""They have accumulated hundreds of millions" • The Tax Authority will publish guidelines for the taxation of Kabbalists and Ditzim

July 13, 2015   

In the coming weeks, after receiving professional comments from the chambers of attorneys, accountants and tax advisors, the Tax Authority will publish instructions for collecting taxes from non-residents. This was revealed today (Monday) at a meeting of the State Audit Committee in the Knesset. The chairwoman of the committee, MK Karin Elharar, who initiated the discussion, said: "Every person is equal before the law, and the discussion is not against religion, but rather respects it and wants those who practice it to be equal before the law. Some of the Kabbalist courts are operated with tens of millions of shekels, while many of them renege on their obligation to pay.". Elharr clarified: "The Tax Authority's instructions must be clear, and at the moment the field is still open, because the distinction between a gift and a reward still leaves a very broad discretion to those who will have to pay tax.". צבי ורטיקובסקי, נציג מבקר המדינה, ציין כי חלק מהמקובלים צברו הון רב של מאות מיליוני שקלים, ומשום-מה אינם מחויבים במס, וכך גם כעשרים גופי כשרות בארץ. לדבריו, כיום ניתנת אפשרות לפרשנות שונה בנושא בין פקיד שומה אחד למשנהו. משה אשר, מנהל רשות המיסים, ציין כי אם יהיה חוק שכל מתנה שאינה-בין-קרובים חייבת במס, התחום יהיה פשוט בהרבה, "אך ישנן כבר חצרות מקובלים שהוסדרו על-ידנו במיסוי. בשנת 2014 בדקנו בכ-120 מקומות את תעודות הכשרות, ונרחיב בדיקות אלו בשנה הקרובה. "איתרנו כ-44 גופי כשרות שלא היו מדווחים, ורובם כיום בהליך בדיקת מסמכים ושומה מולם". תני פרנק, מ'נאמני תורה ועבודה' הוסיף כי חוק האונאה בכשרות אינו נותן מענה לבד"צים, ואין די בחוזר של רשות המיסים בעניין אלא יש לקדם חקיקה בפיקוח ובשקיפות על הבד"צים. Minister of Religious Services, David Azoulay, responded that the Kabbalists have no connection to the Ministry of Religious Services, and that the ministry or the Rabbinate do not supervise the Badatzim. He noted that without the qualification of the Rabbinate, the Badatzim cannot provide supervision or certification. According to him, "The Badatzim are large, private entities and I find it hard to believe that they are evading tax payments. It is convenient for business owners to pay the supervisor directly, in order to control him, and this is not a normal situation. The ideal situation is a kosher system, in which the supervisor does not receive his salary from the supervisor.". Roni Hamma, of the Hamma Pitsuchi chain, said: "There is a close connection between the city rabbi and a particular Badatz. Without acquiring the kosher certification of a particular Badatz, the rabbinate in that city does not grant kosher certification. In one of my factories, one man supervised six different Badatz.". MK Danny Atar from the Zionist camp called for the granting of kosher certificates to be made a regulated government authority, in order to prevent improper appointments or unfair collection, while MK Yoav Bentsur clarified that a distinction should be made between granting them in return for a blessing or advice, or as an act of admiration for the Kabbalah. MK Rachel Azaria of Kolanu warned: "This is not a completely free market, and sometimes the rabbinate's kosher becomes a tool to strengthen a private kosher body," while MK Mickey Levy of Mish Atid added: "For years there has been pressure not to touch this area, but in the last two years the Tax Authority has been leading a courageous move in the hot potato, and it must be held accountable. It is impossible for the situation to continue in which Badatz is a non-profit organization that is supposedly exempt from tax.".