Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli is negotiating with the Israel Tax Authority in order to be given foreign residency status for tax purposes. Refaeli spends much of her time overseas and is seeking to pay the lower income tax of the US.

The negotiations revolve around the number of days that Refaeli spends in the country. She is seeking to persuade the tax assessor in the Kfar Saba office of the Tax Authority, which is near her parent's home in Hod Hasharon, that she is not an Israeli resident.

With the 24 year-old model earning astronomical sums, shifting her residency status to the US will save her significant sums of money.

Refaeli's attempts to avoid paying income tax in Israel follows her successful avoidance of mandatory military service.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 12, 2010

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