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1 - Toshav Hozer Terms
2 - Toshav Hozer Rights and Import Duties - What to bring
3 - Toshav Hozer Getting an Estimate
4 - Toshav Hozer Prepacking Preparations
5 - Toshav Hozer Customs Clearing Methods and Time Constraints
6 - Toshav Hozer Accepting Delivery
7 - Toshav Hozer Post Delivery
8 - Toshav Hozer FAQ
Congratulations on your decision to come home to Israel! This exciting experience is well worth it. We hope this page will make your Toshav Hozer shipping experience as smooth as possible. This guide has been specifically written for Toshav Hozer Shipping.
When planning your Toshav Hozer shipping, you should have a general knowledge of the international shipping industry. This list of terms will help you understand the estimate you receive, as well as some common Hebrew terms regarding Toshav Hozer Shipping and procedure.
Access This refers to the pick-up and destination. There are limits on the allowed distance from the truck to the front door, and how many flights of steps are "free" before "long access" charges are applied
Agent A subcontractor working for another company. For example, Sonigo is based in Israel, however we have agents all over the world
Crate A solid wood box custom built to protect the contents (artwork, Plasma TV, Piano) during transit
Customs Clearing The process of submitting the paperwork to Meches, paying import duties, and receiving permission to remove the goods from the secure port facility or bonded warehouse.
Declaration for Customs Your declaration to Customs stating the contents of your shipment and its depreciated value
Declared Value The value of the goods you are shipping, after depreciation, as reported to Meches
Demurrage The rental charge for sea containers, past what is included in the cost of sea freight (4 days are included)
Direct Service When Toshav Hozer Shipment container travels on only one boat
ETA Estimated time of arrival (When the boat arrives at destination)
ETD Estimated time of departure (When the boat leaves the origin port)
FCL Full Container Load
Fidi Faim The most select group of international shipping companies. Companies must meet stringent requirements to be Fidi Faim and are regularly audited by Ernst and Young
Force Majeur Events that can't be controlled, such as war, strike, natural disaster.
Full Pack Professional packers pack everything. This is the standard in international shipping
LCL Less than Container Load (also Consolidation)
Lift A generic term for an import, regardless of size.
Lift-Van A wooden box, roughly 200 cubic feet used for LCL (Consolidated) shipments to secure goods for travel, and to keep one persons goods separate from other cargo in the same container
Loose Load The practice of loading goods into the sea container without first loading them into lift-vans or palletizing the goods. Standard for FCL Loads
Ma'am Value Added Tax (VAT). Similar to sales tax, this is applied to most goods and services in Israel.
Marine Insurance Insurance covering your goods in Transit. This should include the period from packing to unloading, with allowances for storage
Meches Both the Customs Authority and term used for import duties of any kind
Nefesh B'Nefesh A private organization which assists Toshavim Hozerim in pre- and post aliya processes.
Palletize Shrink Wrapping goods to a pallet. This is used for LCL (Consolidated) shipments to secure the goods for travel, and to keep one person's goods separate from other cargo in the same container
Partial Pack Professional packers pack only breakables. This can sometimes (rarely) save some money, but there are insurance limitations
Pre-move Survey This free and vital service is when the shipping company sends a professional estimator to your home to check volume, access, and packing needs.
Sea Container The big metal box that gets loaded onto the ship. All household goods are loaded into sea containers before being shipped
Shipper/Importer/Exporter The person doing the Toshav Hozer Shipping.
Teudat Zahut Israeli Identification card.
THC (Terminal Handling Charges) Also Destination Port Fees. Fees paid to the port facilities for services rendered.
Toshav Hozer A Returning citizen of Israel.
Toshav-hozer.com An excellent resource dealing with the special concerns of a Toshav Hozer (Securing health Insurance, taking full advantage or your rights, etc)
Toshav Hozer Rights Toshavim Hozerim have special rights, depending on how long they have been outside of Israel
Transshipment When your Toshav Hozer Shipment container travels on more than one boat
UTS Unigroup The parent company of Mayflower and United Van Lines, with agents all over the globe
Volume The size of your shipment. Toshav Hozer Shipping is primarily done by sea, and charges are based on volume.
