Israel Tax Authority inspectors visited 51 businesses on Bnei Brak’s Rabbi Akiva Street as part of the agencies roving inspections. Inspections were also conducted in businesses operating at night in Ramat Gan and Givatayim. It is pointed out inspectors were dressed to fit in, to appear to be regular Bnei Brak shoppers.

In stores selling ‘pitzuchim’ (nuts and seeds), NIS 605 in credit card sales were processed but not rung up on the store cash register as required. The store owner explained this is his norm and there is a standing argument between him and his CPA if he is acting correctly. In a shoe store, a store owner failed to record a NIS 300 sale, telling inspectors “by mistake I placed the cash in my pocket. This is the first time such an error occurred”. In a store selling sterling silver items, a test purchase was not made. The store owner replied “I don’t know what the deal is. Every sale is registered”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)