Israel Property Purchase Tax for Foreign Buyers (Mas Rechisha)

Israel's property purchase tax — mas rechisha — is paid by the buyer and is tiered by price. The brackets differ for a single home vs an additional property, and because most foreign and diaspora buyers already own a home, they usually pay the higher "additional property" brackets. New immigrants (olim) may qualify for relief. Rates change periodically, so treat the below as orientation and confirm current numbers with a licensed Israeli attorney before signing.

What drives your purchase-tax rate

FactorEffect on mas rechisha
Single home (your only residence in Israel)Lower, progressive brackets (first band often 0%)
Additional property (own a home anywhere)Higher brackets from the first shekel — most foreign investors
New immigrant (oleh) statusMay qualify for a reduced rate within a time window
Property priceProgressive — higher bands apply to higher price segments

Total cost to budget (beyond price)

  1. Mas rechisha (purchase tax) — usually the additional-property brackets.
  2. Legal fees — your Israeli real-estate attorney.
  3. Broker fee — for buyer-side representation.
  4. Currency conversion — your currency → shekels.
  5. On future sale: capital-gains tax (mas shevach) may apply.
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Pinui-binui and tax

Purchase tax applies to a pinui-binui apartment as it does to any purchase, based on the price you pay at entry. Because entry prices in renewal compounds can be lower, the tax base can be lower too — another reason the compound's statutory-stage pricing matters. See also the remote-purchase guide and can a foreigner buy.

Frequently asked questions

Is the first price band tax-free for foreign buyers?
Usually not — the 0% first band applies to a single Israeli home. Most foreign buyers pay from the first shekel under the additional-property brackets.
Can olim get a reduced rate?
New immigrants may qualify for a reduced purchase-tax rate within an eligibility window. Confirm with your attorney.