Getting the VAT back applies to Israeli made appliances which includes refrigerators and airconditioners. I'm not sure the brands of the fridges (but any store will tell you) but the airconditioners include electra and Elco which are actually the AC's that are recommended anyway (Elco is a little higher end then electra from what I understand, they are just both different electra products). So using the rights was very worthwhile for us.

You go to the store that you want to buy the appliance from, tell them that you want to buy it with Oleh rights. They should know what to do (I haven't encountered any store yet that doesn't), you need a reciept of some sort from them that has the price (before and after VAT) of the appliance you are buying, the brand name, and model number.

Take this reciept to the meches which is on Kanfei Nesharim (I think 66), it's right before the traffic circle that will take you to the NBN offices if you go right, Har Nof if you go straight. It's a building with lots of glass on it, more modern looking.

The Meches is open 8:00am to 1:30 pm sun through thursday. It is immediately to the left as you enter the building with glass doors in front of the offices. They don't open the glass doors until 8:30 (the other gov't offices there don't open until 8:30) but if you can get the attention of the security guard and tell them you're there for Meches they'll let you in early, otherwise just come later. Ask the info desk where to go.

For the meches you need teudat zehut, teudat oleh, Israeli passport with immigration visa (just bring all of your passports, spouse's as well, just in case they decide they need them), American passport, lease for your apt/house (or whatever documentation you have when you own a house), and if you're renting you need a letter from your landlord saying that you are allowed to install the a/c (I'm assuming you don't need that part for a
fridge) and that you are taking the appliance with you when you leave (only allowed to sell it after 6 years). And the reciept from the store.

They will stamp your teudat oleh and fill out a form which you then take back to the store and then you can buy the appliance.

I made it sound complicated here just to give all of the details but Meches isn't usually that crowded and it's really not such a big deal. Well worth the money you save. Just bring all of the documents. The first time we went we just had teudat zehut and oleh, and the reciept (that's all we needed for the matress we bought when we first moved here) and had to come back a second time.

Tamar Shalev
NBN 04
MD to Matta