45 holocaust survivors received tax refunds totaling approximately ₪1,221,000 in the past two months, thanks to a collaboration between the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Tax Authority, providing assistance to eligible survivors in filling out, submitting, and realizing their claims.
Holocaust survivors with a disability rating of 90% or higher (according to a special calculation) are entitled to income tax exemption. The Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors continuously transfers data regarding Holocaust survivors whose disability rating under the Law for Disabled Veterans of the Nazi Persecution and the Law for Disabled Veterans of the War against the Nazis entitles them to tax exemption, to the Tax Authority. The Tax Authority identifies survivors who have overpaid taxes from this data and contacts them, guiding them on how to request a tax refund.
However, it became apparent that some survivors were not submitting refund requests. Therefore, it was decided to act proactively and send representatives from the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors to these survivors before the end of 2025, when their eligibility for tax refunds for the year 2019 will expire.
The representatives visited the survivors’ homes, assisted them in filling out and submitting the forms, and of course, also checked that these survivors were maximizing their rights with the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors as well. As a result of these home visits and close accompaniment until the process was completed, 45 Holocaust survivors across the country received tax refunds totaling more than ₪1.2 million.
Since 2020, the Tax Authority has been working specifically with Holocaust survivors to identify those who have not realized their entitlement to tax benefits. As part of this activity, led by the Individual Assessment Department in the Assessment and Audit Division, over ₪20 million has been returned to date through tax refunds and tax adjustments. The Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors and the Tax Authority will continue their collaborative efforts in the coming years to proactively assist Holocaust survivors, understanding that due to their age and medical condition, some of them find it difficult to cope with filling out paperwork.