Tax Authority Official Sparks Debate With Direct Social Media Engagement

Nili Ben-Tovim, Director of the Research and Policy Department in the Economic Division at Israel's Tax Authority, has become a prominent figure on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Instead of issuing official statements, Ben-Tovim has been directly and extensively responding to citizens, economists, and journalists regarding proposed tax policies, even those not yet approved. This direct engagement has created an unusual channel for the public to interact with a senior official involved in planning new taxes, such as a potential levy on flight tickets.

The public discussion was ignited by a position paper from the Tax Authority's Planning and Economics Division recommending a "travel tax" on outgoing flights, which could generate significant revenue for the state. When some users criticized the proposal, Ben-Tovim responded on X, noting that flights are currently lightly taxed, lacking VAT and fuel excise duties, making taxation in this area logical. Her reply garnered substantial attention, with hundreds of thousands of views and likes.

Ben-Tovim further explained that the proposed tax aims to address the environmental impact of flights, specifically global warming and noise pollution. She clarified that the distance of a flight, not the enjoyment derived from it, is the basis for taxation because longer flights are more polluting. She also provided figures on the estimated costs of noise pollution and the potential revenue from such a tax.

In a subsequent post, Ben-Tovim addressed the public directly, acknowledging the intense reaction but stating she learned that tax matters are not sufficiently discussed with citizens. She shared a table indicating that the top income decile earns 45% of Israel's total income and pays 63% of taxes. She also discussed income thresholds for the ninth and tenth deciles and explained that the top percentile's tax rate decreases due to capital gains being taxed at a lower rate than employment income.

Her open communication style is a departure from the typical protocol for Tax Authority officials. While senior figures initially observed her interactions with surprise, they did not find cause for criticism as she was merely answering tax-related questions. Legal officials reportedly showed interest in the fact that answers were provided outside of the official spokesperson or public inquiry channels. Ben-Tovim has not been summoned for clarification by the Tax Authority's director, Avi Simhon. Colleagues describe her as a unique individual who engages with citizens to explain tax policies, viewing her actions positively despite their unconventional nature within government offices.

Ben-Tovim, who recently joined the Tax Authority, previously held research and economist positions at the Ministry of Labor, the National Economic Council, and the Bank of Israel's Research Division. She has approximately 3,500 followers on her X account, where she identifies as an economist and civil servant. She explained to colleagues that tax issues are of great public interest and directly affect citizens' finances, justifying her direct engagement.