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.

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 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.

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.