to give you Form 106 (the annual income summary, equivalent to a W-2 or P60) by the end of February of the following year. If you are leaving before then, request it before you go — many HR departments can generate it early for departing employees. Reconstructing your Israeli income from abroad, without a Form 106, is slow and frustrating. Tax refunds — which are common for employees who had excess withholding — are paid by the Israeli Tax Authority to a designated bank account, so keep your Israeli account open until any refund is confirmed or make arrangements for a foreign account transfer.

Closing your tax file

Filing the return does not automatically close your Israeli tax file (*tik mas*). The assessor's office may send follow-up queries or issue an assessment (*shuma*) if they disagree with your return. You can authorize an Israeli accountant or attorney to act on your behalf after you leave under a power of attorney. Once all assessments are final and any balance paid, the file closes administratively. This step is optional and rarely time-sensitive for most departing employees.

3. Pension and Provident Funds

Israeli pension savings come in several forms, each with different withdrawal rules and tax treatment. The difference between a tax-free withdrawal and one taxed at 35% can amount to tens of thousands of shekels — so it pays to understand the rules before you leave.

Keren Pensia (Pension Fund) and Bituach Menahalim (Management Insurance)

Both are mandatory retirement savings vehicles. Under the Pension Expansion Order 2008, all Israeli employees must have one or the other (sometimes both, combined with risk cover). Each month, your employer contributed an amount equal to approximately 6–7.5% of your salary, and you contributed a further 6%, with portions allocated to risk insurance and the rest to long-term savings.

The critical rule: you cannot withdraw the employer's contribution component before reaching statutory retirement age without a 35% withholding tax. Statutory retirement age is currently 67 for men and transitioning from 62 toward 67 for women. If you are 35 years old and leaving Israel, that money is effectively locked until your 67th birthday — or you take the 35% hit.

The employee's own contribution is treated better. It was deposited from your net (post-tax) salary, so it can generally be returned with a lower tax exposure, though the fund rules and tax regulations interact here in ways that require case-by-case analysis.

In Practice: The 35% early withdrawal rate applies to the employer's component (*helek hamaavid*) and is withheld directly by the pension fund manager before any amount is transferred to you. If your fund balance has accumulated NIS 200,000 in employer contributions, you would receive only NIS 130,000 after tax — a NIS 70,000 loss that most people find unacceptable. The practical choice for most departing foreign workers is to leave the funds in place and access them at retirement age, no matter where in the world they eventually retire. Israeli pension funds can pay out to overseas bank accounts.

Keren Hishtalmut (Professional Training Fund)

This is the one Israeli savings vehicle where departure timing matters most. Under Section 9(16) of the Income Tax Ordinance, withdrawals from a Keren Hishtalmut are fully tax-exempt once the fund has been in existence for six years from the date of the first deposit. Before six years, withdrawals are added to your taxable income and taxed at your marginal rate.

If you are approaching the six-year mark when you leave, it may be worth delaying your withdrawal by a few months to cross the threshold. Both the employer's and employee's contributions are tax-exempt upon maturity — making this a genuinely valuable benefit for those who have been contributing long enough.

Kupat Gemel (Provident Fund)

Older savings scheme, less common for employees who started work after 2008. Rules vary by fund type — some have liquid savings components accessible at any time (with tax consequences), others are structured similarly to pension funds. Review your specific fund agreement and consult a licensed pension advisor (*yoetz pensia*) before making any withdrawal decisions.

Practical steps for all fund types

  • Collect your latest statements from each fund manager before leaving
  • Update your address and bank account details with each fund in case you decide to withdraw later
  • Confirm your fund manager has a contact address or email for you abroad
  • For Keren Hishtalmut approaching maturity: note the exact six-year date and plan accordingly
  • For pension funds: designate or confirm your beneficiary — this matters for inheritance purposes if something happens to you while the funds sit in Israel

4. Israeli Property After You Leave

Owning Israeli real estate from abroad is entirely legal and relatively common. The tax obligations don't stop when you move, though. The main decision is whether to sell before you leave or keep the property as an investment.

Keeping the property and renting it out

As a non-resident landlord, you have two main tax options for rental income. Under Section 122 of the Income Tax Ordinance, you can elect to pay a flat 10% tax on your gross rental income with no deductions. This election requires no annual filing for that income stream and works well when your expenses are low relative to rent received. The alternative is to report rental income on your annual return, deduct legitimate expenses (management fees, repairs, insurance, depreciation, mortgage interest), and pay tax at regular marginal rates, which can produce a lower bill if expenses are substantial.

Non-resident landlords who choose the standard route must register with the Israeli Tax Authority and file annually. The Israeli tax year runs January 1 to December 31.

In Practice: Under Section 170 of the Income Tax Ordinance, Israeli tenants paying rent to a non-resident landlord are in principle required to withhold tax at source and remit it to the Tax Authority. In practice, residential tenants rarely do this — they don't know the rule exists. If you are renting to a corporate tenant or through a property management company, however, withholding is more likely to be applied. Clarify the withholding arrangement with your property manager before you leave, to avoid a surprise assessment later.

Selling before you leave

If you sell Israeli property before departing, the sale proceeds go through the standard betterment tax (mas hashvacha) regime administered by the Real Estate Taxation Authority (Misui Mekarkein). For residential properties, Israeli residents selling their primary home benefit from an exemption on gains up to a statutory ceiling — but as a departing resident, you need to confirm your eligibility carefully. Once you are a non-resident, the full exemption is generally not available.

For more on the betterment tax rules, including the linear calculation method that applies to gains accrued before and after January 1, 2014, see our dedicated guide on capital gains tax for non-residents.

