The Knesset is advancing legislation to close a long-running tax loophole that has allowed owners of abandoned buildings to avoid paying arnona (municipal property tax), costing cities millions and leaving dangerous properties unrehabilitated. Haifa alone reports 564 such buildings costing the city NIS 33.4 million annually.
The Knesset is advancing a bill that would end a long-standing tax loophole enabling owners of abandoned buildings to evade municipal property tax (arnona). The measure is designed to make neglect costly and encourage owners to restore, sell, or redevelop derelict properties that have been draining city budgets and posing safety hazards. Haifa alone reports 564 abandoned buildings that cost the city NIS 33.4 million annually. The proposed change would close the loophole that has allowed owners to avoid arnona while cities foot the bill for maintenance and safety risks. The legislation is in its early stages, with no specific timeline for passage yet reported.
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