The Israel Tax Authority conducted extensive inspections throughout the country, concentrating on simcha halls.

During the last two days, a large-scale review of the Israeli wedding scene took place during two days of intense criticism of bookkeeping by all income tax offices throughout the country, reinforced by income tax investigators. 271 service providers in the field of simcha events were examined and it was found that 16% of the owners of the surveyed businesses did not record income.

Preparations for the field work included locating relevant business owners via the internet and social networking. The field observations is an integral component of ascertaining that really occurs.

The owner of a banquet hall in the Triangle area, who was caught not documenting income as required by law from a number of events in the amount of 163,000 shekels, claimed: “I only register a quarter of my income because I have to pay the rest of my money.”

The owner of another event hall in a triangle that did not register 47,000 shekels denied it. The owner of a hall in Haifa, whose client’s queries indicate that he did not register 46,400 shekels and a bride’s gown.

The critics found that a singer from Nazareth did not manage books and did not record income of 60,000 shekels. The singer claimed that he did not know he had to keep books. A similar claim was made by a player from the northern region, who for the past two years has been collecting 800 shekels per concert, and he did not maintain books, explaining he was unaware he was compelled to by law, promising to begin doing so immediately. A similar response was heard from a band in the north, which did not record tens of thousands of shekels. A musician from the north failed to 4,200 shekels paid to him last week. He claimed he planned to record it but simply did not get around to it yet.

A probe of bank accounts of two photographers revealed they did not report 33,000 in income. In addition, the event they were working when inspected was not written in the job log as required, a job that earned the photographer 6,000 shekels.

Tax officials explain they will continue inspecting businesses around the country and it is incumbent on persons to familiarize themselves with tax law and to log and register payments in line with regulations.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)