Israeli Tax Authority Expands Military Status Verification for Haredi Educational Institutions

The Israeli Tax Authority has extended its Section 46 requirements to include existing Haredi educational institutions holding the approval, effective Monday morning. Previously, these demands applied only to new institutions seeking the approval. Under the new regulations, institutions must declare that none of their students are draft evaders or have unresolved military status with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They must also commit to not admitting students without verified military status in the future.

Additionally, institutions are required to submit lists of students along with their ID numbers. Students themselves must present documentation proving their military status, such as a combatant certificate, exemption, discharge papers, or an official notice indicating their enlistment date. Failure to comply with these requirements could lead to the revocation of the Section 46 approval.

This approval is crucial as it allows donors to receive income tax credits for contributions made to the institution, making it a key tool for fundraising in public and educational institutions. The expansion of these requirements to institutions already holding the approval marks a significant change, imposing new obligations related to verifying the military status of their students for the first time.