Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced today (Sunday) that he has decided to appoint Shai Aharonovitch as the head of the Tax Authority. The new appointment will be presented for government approval in the upcoming session next week.
Aharonovitch, aged 48, began his work at the Tax Authority in 2001, and during his tenure at the Tax Authority over the years, he specialized in all areas of the Authority's activities. In the course of this, over the years, he managed headquarters units and field units, leading significant legislative reforms and corrections.
In the last five and a half years, Aharonovitch served as the senior deputy director-general at the Tax Authority and was responsible for managing the real estate tax office within the Tax Authority. In this role, he led various automation processes such as the automatic execution of evaluations and the digitization of all historical data of the Tax Authority. Additionally, he led a revolution in providing online services to the public, integrating internet systems and providing services through a national service center.
The decision to appoint Aharonovich was made after the search committee, led by the Director-General of the Ministry of Finance, Attorney Shlomi Heizler, recommended three candidates, all senior officials within the Tax Authority who served as deputies to the outgoing head, Eran Yaakov. As mentioned, Smotrich interviewed all three candidates and chose Aharonovich for the position.
"First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the outgoing head of the Tax Authority, Eran Yaakov, for his many years of dedication and commitment in various roles within the Ministry of Finance for the benefit of Israeli citizens," said Smotrich. "Eran led the Tax Authority through a series of significant reforms over the past five years, and I thank him on behalf of all Israeli citizens. I am convinced that he will continue to contribute greatly with his skills, experience, and values to the State of Israel.
"The fact that all the recommendations from the Search Committee came from within the ranks of the Authority is a testament to the trust and confidence in the Authority and its dedicated employees. Choosing among the three candidates was difficult because they are all experienced veterans who presented professional plans for advancing the Authority under their leadership. I am convinced that Shai is the right person in the right place to lead the Tax Authority in the coming years, guiding it into a new technological era that will enhance tax collection, improve services, and wage an uncompromising battle against the black economy and organized crime. I was very impressed with his systematic approach, his deep familiarity with the various roles and departments of the Authority, and his strong motivation to serve the public."
Director-General of the Ministry of Finance, Shlomi Heizler: "I congratulate the appointment of Shai Aharonovitch as the Director of the Tax Authority. I have no doubt that Shai's extensive skills in the field of taxation will bring significant contributions to the management of the Ministry of Finance as a whole and the Tax Authority in particular. I am confident that his vast experience in managing large systems and his many years of familiarity with the Israeli tax system will improve and enhance the system's efficiency and contribute greatly to improving services for citizens and the overall economy."
