Tax rates in Morocco

Company Tax

For fiscal years 2024 to 2026, the evolution of the CIT rates for companies in Morocco is as follows:

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

Moroccan tax applies territorially. Companies, whether established in Morocco or not, are subject to corporate income tax on all profits or income derived from property they own, activities they conduct, and profit-making transactions they carry out in Morocco, even if these activities are occasional. Foreign companies are liable on Moroccan-sourced income at the same rates as local companies (unless preferential treatment is granted under foreign investment schemes).
A branch tax of 15% applies to the net income transferred by the Moroccan branch to foreign entities.

Capital Gains Taxation

Capital gains are treated as non-current income and taxed at the normal corporate tax rate.
Non-resident companies are exempt from capital gains derived from the sale of stocks listed on the Casablanca stock exchange, excluding the shares of real estate entities.
For the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, companies will benefit from a 70% deduction on the net capital gain resulting from the sale of fixed assets, excluding land and buildings.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

Expenses incurred in connection with business activities are generally deductible unless specifically excluded. Start-up expenses shall be capitalised and depreciated for tax purposes over a five-year period. Interest on loans granted by direct shareholders is deductible if the capital is fully paid in, limited to the share capital equity and the interest rate provided annually by the Ministry of Finance.

Charitable contributions made by companies are deductible only if they are granted to foundations and societies explicitly provided by law. In the case of contributions made to the community enterprise, the deduction is capped at 0.2% of the turnover.

Bad debts that are definitively non-recoverable are treated as deductible losses. Taxes are generally deductible (except for corporate income tax).

Tax losses can be carried forward for up to four years from the end of the accounting period in which the loss occurred. However, the portion of a loss attributable to depreciation can be carried forward indefinitely. The carryback of losses is not permitted. Foreign tax relief is provided for foreign-sourced income.

Morocco offers tax incentives in the form of tax exemption or taxation at more advantageous rates for local and foreign investors. For instance, incentives include an exemption from business tax for the first five years for newly incorporated companies and a corporate income tax exemption for companies operating tourist establishments for the first five years, subject to certain conditions. Several acceleration zones in cities like Fes, Kenitra, Layoune, Nador, Rabat, and Tangier offer authorized companies a business tax exemption for the first 15 years and a corporate income tax exemption for the first five years. Companies with "Casablanca Finance City" status are entitled to a corporate income tax exemption for five years from the start of the tax year in which the status was obtained. Additionally, tax-neutral treatment may be available for corporate income tax purposes for the transfer of investment goods between member companies of a restructuring group. Companies that qualify as OPCIs are exempt from tax on rental income from buildings constructed for professional use, as well as dividends and interest received.

Other Corporate Taxes

Registration duties between 1% to 6% are due on all written or verbal conventions, such as property transfer of real estate, shares, or rights; company set-up; equity increase; and goodwill transfer (6%). A flat rate of MAD 200 is also applicable to specific operations and conventions. The acquisition of real property is subject to a 1% real estate tax.

Legal entities conducting business activities in Morocco are subject to a business tax based on the rental value of buildings, premises, and other assets used for the business. This tax is levied at rates of 10%, 20%, or 30% of the rental value, depending on the nature of the entity's business.

Additionally, a municipal tax is imposed at a rate of 10.5% on the rental value of real estate assets located within urban districts, and at a rate of 6.5% on the rental value of real estate assets in the peripheral zones of urban districts.

A Payroll tax (called professional training tax) is imposed on the gross monthly remuneration of employees that are subject to social security contributions, at a rate of 1.6%. Morocco's mandatory social security regime is managed by the CNSS (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale). Employers' contributions are as follows: family allocation 6.40%; social allocation 8.60% (with a computation base capped at MAD 6,000); professional tax 1.60%; mandatory medical care 4.11%.

Other Domestic Resources

General Tax Administration

Tax Rate

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

The deductions from gross salary concern mainly social security contributions, retirement contributions, and a lump-sum deduction equal to 25% of the gross salary for incomes not exceeding MAD 78,000 (with a ceiling of MAD 35,000 per year).
The deduction applicable to pensions and life annuities is set at 70% of the gross taxable amount not exceeding MAD 168,000.

Charitable contributions are deductible if granted to organisms and societies expressly provided by the tax law. Loan interest related to the acquisition of a main house is tax deductible, up to a limit of 10% of the taxable global revenue.

Certain indemnities such as dismissal indemnity, compensation for voluntary departure, and compensation for damages awarded in the event of dismissal are exempt from taxation up to a maximum limit of MAD 1 million. However, if an individual receives multiple indemnities, the combined total amount of such indemnities exempted from income tax cannot surpass the aforementioned limit of 1 million.

Professional expenses incurred in the operation of the business are generally deductible unless specifically excluded. The cap on professional expenses deductible from gross annual taxable income has been raised from MAD 30,000 to MAD 35,000 for individuals whose gross annual taxable income does not exceed MAD 78,000. For those with a gross annual taxable income exceeding MAD 78,000, the deduction rate is set at 25%, up to a limit of MAD 35,000. Additionally, the deduction for pensions and life annuities has been increased from 60% to 70% on the gross taxable amount not exceeding MAD 168,000.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime

Individuals with their main homes in Morocco are taxed on the totality of their incomes. Non-resident individuals are taxed only on Moroccan-sourced income.
There are no special regimes for expatriates (unless a double taxation treaty applies).