On 27 February 2026, the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) published DGI circular (note circulaire) No. 737 on the tax measures of Finance Act (Loi de Finances) No. 50-25 for the 2026 budget year. As every year, this document is the reference for applying the new rules: it sets out the tax authority’s interpretation, the effective dates and a large number of worked examples.
Below, we highlight the points that call for prompt action by businesses.
The 2026 Finance Act requires non-resident companies with no establishment in Morocco to declare capital gains on disposals of property in Morocco, for disposals made since 1 January 2026. For capital gains on securities, the circular points out that this obligation already existed, with the same 30-day deadline.
The circular specifies that the tax on the gain is paid at the same time as the return is filed, electronically, within 30 days following the month of disposal. For a disposal in March 2026, the deadline is therefore 30 April 2026.
For buyers and notaries, this needs watching: the non-resident seller’s tax compliance determines how secure the transaction is.
Since 1 January 2026, industrial processing businesses must self-account for VAT (TVA) on their purchases of new industrial waste and of scrap metals and materials. This regime is mandatory for them and sits alongside the optional reverse charge open to other taxable persons since July 2024.
The circular illustrates the case of a business in a VAT credit position: its credit return must be accompanied by payment of the self-assessed VAT. In other words, the regime is only fully neutral if the business is in a payable position. For a business that is structurally in credit, it creates a cash flow requirement, to be offset through refund claims.
Where a foreign supplier has no tax representative, its Moroccan customer files and pays the VAT on its behalf. The 2026 Finance Act has written an existing practice into law: the customer attaches to its VAT return a statement of the non-resident taxpayers with whom it carried out taxable or exempt transactions during the period.
The circular points out that failure to file this statement, or filing it late, is penalised by the fines in Article 204-III of the General Tax Code (CGI).
The circular confirms that the family allowance, raised from 500 to 600 dirhams (MAD) per person (capped at 3,600 dirhams), applies to income earned from 1 January 2026. In our view, pay arrears relating to 2025 and paid in 2026 should remain subject to the previous reduction. The circular does not address this case, so check it with your adviser.
The 2026 Finance Act allows the tax authority to carry out an audit of the accounts and a review of a taxpayer’s overall personal tax position simultaneously, with:
These rules apply to audits where notice is served on or after 1 January 2026. For SME owners and professionals taxed under personal income tax (IR), consistency between the business accounts and personal assets becomes even more important.
| Deadline | Obligation |
|---|---|
| 31 March 2026 | Return of 2025 taxable profit and social solidarity contribution (CSS) (calendar financial year) |
| Before 1 April 2026 | Last annual payment terms return (2025 financial year) for businesses up to MAD 50m |
| 1 July 2026 | 5% withholding tax on rents, withholding extended to banks, insurers and businesses ≥ MAD 500m, additional 2% duty |
| Before 1 April 2027 | First return of foreign investment income received in 2026 |
A circular does not create the rule, but it does bind the tax authority to its interpretation. Where your situation is unclear, compare the circular with the text of the law and, if necessary, ask the tax authority for a ruling.
Our tax and legal team can analyse how these clarifications affect you. To discuss it, contact us.