Toshav Hozer (Outside of Israel more than 6 years)
If you are an Israeli Citizen who has been outside of Israel more than six years, and has spent less than 120 days per year in Israel, you can qualify as a Toshav Hozer of 6+ Years.
This allows you to bring in 2 "Toshav Hozer" shipments in 9 months of your return. Before your shipment can be cleared, you must go to meches with your Israeli passport, Teudat Zehut, Foreign Passports (if any) and rental contract or housing agreement. Meches will stamp your passport and enter you into the computer as having rights.
A person entering as a Toshav Hozer of over 6 years is entitled to bring in the following items tax-free:
- Furniture, books, clothing, linens, kitchen utensils, pictures, decorations, media, and general "Personal Effects"
- One of each type of appliance or electronic equipment. (These are for household use, not office equipment such as a fax).
However they must pay 1.02% port tax on their sea shipment's declared value.
Toshavim Hozerim do not get tax-discounted cars, however they can import a car up to four years old.
Toshav Hozer (outside of Israel more than 2 and less than 6 years)
If you are an Israeli Citizen who has been outside of Israel for more than two years, and has spent less than 120 days per year in Israel, you can qualify as a Toshav Hozer of two - six years. This allows you to bring in two "Toshav Hozer" shipments within nine months of your return.
Before your shipment can be cleared through Israeli Customs you must go to meches with your Israeli passport, Teudat Zehut, Foreign Passports (if any) and rental contract or housing agreement. Meches will stamp your passport and enter you into the computer as having rights.
A Toshav Hozer of 2-6 years is entitled to bring in books, clothing, linens, kitchen utensils, picture and decorations, media, and general "Personal Effects" Tax Free, as well as one computer, however they must pay 1.02% port tax on their sea shipment's declared value, and they do not get discounted storage at the port.
A Toshav Hozer of 2-6 years is also allowed 1 each kitchen appliance (NOT a dishwasher, however) and 1 clothes washer and 1 clothes dryer.
Toshavim Hozerim do not get tax-discounted cars, however they can import a car up to 4 years old.
Notable Exceptions to Tax Free Imports
- Sports Equipment
- Camping Equipment
- Bar-b-q Grills
- Fax Machines
- Outdoor furniture and swings
- Pool tables and ping-pong tables
- Building supplies and non-household goods
- A motorized wheelchair needs approval before being imported
- Alcohol is highly taxable, and any import over 5 liters must have proper approvals before importing
- Weapons are highly restricted and should not be imported.
All goods imported with rights must stay in your possession for six years from the date of import or depreciated taxes must be paid to Meches. (A car must stay in your possession for five years).
This review will help you decide what goods to buy for Toshav Hozer shipping:
There has been a lot of news, and in fact, many reductions in the Israeli Import tax structure. The government estimates several hundred million NIS to be saved as a result of these reductions.
But what does this mean to an individual considering doing Toshav Hozer Shipping?
Sadly, very little.
The reductions for general household goods were for a variety of items, and in the range of 1.5%-2%. While this will lower prices slightly in stores, it will be off-set by inflation or slightly higher profit margins for distributors and retailers. The difference is not enough to change the decision of importing a piece or buying it locally here in Israel, almost across the board.
High Quality wood or leather furniture makes a lot of sense to import, so if you're thinking Broyhill or Stickley, Lane or Barcalounger, the answer is to import.
If you want a 30 inch wide (standard American size) freestanding range (GE JGBP), or a 30 inch built in oven (or larger), import.
If you want anything by Dacor, Viking, or Subzero, import.
For a TV of over 40 inches, import. (Sony, Toshiba, Pioneer, Panasonic)
Also, side-by-side refrigerators are still worth bringing in.
Lastly, the full-sized US washer and Dryer are worth importing, for higher end models.
You should start to plan your Toshav Hozer shipping 60-90 days in advance. Start by going through the house and determining what must go, what will not go, and what would be nice to go (not sure).
