Going to the Tax Authority

I had to go to the Tax Authority. Not a very enjoyable proposition, but nonetheless I had to go. While planning my "outing" I checked the Tax Authority's website for office hours so that I wouldn't waste my time. I noticed in the website that the address was incorrect and laughed to myself that these huge bureaucratic organizations are really inefficient.

Well, I went towards the end of office hours hoping that there wouldn't be a line. Right across the street from the main entrance, there was a parking lot that cost 20 shekels – not bad. However, I continued another 300 meters to a free public parking lot (SAVED 20 SHEKELS) and walked the 2 minutes to the main entrance.

Talk about being inefficient!!! I got to the main entrance and the guard brought my attention to the hand written sign on the door stating that the Tax Authority moved. Guess what! They moved to the same address that I saw on their website.

I walked back to the car, saw that I could still make it so I drove to their new (which were actually their old, renovated) offices. Across the street from the main entrance, I saw a parking lot that charged 15 Shekels – pretty cheap. However, I drove another 200 meters and found free curbside parking (SAVED ANOTHER 15 SHEKELS).

The renovated offices of the Tax Authority are pretty nice and easy to navigate. I got to the office that I needed and guess what! It was closed. This part of the Tax Authority in closed in the afternoons. "Come back tomorrow morning" a very nice clerk suggested.

That is exactly what I did. I arrived at the Tax Authority early the next morning and even parked in the same parking spot (SAVED ANOTHER 15 SHEKELS). To my surprise, there was no line at the offices that I needed to visit. I finished within 2 minutes and was told to continue on to another office. Also there, there was no line.

WOW! I finished with my dealings with the Tax Authority within 15 minutes (well maybe it was a couple of hours if I combine the total time invested during those 2 days) and everyone was really nice and helpful.

In addition, I didn't have to pay the Tax Authority a cent!!

Mindy