Spoon-Bending Illusionist Uri Geller Looks for Flexibility in Tax Ruling
Geller is appealing the Israel Tax Authority’s decision to levy a one-off tax on a property he has leased until 2072
12:1512.02.19
Uri Geller, the Israeli illusionist best known for his mental spoon-bending trick, has appealed to the Tel Aviv district court Monday regarding a decision by the Israel Tax Authority to levy a one-off property tax on him for a luxurious house he leases in Jaffa.
Uri Geller in his home in Jaffa. Photo: Photo: Tommy Harpaz Geller signed an agreement in 2016 to lease the property until 2072 for NIS 11.5 thousand ($3,150) a year, in addition to a one-time fee of NIS 356,500 ($97,800). Geller has also renovated the three-story property, which overlooks Jaffa’s port.
The authority recently rejected Geller's objection to the tax payment, leading his attorneys to file an appeal.
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Geller has yet to respond to Calcalist’s request for comment.
Uri Geller in his home in Jaffa. Photo: Photo: Tommy Harpaz The tax authority viewed the transaction as an acquisition of property, and therefore imposed a tax of several hundred thousand shekels on Geller.
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Geller contests the tax, stating he did not purchase the property. Even if he did, he stated, he would be entitled to Israel’s first-time buyer tax benefit, meaning he would only have had to pay taxes on property valued above NIS 1.5 million (approximately $411,000), which the total sum he is paying for the lease does not reach.