Shipping is expensive, so don't send something just because you have it. Many Toshavim Hozerim move to smaller apartments here in Israel than back in your origin country, and many places here have limited storage space. Many Israeli apartments don't even have closets, although in newer housing, closets are more common.
Once you have a rough idea of what is being shipped, contact us, and we will give a very rough estimate based on your description. This will give you an idea of how much items will cost to ship based on their volume. Obviously, if you can buy an item in Israel for less than it costs to ship, don't ship it.
The next step is to ask us for a free visual survey. This is the only way to get an accurate estimate. Ultimately, you will pay for the volume of what you are shipping.
When comparing estimates, read the entire estimate. Note that many companies not based in Israel will not include Terminal Handling Charges (Destination Port Charges) in the "Door-to-door" total. "Door-to-port" or "Port-to-port" estimates almost never include them, even though you will need to pay these fees.
If you are shipping an FCL (Full Container Load) you are only allowed 4 days free storage and demurrage (container rental charges) before expensive daily charges start to accrue. This means we must start the customs clearing process as soon as the ship arrives, and we must have your Toshav Hozer Shipping documents before the ship arrives. You also must be able to accept delivery on one day's notice (as we try to deliver the day following customs clearance). If this is not practical, let your Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist know before pick-up. It may make sense to ship as an LCL (less than container load) if you need storage.
International shipping is very competitive, so if you get an estimate based on a visual survey that is (or seems) less than our estimate, let us know and we may be able to point out why there seems to be a difference in cost. It could be that one estimate is actually less than the other, it could be that one estimate is more inclusive of costs which you will need to pay.
Sonigo International will do everything possible to be competitive for shipping your Toshav Hozer shipments!
Next, get references. Don't just ask the company (although we can provide references on request), ask others that have shipped to Israel. All of the above groups mentioned in "Toshav Hozer Shipping Terms" above are good sources of recommendations.
Now that you've chosen your pick-up date, it's time to get ready for the crew to show up. Please follow these simple steps:
A - Notify us of any items you will be buying that will be shipped directly to our warehouse, BEFORE the store sends them. This way we will know to add them to your Toshav Hozer Shipment.
B - If you choose to insure your goods while shipping to Israel, make the itemized insurance list in advance. It is easier to make this list while the goods are visible and unpacked.
C - If you are packing your own goods, make sure boxes are packed before the crew arrives. For owner packed goods, number each box and write the contents of each box on a numbered packing list.
D - Before the crew arrives, separate and mark (ie. with a big X on a sheet of paper) what is staying from what is being shipped. You will not have time, while our crew is there, to sort the items. Make it as clear as possible, for example "Everything in this room goes, everything in that room stays" or "Everything on this side of the big rope goes, everything on that side of the big rope stays".
E - Keep the entire day available. Even if you are only shipping a small amount of goods, it makes sense to be ready early. This is a good day to send pets and small children to a neighbor's house. Have plenty of cold water and a bathroom available for the packing crew.
F - Before the packers leave, take a look around to make sure they packed everything they were supposed to, and nothing they were not supposed to. Once the crew has left, they can only come back for a fee.
G- Tips are never expected, always appreciated. As a rough guideline, figure 100-120 NIS per man (or the local currency equivalent).
If you have any questions or problems during pick-up, call your Sonigo Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist while the crew is there. If it is after office hours, call our direct cell phone, and we will promptly call you back to save the phone charges.
If you are shipping an FCL (Full Container Load) you are only allowed 4 days free storage and demurrage (container rental charges) before expensive daily charges start to accrue. This means we must start the customs clearing process as soon as the ship arrives, and we must have your Toshaz Hozer Shipping documents before the ship arrives. You also must be able to accept delivery on one day's notice (as the day we clear customs is the day before we will want to deliver). If this is not practical, let your Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist know before pick-up.
LCL loads receive thirty days free storage. Port facilities are fine for short term storage, but not for storage of over 30-60 days. If your Toshav Hozer shipping needs require long-term storage, Sonigo suggests and storing in our secure, clean, alarmed warehouse after clearing customs.
