Israeli shoppers on AliExpress are seeing a series of changes to how the platform handles taxes, delivery, and pricing, according to a report from Ynet.
The most significant shift involves how value-added tax is collected. For any package valued over $75, AliExpress has begun charging VAT directly at checkout, similar to the system already used by Amazon. Previously, packages exceeding that threshold were held up at customs, with shipping companies collecting the tax on behalf of Israel's Tax Authority once the package arrived, a process that often delayed delivery.
The company is also rolling out an upgrade to its delivery system. AliExpress told customers they can now update their pickup address directly on the site, allowing the platform to match them with a pickup point closer to home rather than the more distant locations packages have often been routed to by default. To make the update, users need to go to Account, then Settings, then Shipping Address. Some delivery companies, including Israel Post, already allow customers to change their pickup point manually before a package arrives, provided they notice the notification about the option.
According to Alibuy groups on Facebook and Telegram, where the changes were first reported, AliExpress also indicated that shipping prices are expected to drop toward the end of the month, which would bring down overall prices for shoppers. The company is planning a "mega sale" for August.
The changes come as delivery times from China have already improved significantly despite recent regional conflict, with packages now arriving in Israel within a week to ten days, aided by AliExpress warehouses the company operates inside Israel for faster fulfillment. AliExpress remains one of the most popular international shopping platforms among Israeli consumers, alongside competitors including Shein, Temu, Next, Amazon, and iHerb.
