Israel CPA Web Site

Artzi Ran

Academic Degrees: The College of Management Academic Studies, Israel, Accounting and Business Management, B.A. Positions: Ran Artzi, CPA has founded and launched the Tax Division in Ziv Haft, one of the five leading accounting firms and served in this firm as the Division's Managing Partner for almost a decade. Within his capacity as a Managing Partner, CPA Artzi has managed a team of about twenty-five accountants, attorneys, tax advisors and tax trainees, and maintained a daily professional contact with the Israeli tax authorities. A notable and predominant member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel. His activities with the Institute include an active role in the Institute's publications, academic contribution to the Institute's official journal, as well as a notable part in professional conferences and tax gatherings as an a highly appreciated lecturer. As a member of the Tax Committee of Institute of Certified Public Accountants (from 1995 to these days), CPA Artzi has actively taken part in the Israeli tax legislative processes, inter alia by representing the Institute in the Israeli Parliament and its Finance Committee, as well as in negotiations with the Israeli tax authorities, regarding legislation initiatives and legal amendments.

Hiba Ishay

Academic Degrees: Bar-Ilan University, Israel, Law, LL.M. Bar-Ilan University, Israel, Accounting, Supplement Studies for Degree. Bar-Ilan University, Israel, B.A. Professional Experience: Auditing Unit Coordinator, the Tel Aviv Income Tax Assessment Office (1993-94). Income Tax Inspector, the Netanya Income Tax Assessment Office (1990-93). Positions: In 1994 Ishay Hiba, CPA left the Israel Tax Authority for a year's stint in the tax department of the Kost, Forer & Gabbay Accounting Firm, after which he joined the BDO Ziv Haft Accounting Firm where he served as the Assistant and right hand of Ran Artzi for about 6.5 years up to their joint departure. Through his professional career CPA Hiba has been lecturing in various tax forums and courses, including in the Tel Aviv University and the Academic Unit of the Israeli College of Insurance as well as in various courses and advanced tax studies of the Israeli Institute for Certified Public Accountants. Author of numerous professional articles, tax reviews and professional references to tax queries published in Israeli journals and media, including in Israeli Institute for Certified Public Accountants journal.

Elmekiesse Hagi

Academic Degrees: The College of Management Academic Studies, Israel, Accounting and Business Management, B.A. Sha'arei Mishpat College of Law, Israel, Law, LL.B. Additional Professional Certifications: Lawyer. Positions: Hagi Elmekiesse, CPA began his professional career as company unit inspector at the Israel Tax Authority's Ramla tax assessment office. Within his capacity as inspector, he handled and engaged in auditing for tax purposes for both companies and individuals. At the end of 2000 CPA Elmekiesse was appointed by the Israeli Income Tax Commissioner as a member of the committee for the examination and recommendation in relation to the establishment of an international tax unit, and later was elected to be one of its founders and policy makers. During this period he was involved in various internal taxation issues, including the issuance of advanced tax agreements (pre-rulings), the managing of tax assessments associated with various international tax issues and the absorption of work methods related to the international business arena in the Unit and in the different tax assessment offices. In addition, he has played a professional role in the enactment process of the Israeli tax reform of 2003, which dramatically changed the domestic tax system. In 2004, CPA Elmekiesse turned to the private sector while joining the Artzi & Hiba Tax Solutions firm. As an International Tax Partner (since 2006), he leads the firm's International Tax Department.

Cohen Yishay

Academic Degrees: Ramat Gan College, Israel, B.A. Sha'arei Mishpat College of Law, Israel, LL.B. Professional Experience: Companies section manager at branch 1 of the Tel Aviv income tax assessor's office, 2004-07. Positions: Yishai Cohen CPA works in the firm's Israeli taxation department, specializing in the area of Israeli taxation, taxation of corporations/cooperative firms, and individual taxation funds. CPA Cohen is involved in representing assessees vis-a-vis income tax assessors and in attaining assessment agreements. He represents clients for the purpose of obtaining pre-ruling tax decisions, helps preplan transactions as they are being generated, and examines options available to assessees for easing the tax burden.

Alimi Gadi

Israeli license. Member of the Institute of CPAs in Israel Academic Degrees: University of Haifa, Israel, Economics and Accounting, B.A. Sha'arei Mishpat College of Law, Israel, LL.B. Additional Professional Certifications: Lawyer. Continuing Education Programs: Graduate, Information Management, Division of Continuing Education, The Technion. Professional Experience: Team manager and director of information management for the International Tax Division at the Israel Tax Authority, 1997-2006. Positions: Gadi Alimi, CPA works in the firm's international taxation department. He specializes and focuses on matters concerning international holding structures and elaborates solutions for the activities of Israelis in jurisdictions around the world. CPA Alimi accompanies clients in their decisions to operate overseas and in selecting preferential international holding structures. In many instances, his accompaniment includes applying to the Tax Authority in order to settle taxation issues in Israel. CPA Alimi accompanies numerous public companies and oversees aspects of international taxation in many prospectuses for companies recently issued on the Israeli Stock Exchange. CPA Alimi is responsible for publishing numerous articles on taxes matters in the professional press and is a lecturer on international taxation at Tel Aviv University.