This is what you need to do:
Go to meches with the documents listed below and have them stamp your passport as "Toshav Hozer"
- Teudat Zehut (For you and your spouse)
- Israeli Passport (For you and your spouse)
- Foreign Passports (If you have) (For you and your spouse)
With your stamped passport, you will need to meet with our representative in Ashdod or Jerusalem to complete the Customs paperwork. Customs requires your original signature on their documents, so, unfortunately, we cannot do this process via fax or email.
Then, Customs requires clear copies or scans (cannot be not blurry) of:
- Teudat Zehut (For you and your spouse)
- Israel Passport Picture Page (For you and your spouse)
- Toshav Hozer stamp
- Foreign passport picture page (if you have) (For you and your spouse)
- Proof of residence - i.e. copy of your lease or housing agreement
- Receipts for new items
And Customs requires originals of:
- Signed Limited Power of attorney (we will supply - you don't need a lawyer for this, you just sign).
- Signed and completed customs declaration (we will supply and help you fill it out)
- Signed and completed delivery instruction sheet (we will supply and help you fill it out)
(You can download the power of attorney and customs declaration here: http://www.sonigo.com/eng-documents-import.html )
So get thee to meches, and let us know when and where to meet.
Meches offices are open Sunday - Thursday 8:30 - 1:00 (their hours change - worth calling to check before you go) and are located in:
- Jerusalem - 66 Kanfei Nesharim St., Givat Shaul, Jerusalem, 95465 (02-6545610)
- Rishon Letzion- 3 Yisrael Galilee St., 03-942-1666
- Ashdod 2 Ha'organim St. (Forum Building), 08-8510501
- Haifa - Customs House, 1 Ha'atzmaut St., Haifa 04-8354984,7
http://www.mof.gov.il/customs/eng/mainpage.htm
Once your Toshav Hozer shipping has cleared customs, we receive the "Gate Pass" allowing us to remove the shipment from the port. Unless you tell your Sonigo Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist otherwise, we will want to deliver your goods as soon as possible.
Keep the day clear, even if you have a small shipment. Once again, this is a good day to send the kids/pets to a neighbor's house. Goods will be delivered and unloaded into the rooms. We suggest following these simple steps:
- Before the crew arrives, number each room. While not everyone speaks every language, everyone understands 1, 2, 3. Tape a piece of paper to each door, or on an easily visible wall, with the room number on it.
- Have plenty of cold water and a bathroom available for the delivery crew.
- Have one person stand by the back of the truck and "tick" off each number (on the box) as it comes off the truck.
- Have one person at the house entrance (not blocking the way, of course) telling the crew in which room number each piece goes.
- Note any visible damage on the delivery receipt.
If you have any questions or problems during delivery, call your Sonigo Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist while the crew is there. If it is after office hours, call our direct cell phone, and we will promptly call you back to save the phone charges.
Once the goods are delivered, you have 30 days to notify us of any damages (for UTS Full replacement insurance. If you chose another insurance option, please ask your Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist for the terms).
Check all boxes and let us know if anything has been damaged. In the event more than one item was damaged, you may file only one claim for all items.
Q - I do not yet have a date for returning. Is it to early to do a visual estimate?
A - Even if you don't have your exact flying date, we can perform the visual estimate.
Q - I won't have an address in Israel until after I get there. Can I still arrange pick-up?
A - We can pick up and even ship your goods without a final destination. Obviously we can't deliver the goods without a final destination. Please ask your Toshav Hozer Shipping specialist for more details.
Q - What should my goods be insured for?
A - UTS Insurance specifies goods be insured for "Replacement Value at Destination" so you should insure your goods for what it would cost to buy a new one here in Israel. If you have no idea of prices here in Israel, ask your Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist for online stores, or general guidelines for price differences.
Q - I'm getting a grant from an organization to help pay for my Toshav Hozer shipping, but I won't get the money until after the first payment is due. Are the terms flexible?
A - Our terms are pretty strict, however please let your Toshav Hozer Shipping Specialist know which organization is supplying the grant or loan. Chances are good we can work with them to help you with shipping for Toshav Hozer. Ultimately, however, the final payment is due before delivery, so please make sure you have the ability to pay before you ship.
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