Officials insist Rafaeli was actually living in apartments in Tel Aviv listed under the names of family members.
Refaeli’s attorney, Moshe Mizrahi, told Ynet news in January, the tax authorities are reneging on a deal she signed in 2009 and the case has “been blown out of proportions... all of the agreements were on the table, she hasn’t hidden anything.”
Mizrahi and fellow lawyer Udi Barzilai, told Calcalist business news on Monday that the main years in dispute are 2009-2010, when Refaeli was living with DiCaprio. "At the end of 2009 Refaeli and the Israeli Tax Authority reached an agreement that the model would be considered a non-Israeli resident since 2007... accordingly, Refaeli reported being a non-resident for 2009 and 2010," they told Calcalist.
The two lawyers said their client could appeal to a higher ruling.
In addition to appearing on the covers of top magazines, Rafaeli – now married with two children – has appeared in films, television and engaged in several fashion related business ventures. She has also participated in an Israeli Water Authority campaign to reduce water waste and has advocated for the reduction in plastic bag usage.
She will co-host the main event of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Tel Aviv.