Personal vs. commercial import on AliExpress — when a purchase becomes a business
How much can you buy from AliExpress before it counts as commercial import, and what that means for customs, VAT and registering a business (Osek).
Many Israelis buy from AliExpress regularly, and at some point ask themselves: when does a purchase stop being "for myself" and become import for a business? That distinction decides whether you pay only VAT or also customs, and whether you need to register as a business (Osek). Here are the principles — the figures appear in one dated block below, because they change a lot.
What counts as personal import
Personal import = a purchase for your own or your family's use, in reasonable quantity and frequency. Most small private purchases from AliExpress fall here and enjoy the exemption threshold in the block above.
When import becomes "commercial"
There is no single magic number — the Tax Authority looks at the whole picture: quantity and frequency of orders, whether the goods are resold, and whether there is a business pattern (the same item in bulk, selling on a site or in groups). If you buy in order to sell — it's commercial, even if each parcel is small.
What it means in practice
Commercial import usually requires a registered business (Osek Patur or Osek Murshe), reporting and paying VAT on your sales, and sometimes customs or purchase tax on import. It's not complicated — but it means you're a business, not a consumer.
Importing in volume or thinking of selling seriously? If you already import in order to sell, you're effectively a business — and you can sell locally through AliExpress: zero selling commission, settlement in shekels (T+15), and inventory in Israel with fast delivery.
Info for Israeli sellersFrequently asked questions
Do you pay customs on every AliExpress purchase?
No. Up to the exemption threshold (see the dated block above) the purchase is exempt. Above it VAT applies, and on higher amounts customs may apply too.
How many orders make me an "importer"?
There is no hard numeric threshold — what matters is whether you buy in order to resell (a commercial purpose), not just the number of parcels.
If I sell in Facebook groups — do I need an Osek?
Reselling for profit is a business activity and usually requires a registered business (Osek) and reporting. It is worth consulting an accountant about your specific case.