Israel's Treasury Unveils Major Savings Reform with 2027 Implementation Target

The Israeli Treasury released the final report of the Arbitration Committee on Thursday after two and a half years of work, outlining a significant reform of the country’s savings and investment market. The reform aims to unify and simplify the tax and regulatory framework for three major savings instruments: provident funds for investment, insurance savings policies, and mutual funds. Currently, these products operate under different tax rules, creating market distortions where consumers choose products based on tax advantages rather than performance.

The committee, established in early 2024 by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also seeks to encourage the public to move idle funds from bank accounts into more productive investment channels. Key recommendations include creating a single "investment account" platform that consolidates all short- and medium-term savings products, eliminating immediate capital gains tax when switching between funds within this account, and setting a combined tax exemption cap of 200,000 shekels. Withdrawals after age 60 will be tax-exempt if taken as a pension. Financial advisors will be allowed multiple licenses to offer comprehensive advice across all products.

The reform is expected to benefit savers by providing transparency, easier comparison, and tax-efficient fund mobility. Investment houses and fintech firms will gain a level playing field against large insurance companies, which currently enjoy exclusive tax advantages on their savings policies. However, major insurance companies strongly oppose the changes due to anticipated revenue losses from management fees and commissions. Large banks will also be affected as the reform encourages transferring funds from bank deposits to capital markets, although they will receive a three-year exemption period.

Opposition also comes from the Insurance Association and the Capital Market Authority, citing concerns about potential risks to savings stability, regulatory complexity, and disruption to insurance agents’ incentive models. The Competition Authority has warned against potential new market concentration in distribution platforms.

The reform requires primary legislation, with the Treasury aiming for enactment by spring 2027, following the October 2024 elections. The phased implementation will allow non-bank entities to prepare systems, while banks will have a transitional exemption period before full competition opens across the financial sector.