Migration of Intellectual Property from Israeli Technology Companies

In this article, we highlight the strength of the Israeli technology market and the upswing of foreign investment in Israel in various forms (e.g. acquisitions, establishment of subsidiaries). We review the Israeli tax incentives in maintaining intellectual property within Israel as well as both OECD and Israeli principles of Business Restructuring, addressing the various resulting […]

Israeli Transfer Pricing Guidance on Business Restructuring

On November 1, the Israeli tax authorities published Circular 15/2018, entitled “Business Restructuring within a Multinational Group,” clarifying the Israeli government’s stance on the tax and transfer pricing aspects of changes in business models. In Circular 15/2018, the Israeli tax authorities outline techniques for identification and characterization of restructuring (including required disclosures), acceptable methodologies for assessing the […]

Israeli Tax Authorities Issue Transfer Pricing Circular Addressing Financial Transactions

On September 5, 2018, the Israeli Tax Authorities (“ITA”) published a number of circulars addressing Transfer Pricing (“TP”) issues: circulars 11/2018 and 12/2018 addressing distribution transactions and low value-added services (and adding safe harbors), respectively and Circular 13/2018, entitled: “Low-Interest Loans.” In Circular 13/2018, the Israeli Tax Authorities attempt to clarify various sections of Israeli tax legislation, […]

Israeli Tax Authorities Publish New Transfer Pricing Circulars

Today, September 5, 2018, the Israeli Tax Authorities (“ITA”) published two new circulars regarding Transfer Pricing (“TP”). Circular 11/2018 The first circular is entitled “Circular 11/2018: Determination of the Appropriate TP Method for Activities Related to Distribution, Marketing and Sales of a Multinational Group within the Local [Israeli] Market”.   The purpose of this circular […]

Stock-based Compensation and the Arm’s Length Principle An edited version of this article is found in the International Transfer Pricing Journal

Introduction Inclusion or deduction of stock-based compensation (“SBC”)[1], to be defined herein, in a cost base when applying the Transactional Net Margin Method (“TNMM”)[2] / Comparable Profits Method (“CPM”)[3] has been an ongoing transfer pricing (“TP”) discussion in recent years. As will be detailed in this article, several countries have attempted to publish legislation to […]

Supreme Court Upholds that Stock-based Compensation is Included in Cost Base

On April 22, 2018, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled on appeals brought by Kontera Technologies Ltd. and Finisar Israel Ltd. and counter-appeals by the respective Assessing Officers with regards to the inclusion of stock-based compensation in the cost base for cost plus arrangements. The ruling also addressed relevancy of deductibility, transfer pricing (“TP”) adjustments and […]

Stock-based Compensation and the Arm’s Length Principle

I.  Introduction Inclusion or deduction of stock-based compensation (“SBC”)[1], to be defined herein, in a cost base when applying the Transactional Net Margin Method (“TNMM”)[2] / Comparable Profits Method (“CPM”)[3] has been an ongoing transfer pricing (“TP”) discussion in recent years. As will be detailed in this article, several countries have attempted to publish legislation to address […]