GlossaryThis page in Hebrew
Glossary: Hebrew paperwork terms in plain English
The Hebrew words you will see on Israeli forms, payslips and government websites, with how to say them and what they mean. Search for the Hebrew word itself on the official form.
Official forms and government websites are almost always in Hebrew only. That is why we show the Hebrew name of each field or document next to the translation: look for exactly these words on the form.
- נקודות זיכויnekudot zikuiTax credit points
A fixed amount that reduces your income tax. Everyone gets points by their situation: resident, woman, children, army discharge, a degree, aliyah. Points only cancel tax: if you pay no tax, you get no money for them.
- טופס 101tofes me'a ve-achatForm 101, the employee card
You fill it in when you start a job and at the start of every year. It tells the employer how many credit points you get and how much tax to deduct.
- טופס 106tofes me'a ve-sheshForm 106, annual salary certificate
A yearly statement from your employer: how much you earned and how much tax was deducted. You get it after the tax year ends and when you leave a job. You need it for a tax refund.
- תיאום מסte'um masTax coordination
A request to the Tax Authority to split your tax correctly when you have more than one income, such as two jobs or a job and a pension. Without it, each employer deducts tax as if it were the only one, and sometimes too much is deducted.
- החזר מסhechzer masTax refund
Money back when too much tax was deducted. Employees ask for it with form 135, up to 6 years back.
- מס הכנסה (מס"ה)mas hachnasaIncome tax
The tax on income from work, a business or investments. The Tax Authority (רשות המסים) collects it, and for employees the employer deducts it from the salary.
- פקיד שומהpkid shumaAssessing officer
The regional Tax Authority office that handles your tax file. You contact it with requests such as a tax refund or an annual report.
- הודעת שומהhoda'at shumaAssessment notice
The Tax Authority's decision on your report or refund request. You can also download it from your personal area on the Tax Authority website.
- ביטוח לאומיbituach le'umiNational Insurance Institute
The body that pays benefits such as unemployment benefits, maternity pay, reserve duty pay and old-age pension, and collects national insurance and health insurance contributions.
- שירות התעסוקהsherut ha-ta'asukaEmployment Service
Where you register as a job seeker. To get unemployment benefits, you must register and report there as required.
- דמי אבטלהdmei avtalaUnemployment benefits
Payments from National Insurance to people who stopped working as employees and meet the conditions. You claim them with form 1500.
- תקופת אכשרהtkufat achsharaQualifying period
The number of months with national insurance contributions that you need before you can get a benefit. For unemployment benefits: 12 months out of the last 18. Work in part of a month counts as a month.
- חל"תhalatUnpaid leave
Short for חופשה ללא תשלום. You do not work and are not paid, but you remain the employer's employee. Unpaid leave of at least 30 days that the employer sent you on may qualify for unemployment benefits.
- תעודת עולהte'udat oleImmigrant certificate
The document you get on aliyah. Your immigrant credit points are counted from its date, and you attach it to form 101 and to a tax refund request.
- תעודת זהות עם ספחte'udat zehut im sefachID card with appendix
The ספח (sefach) is the appendix of the ID card with your address and family details. Employers often ask for a copy of both. A digital appendix can be downloaded from the Population Authority website.
- תלוש שכרtlush sacharPayslip
Your monthly pay statement. It shows your salary, the credit points you received, the tax and contributions deducted, and pension payments.
- ברוטו, נטוbruto, netoGross, net
ברוטו is your salary before deductions. נטו is what reaches your bank account after income tax, national insurance and pension.
- קופת חוליםkupat cholimHealth fund
The health organization you are registered with for medical care. Form 101 asks whether you are a member.
- הזדהות לאומיתhazdahut le'umitNational identification login
The government login used for online services, such as the online claim for unemployment benefits.
- מרכז חייםmerkaz chayimCenter of life
The place where you really live, not only the address on your ID card: where you spend most of your time, and usually where your children go to school.
- יישוב מזכהyishuv mezakeQualifying locality
A town or village whose residents get an income tax reduction, by a Tax Authority list. You claim it with form 1312א and mark it in form 101.
- טופס 161tofes me'a shishim ve-achatForm 161, leaving a job
The report on the end of your work with an employer, where you choose what happens to your severance pay. The employer fills in most of it.
- שימועshimu'aHearing before dismissal
A meeting where the employee responds to the reasons for dismissal before a decision is made. The employer invites you in writing and gives you time to prepare.
- עוסק פטורosek paturExempt dealer
A self-employed person with a small yearly turnover who does not charge VAT. Above the yearly ceiling you become a licensed dealer.
- עוסק מורשהosek mursheLicensed dealer
A self-employed person who charges VAT to customers and passes it to the Tax Authority, and can offset the VAT paid on business expenses.
- מקדמותmikdamotTax advances
Regular payments by the self-employed on account of the year's tax, every month or every two months. The final account is made in the annual report.
What to do next
Sources
We checked these facts on the official websites (in Hebrew). If anything differs, the official text is what counts.