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Managing Israeli property from abroad

If you are keeping Israeli property, appoint a local property manager and ensure they understand your non-resident status. Arnona (municipal property tax) bills, building committee (*vaad bayit*) assessments, and utility accounts all need a local contact. Setting up a direct debit for ongoing bills from your Israeli bank account before departing avoids delinquent accounts accumulating during your absence. See our guide to managing Israeli property from abroad for the full picture.

5. NII and Severance Pay

The National Insurance Institute (*Bituach Leumi* — NII) is Israel's equivalent of a social security authority. If you were an Israeli resident and employee, both you and your employer paid NII contributions monthly throughout your employment. Several issues arise on departure.

Final NII contributions

Your employer calculates and remits NII contributions on your behalf right through to your last day of work. If you were self-employed or an independent contractor rather than an employee, you are responsible for calculating and paying your own NII contributions, and must submit a final assessment to the NII for the year of departure. Outstanding NII contributions are a common reason for delayed tax clearances.

In Practice: For 2026, NII contributions apply to monthly income up to the maximum contribution ceiling (*takra*), set at NIS 49,030 per month. Employee contributions are approximately 3.5–12% of income depending on the income tier; employer contributions are approximately 3.55–7.6%. Income above the ceiling is not subject to NII. Self-employed individuals who are also self-assessing (reporting to the Tax Authority independently) must reconcile their NII contributions with their final income tax return and may owe or be due a refund from the NII separately from the Tax Authority.

Severance pay

Under the Severance Pay Law, 5723-1963, an employee dismissed by their employer after completing one full year of service is entitled to severance pay equal to one month's salary per year of employment. Employees who resign generally forfeit severance — with a narrow exception for those who resign due to a significant deterioration in their conditions.

For most foreign workers, severance has been accumulating inside the pension fund itself. Since 2008, employer contributions to pension funds have been structured to cover both retirement savings and the severance obligation (*pitzuim*) — meaning the employer's 6% (or higher) contribution is held in the fund and, upon dismissal, released to you as part of your pension balance. If you are entitled to severance, it is paid from the fund rather than separately by your employer, and the tax treatment follows the pension fund rules described above.

6. Banks and Financial Accounts

Israeli banks are required under money-laundering and tax-reporting regulations to know their customers' tax residency status. When you move abroad and become a non-resident, you are legally required to notify your Israeli bank.

Notifying your bank

Inform your bank in writing — typically through a branch visit before you leave — that you are changing your status to non-resident. The bank will update your account classification and may apply different withholding rates on interest income and other passive income going forward. Non-residents are taxed at a flat 25% on interest income from Israeli bank deposits (subject to applicable tax treaty reductions).

Keeping your account open

There are good reasons to maintain at least one Israeli bank account after departure: tax refunds, ongoing property expenses, pension fund administration, and any future asset sales all benefit from having an active local account. Most Israeli banks allow non-residents to maintain accounts, though they may require periodic renewal of documentation and are subject to stricter FATF and CRS compliance checks for non-resident customers.

FATCA and CRS implications

If you are a US citizen or green card holder, your Israeli financial accounts are reportable to the IRS under FATCA regardless of where you live. If you move to an EU country or another CRS-participating jurisdiction, Israel will automatically report your account data to your new country's tax authority under the Common Reporting Standard. This is the modern reality for internationally mobile professionals, not something to try to sidestep. Make sure your tax return in your new home country accounts for Israeli-source income and assets during the transition year.

7. Tax Clearance and Avoiding a Travel Ban

The Israeli Tax Authority has a rarely-used but real tool: the travel ban order (*tzav itur yetzia*). Under Israeli law, the Tax Authority can petition a court to prohibit a taxpayer from leaving Israel if it believes the departure would frustrate collection of a significant outstanding tax debt. Most departing salaried employees will never encounter this. It matters most for business owners, self-employed individuals, and anyone with unresolved assessments or open tax years.

What triggers the risk

  • Outstanding self-assessment that the Tax Authority disputes and has not yet resolved
  • Unreported income that is under investigation
  • Significant VAT, corporate tax, or employer withholding obligations for business owners
  • Outstanding NII debt for self-employed individuals
  • Open tax years where no return was filed

Getting a tax clearance

For most employees who had PAYE withholding all year and just need to file their final return, there is no formal clearance procedure before departure. For business owners, self-employed individuals, or anyone with complex tax affairs, ask your local tax assessor's office for written confirmation that no outstanding assessments are pending before you leave. An Israeli accountant or tax attorney can request this on your behalf.

In Practice: Travel ban orders are sought by the Tax Authority through the courts, typically in cases involving disputed tax debts exceeding NIS 50,000 that have not been secured by any other means (bank guarantee, lien on property, etc.). The Tax Authority must demonstrate that the departure would materially impede collection. For most salaried employees with straightforward tax situations, the risk is very low — but it is not zero for those who have operated businesses in Israel with open periods. If you have any reason to suspect unresolved liability, get professional advice well before your departure date.

Departure checklist summary

To leave Israel with your tax affairs in order, work through these steps — ideally in the three months before your departure date:

  1. Confirm your last working day and request Form 106 from your employer in advance
  2. Collect statements from all pension fund and Keren Hishtalmut accounts
  3. Check your Keren Hishtalmut maturity date — withdraw if past six years, or note the date
  4. Decide whether to sell or retain Israeli property, and if retaining, set up rental management and bill payment arrangements
  5. Notify your Israeli bank of your change to non-resident status
  6. If self-employed: ensure NII contributions are up to date and arrange for a final NII assessment
  7. Engage a licensed Israeli accountant to file your final annual return by the April 30 deadline of the following year
  8. Keep your Israeli bank account open for at least 12 months after departure to receive any tax refund