ShaviTaxLawyers

STL is a tax boutique grounded on decades of experience. Anat Shavit, the founding partner, is one of Israel’s leading tax practitioners. She has been selected to the Legal 500 Hall of Fame and praised by Chambers Global for her skillful handling of tax issues. Her proven track record includes over thirty years of experience in tax planning, compliance, and advisory services, including more than seventeen years as the head of FBC’s tax practice.

STL offers the highest-quality services with the intimacy, flexibility, and focus of a small practice. Our goal is for you to receive the best possible guidance on the full range of Israeli tax issues.

Our core values are trust, reliability, and the priority of our clients’ needs. We tailor our legal and tax advice to your specific situation, and we craft innovative tax plans that align with your objectives and tolerance for risk. We know that each client faces unique challenges and opportunities, and we stand by your side to achieve the optimal outcome.

Our Main Practice Areas: 

High-Net-Worth Individuals: We offer personal Income tax planning as well as estate and gift tax planning. We provide advice on property investment and development, with a focus on the tax implications of buying, holding, and selling real estate realest in Israel. We assist with structuring wills and trusts, to maintain the family wealth and tax-efficient strategies for transferring assets to heirs.

International Tax: We offer cross-border tax planning For Israeli companies expanding abroad, foreign companies already operating within Israel, and foreign companies looking to establish a presence in Israel. We also offer international tax services for transactions involving multinational corporations, tax treaty analysis, evaluation of potential PE risks, CFC rules analysis and more.

Real Estate Tax:  STL provides comprehensive advice on the tax implications of various real estate transactions, including urban renewal projects, land exchange deals, combination deals עסקת קומבינציה)), self-construction projects, lending transactions, and profit-sharing arrangements. We offer guidance on the entire spectrum of tax assessments, from the initial submission of self-assessments through the receipt of the final tax assessment, and all negotiations with the Israel Tax Authority along the way. STL also represents clients in formal tax appeals to ensure that their interests are protected (see also tax litigation below).

Corporate Tax: STL’s Corporate Tax Practice has the knowledge and experience to handle even the most challenging tax matters. We provide detailed guidance on tax filing preparation, offering legal opinions to support tax positions and we are also equipped to obtain tax rulings when required. Our team leverages extensive experience across multiple areas, including real estate taxation, VAT, and international tax to optimize the filing process. We offer corporate restructuring services including representation to obtain tax rulings and legal opinions to support and strengthen your company’s tax strategies.

Investment Funds: We offer advice on the optimal tax structure for the main and parallel funds. Among other issues, we address the tax implications for institutional investors, including the provision of legal opinions to support available exemptions (such as under Section 9(2) of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance) and the personal tax implications for principals, including those related to carried interest. We also secure tax rulings or legal opinions to clarify tax treatment for the fund investors and principals.

Value Added Tax: STL offers specialized advice on VAT issues. We offer legal opinions and representation to obtain tax rulings and arrangements that provide your company with greater security. We also provide representation in all interactions with the Israeli VAT Authority.

Mergers & Acquisitions: STL’s Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Tax Practice delivers sophisticated tax solutions for M&A transactions. We structure the deal to minimize the tax risks and burdens, and we identify ways to leverage structures like tax-free reorganizations and spin-offs. We also consider the international tax implications, especially if the transaction spans multiple jurisdictions. We represent the client to obtain all the tax documentation that is required to close the transaction. Examples include tax-free reorganization rulings, employee benefit plan rulings, and tax withholding certificates for the distribution of consideration to sellers. We also provide post-closing tax services.

Charity & Nonprofits: We assist nonprofits in obtaining Section 46 certification, which allows donors to receive tax deductions for their contributions. We provide nonprofit organizations with comprehensive guidance on VAT-related matters and representation in audits or examinations by the Israeli Tax Authority.

Tax Litigation: We have successfully represented clients at all points along Israel’s multi-level system for disputes and litigation in tax matters. By going beyond legal analysis to address wider commercial and strategic issues, we aim to secure the best possible outcome without necessarily needing a final judgment in court, and with as little publicity as possible.

We offer our clients an initial evaluation of their case. With careful attention to the nuances of each situation, we analyze the decisions of the Israel Tax Authority (ITA) and outline the potential outcome of challenging them. Our strategic advice helps you assess your tolerance for risk so that you can choose the best course of action, whether it involves negotiation, settlement, or formal appeal. If initial tax contests are unsuccessful, our team is prepared to accompany you throughout the judicial process, guiding you through the complexities of litigation and representing you in court. We defend our clients’ interests at all levels of the judicial system, from district courts to the Supreme Court.

Lending & Finance:  STL represents both lenders and borrowers, designing structures to optimize tax outcomes and minimize withholding taxes across various debt-related transactions. Our experience ranges from bilateral loans with a single lender and borrower to multinational syndicated credit arrangements that involve multiple layers of debt. We have the background to provide specialized advice on international lending transactions, ensuring compliance and maximizing efficiency.

Trusts & Estates: We design trust and estate structures that strategically reduce tax. Families with assets in different countries or with members residing across borders face particular complexities, and we know how to minimize conflicts and reduce the risk of double taxation. We also specialize in the transfer of Israeli real estate into a trust, a process that requires careful planning because of Israel’s unique tax laws. Trustees bear significant responsibilities, including strict compliance with applicable tax laws. We provide trustees with comprehensive guidance on their tax and reporting obligations and make sure that they understand the regulatory requirements in each relevant jurisdiction. We help to restructure trusts when the settlor or beneficiaries experience significant changes, such as a shift in tax status or a relocation to a new country.  By accounting for the tax implications that arise from the change, this service ensures that trusts remain tax-efficient and legally compliant.

Employee incentive plans: Employee incentive plans are highly tax oriented, and practices developed by the Israel Tax Authority over many years make them particularly complex. STL cuts through the complexity and customizes incentive plans to align with your company’s goals. Whether you are addressing ongoing needs such as repricing and relocation or dealing with exit events, our team ensures that your incentive plans are effective, compliant, and beneficial to both the company and its employees. We cover stock options, RSUs, profit-sharing programs, bonus schemes, and performance-based awards. Our team manages all related employee tax matters and partners with law firms around the world to guarantee compliance with local and international regulations.