On 6 September 2016, Israel's Ministry of Finance issued a release announcing the ratification of the OECD-Council of Europe Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters as amended by the 2010 protocol, which Israel signed 24 November 2015. According to the release, the Convention will apply in Israel from 1 January 2017. The release also notes that Israel has chosen to apply the Convention only to direct taxes (excluding social security), and will not apply the provisions of the Convention regarding foreign tax audit assistance, assistance in collection of tax and the transfer of documents.