If you worked more than one job in the past seven years then you are probably owed some money by the government and bituach leumi.

When you work more than one job, you are taxed at the highest income bracket, without any deductions for points. Instead, the government leaves it up to you to demand your money back.

Let’s say Bob, a single man, works two jobs and earns ₪ 5,000 at each one.  His gross pay would be ₪ 10,000 and he’d pay ₪ 4,600 (46%) in taxes.  Once Bob does a tax alignment, it would be clear that Bob should only have paid ~₪ 956.  As a result, the tax authority would pay ~₪ 3,644 to Bob. (click here for more information including form 116 for a tax alignment).

But what most people do not know if that there is also such a thing as an insurance alignment as well.  In Bob’s case, his employers took off 12% from his paycheck for his insurance.  Once Bob does his insurance alignment, he would find out that he deserves ~₪ 409 back for overpaid insurance (click here for the for more information including the forms for an insurance alignment).

As you can see, this is not a small amount of money.  In our simple case, Bob paid ₪ 5,800 in taxes on insurance on his paycheck when it should have been ₪ 1,748.  58%, when it should only have been 17%.

As I mentioned above, you need to start the process to get your money; no one is going to magically send you money.  Could we have an advanced system where this is done automatically?  Yes.  Should we?  Of course.  If you get a chance to meet anyone in the ministry of finance, tell them that this is much more important that setting price a price floor for children’s books.  In the mean time, you need to be active – no one cares about your money more than you.