But I’ve only ordered a few parcels…
Since accessible online shopping platforms such as Amazon, AliExpress and eBay entered our lives, almost all of us have, to some extent, become importers. Today, at the click of a button, a product can be ordered from almost anywhere in the world and delivered directly to our doorstep. To encourage personal imports, the State has granted an exemption from import taxes for parcels valued at no more than US$75 – a threshold that was previously higher.
However, it is important to understand the distinction between personal and commercial imports. Where the Israel Customs Authority identifies repeated orders or numerous parcels containing identical or similar products, it may suspect that the goods are no longer being imported for personal use, but rather for commercial or business purposes.
Such a finding may have significant consequences. The exemption applicable to personal-import parcels valued at up to US$75 does not apply to commercial imports, which may therefore be subject to tax from the first shekel. Moreover, the regulatory concessions available for personal imports in relation to approvals and licenses do not necessarily apply to commercial imports.
In certain circumstances, the Customs Authority may even summon the importer for questioning in order to examine the volume of the orders, their purpose and the use made of the products.
Products imported in substantial quantities in cases handled by the firm have included collectable Pokémon cards, collectable coins and banknotes, and cosmetics.