Why Companies in Israel May Consider Moving Operations to Delaware

moving operations to Delaware - board sign of Delaware
moving operations to Delaware - board sign of Delaware

Why should an Israeli company, or any non-US entity, explore the option of moving operations to Delaware?

For the last couple decades, Israel has been a safe and stable country for startups to operate in, with a well-developed economy and a highly skilled workforce.  Overall, the country has a supportive small business culture and regulatory framework. Developing a product or software in Israel is advantageous, as they have robust laws and regulations that protect intellectual property rights, encourage entrepreneurship, and provide support for small and medium-sized businesses.  

Israel has a well-established startup ecosystem, with many successful tech startups and a thriving venture capital industry. Historically, the political climate in Israel has been complex and dynamic, causing marginal concern for businesses and investors.  That has changed.

Now there is a new threat to businesses that has nothing to do with the continuing age-old conflict.  A growing group of tech leaders are alarmed at Prime Minister Netanyahu‘s plans to give parliament veto powers over the Supreme Court.  Politicians nullifying the authority of the highest court in the land is bad for their democracy, and for business. 

The value of the currency has decreased as protests rise.  Public and private tech companies have announced they are taking funds out of the country.  Even worse, startups have been reporting that it’s nearly impossible to raise funds within the country as well.  This change has already had an impact on the future of investment in Israel’s technology industry – both from inside and outside.

There are several reasons why a startup business from Israel might consider incorporating a related company in Delaware, by moving their headquarters there. Reincorporating a business from one country to another can be a complex and challenging process, with tax implications being a substantial risk, and should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. However, developing an international presence is often an intelligent part of a larger plan as a hedge against the long-term effects of economic and political uncertainty, before the change plays out.

Key Takeaways For Israeli Companies Moving To Delaware

  • Many Israeli tech and other startups are considering moving to Delaware, United States.
  • Wealthy United States aid and pro-business policies are pulling factors.  
  • Some cite uncertainty over the Israeli judicial overhaul.
  • Most of the Israeli tech sector depends on foreign investment.
  • Delaware has a lower corporate income tax rate than many other U.S. states.

Here are the reasons why Israeli companies consider moving to Delaware:

Why Should An Israeli Company Explore Delaware Corporation?

Corporate offices moving to Delaware

For the last couple of decades, Israel has been a safe and stable country for startups to operate in, with a well-developed economy and a highly skilled workforce. Overall, the government has a supportive small business culture and regulatory framework.

Developing a product or software in Israel is advantageous because they have robust laws and regulations that protect intellectual property rights, encourage entrepreneurship, and support small and medium-sized businesses. 

The U.S. and Israeli authorities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in August 2007 that aims to provide $30 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel over the next decade. Representative John Carney vowed to support the MOU, which means that Israel reestablished significant military funds into U.S. companies. In support of Carney, the Delaware Department of State established a trade office with the corporation Atid EDI, LTD.

Various approaches to issues like unemployment and environmental protection have been accomplished in Israel and could be imported for the benefit of the U.S. 

Impact Of Moving To Delaware For Israeli Businesses

Israeli Companies Moving to Delaware

Israel can act as a bridge for trade with America and Europe, as this is the only country with free trademark agreements. However, on the high technology side, Israel offers excellent investment opportunities. IBM, Motorola, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and Intel found that it is profitable to do business with Israel.

Scientific Innovations

Researchers from Delaware are developing cutting-edge technologies to connect projects with Israeli scientists with the help of the Binational Science Foundation (BSF). BSF was recognized in 1972 for promoting the scientific establishment, relations, and cooperation between the United States and Israel’s scientists.

Agriculture Benefits

America and Israel jointly started the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund.

(BARD) in 1978 to help aid programs between American and Israeli scientists for mission-oriented, strategic, beneficial, and applied research into agricultural issues. Bard achieved more than $130 million to American institutions for over 1,352 projects.

Israel has a well-established startup ecosystem, with many successful tech startups and a thriving venture capital industry. Historically, the political climate in Israel has been complex and dynamic, causing marginal concern for businesses and investors. That has changed.

Now, there is a new threat to businesses that has nothing to do with the continuing age-old conflict. A growing group of tech leaders are alarmed at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plans to give parliament veto powers over the Supreme Court.   

Political Aspects

Politicians nullifying the authority of the highest court in the land is terrible for their democracy and business. The value of the currency has decreased as protests rise. Public and private tech companies have announced they are taking funds out of the country. Even worse, startups have been reporting that it’s nearly impossible to raise funds within the country as well. This change has already had an impact on the future of investment in Israel’s technology industry – both from inside and outside.

There are several reasons why a startup business from Israel might consider moving to Delaware for incorporating a related company in Delaware if not moving its headquarters there.

Reincorporating a business from one country to another can be a complex and challenging process, with tax implications being a substantial risk, and should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. However, developing an international presence is often an intelligent part of a larger plan as a hedge against the long-term effects of economic and political uncertainty before the change plays out.

Some potential benefits of moving to Delaware include:

  1. Favorable corporate laws: Delaware has a well-established and business-friendly legal system that is often cited as one of the most favorable in the United States for corporations. Delaware has a specialized court system, the Delaware Court of Chancery, which is dedicated to resolving business disputes quickly and fairly.
  2. Tax advantages: Delaware has a low corporate income tax rate compared to many other U.S. states, and there are no sales tax or personal property tax in Delaware.
  3. Access to funding: Delaware is home to many venture capital firms and angel investors, which could potentially provide greater access to funding and resources for startups.
  4. Established business infrastructure: Delaware has a highly developed and established infrastructure for incorporating and managing businesses, which could potentially simplify the administrative and legal requirements for startups.
  5. Reduced bureaucracy: Starting a business in Israel can involve a significant amount of bureaucracy and paperwork, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. By contrast, incorporating in Delaware can be a relatively straightforward process.

It is important to note that each startup’s situation is unique, and the decision to incorporate in Delaware or any other location should be made after careful consideration of all the relevant factors, including tax and legal implications, access to funding, and the potential challenges and costs of moving the business to a new location.

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Conclusion

If you have an extensive corporation background, you are becoming one of them, or you are searching for a startup to secure aid from P.E.s, Investors, or V.C.s, the incorporation in Delaware is noticeable.

If you have a smaller setup, focused locally and self-funded, Delaware incorporation may not be worth investing in. Better to work in your home state.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact us.; you can also visit our website for expert tax and bookkeeping support for your business.

Author Bio
David McKeegan
David McKeegan, the founder of Cleer.Tax is both an MBA and Enrolled Agent. As an entrepreneur and small business owner himself, he really understands the pain points that company owners and founders have in regards to tax compliance and having clean financial statements. What really differentiates David is his ability to distill complicated tax matters into layman’s terms, making the advice actionable and accessible to all.
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