Smart tips for purchasing and importing products from abroad to Israel (and the EU)

We would love to start off this article with some tips that we have accumulated over time and after shopping frequently ourselves.

1. We would recommend avoiding the purchase of drones from abroad due to issues with the ministry of communications and delayed import... It's possible to import still, but requires bureaucracy and most likely will result in delays.

2. When ordering electronics online, please make sure it supports 220 volts. In North America, we used 110v at 60Hz but in Europe and Israel it is 220v at 50Hz...

A transformer can let a 110v appliance work at 220v but the difference in Hz will cause moving components and clocks to function at a different speed than intended... so consult an expert in this area and make sure the transformer can handle all the watts the appliance needs.

Smartphones are generally not an issue when it comes to voltage because it is powered over the USB standard (across the world).

Shavers, Electric Toothbrushes, TVs, etc. depends on each device, you can look at the manual of the product as well as the amazon listing and see if it says 220v or dual voltage before purchasing.

If you plug in a 110v item that doesn't support the 220v standard, you can potentially cause major damage, fires, etc. so it's not worth trying.

3. While importing items from abroad, expect the tax authority and customs agents to open your package and examine for contraband, illegal items, etc. Each country has different laws about what is allowed or not to import and taxes for bringing products in. In Israel, the current law is that you can freely import most items when the collective value of the  package is under 75 USD not including shipping or insurance costs. If you exceed 75 USD, you will expect to pay 17% VAT on the package value in addition to shipping cost and insurance. 

The courier service usually tacks on additional fees for clearing the customs house, authorization fees, etc. 

If you exceed 500 USD, there are additional meches (מכס) fees on top of VAT. 

There is a useful VAT Calculator here. 

4. Lastly, Two or more packages sent from the same supplier to the same customer within 72 hours (3 business days) will be considered one shipment that was split, and import taxes will be calculated on the basis of the total value of all the packages combined.

While this isn't the extensive list, it certainly will help you understand ins and outs of online shopping in Israel.

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