Trust|tax|income 

The Israeli new Taxation of Trusts Law provides an exceptional tax planning strategy for foreign investors. Such investors can use an Israeli company as the owner of their global investments and have full exemption from Israeli tax and tax reporting requirements. This structure is often called a TOV (Trust Owned Vehicles). In addition, foreign investors may in principle gain potential benefits by accessing Israel‘s tax treaties with almost 50 countries.

The Taxation of Trusts Law created a special category relevant to foreign investors - the Foreign Resident Settlor Trust. This trust is can be utilizes by foreign investors who wish to appoint an Israeli trustee, rather than trustees in various offshore jurisdictions, to manage family wealth. 

To be classified as a Foreign Resident Settlor Trust: (1) the settlor must be a non-resident of Israel at the time of formation of the trust and during the tax year; or (2) the settlor and the beneficiaries must be non residents of Israel during the tax year.

A Foreign Resident Settlor Trust is viewed, according to the Israeli tax law, as a foreign resident and the assets held by the trustee are viewed as held by a foreign resident. Consequentially, the income of the trust is regarded as the income of a foreign resident, and therefore the trust profits (arising from sources out of Israel) should not be taxable in Israel.

In addition, certain income and gains from sources within Israeli, such as gains from the sale of Israeli securities, interest income on traded bonds and interest income from Israeli bank deposits, are not taxable in Israel.

Once you set a Foreign Resident Settlor Trust, you may go ahead with the tax planning and structure an "underlying company."

The Taxation of Trusts Law allows the formation of an underlying company of a trust within Israel or abroad in order to make a legal separation between the trustee’s assets and the trust’s assets. The underlying company can be a legal entity such as a company, foundation or partnership. 

The underlying company is regarded as a ‘flow through entity’ and the ‘management and control’ test is not relevant. The Israeli tax authority will look through the company and treat the assets and the income derived from the company as if they were held directly by the trustee. As the income of such trust is regarded as the income of a foreign resident, the trust profits (arising from sources out of Israel) should not be taxable in Israel.

Thus, the Israeli underlying company held by a Foreign Resident Settlor Trust (TOV) can be used as an "offshore” trust in Israel, since it is exempt, in principle, from taxes in Israel.  

Please note the new Israeli tax legislation changes. See:

New Israeli Tax Rules for Underlying Companies
The Israeli 2013 Economic Arrangements Bill 
New Israeli Tax Rules for Underlying Companies
Israeli Offshore Underlying Company

If you wish to make an appointment to discuss your tax issues with Dr. Avi Nov, you are welcomed to send him an Email