Morocco’s Committee Concludes Review of 2026 Finance Bill

After lengthy debates, the Finance and Economic Development Committee of the House of Representatives concluded its review and vote on the first part of the 2026 Finance Bill late into the night of November 11-12.

The session was marked by intense parliamentary activity and amendments focused on taxation and customs. The bill, which introduces significant measures for administrative modernization and budgetary streamlining, will now be submitted to the plenary session before being sent to the House of Councillors for further legislative consideration.

The legislative process for the Finance Bill for the 2026 fiscal year has begun. During a session in the House of Representatives, which continued late into the night of November 11th, the Finance and Economic Development Committee examined and voted on the amendments to the first part of the 2026 Finance Bill, proposed by the parliamentary groups.

Committee Finalizes First Review of 2026 Finance Bill with Key Tax and Customs Reforms

According to information, 350 amendments were tabled, 325 from the opposition, 23 from the majority, and 2 from the government. The Finance and Economic Development Committee of the House of Representatives has thus completed its review and vote on the first part of the 2026 Finance Bill. Of the 350 amendments examined, 61 were withdrawn and approximately 40 were adopted, including a dozen concerning taxation and customs. The voting results also showed that 17 amendments were approved unanimously.

The debates, focused on tax and customs matters, confirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining budgetary stability while accelerating the digitalization of tax and customs administration. Articles 6 to 9 of the draft budget law, dedicated to taxation, were the focus of most of the discussions. Article 6 introduces technical measures aimed at better regulating the collection of taxes and related revenues while strengthening the traceability of receipts.

These amendments, adopted unanimously, do not change tax rates but improve administrative efficiency. Article 7, the cornerstone of the measure, revises several articles of the General Tax Code. It redefines several categories of taxable income, notably that derived from collective capital investments, and sets a differentiated tax rate for financial institutions (40%).

A five-year transitional tax relief scheme is also established for microfinance institutions, with a view to promoting financial inclusion. The legislation mandates electronic income filing and requires businesses to maintain digital accounting records via a secure exchange platform between taxpayers and the tax authorities.

Every company will be required to have a professional email address to ensure reliable communication and expedite audits. The draft finance bill also introduces targeted tax exemptions, particularly for sports clubs, while several amendments relating to VAT and corporate income tax were withdrawn following consultations.

Finally, the new tax provisions strengthen automated controls and increase penalties for non-electronic filing. The monitoring of both real estate and securities transactions is refined, and new reporting requirements will apply to public procurement contracts.

Modernizing Customs Control:
The customs provisions are among the most substantial in the text. They reflect the government’s commitment to modernizing the customs clearance process and securing trade through increased use of digital technologies. Significant changes are being made to the Customs and Indirect Taxes Code. New chapters govern the digitalization of customs control.

Importers must now declare the final destination of goods and undergo enhanced checks. Customs authorities are authorized to use modern monitoring devices, and a secure electronic filing platform has been established for commercial documents.

Furthermore, the definition of smuggling has been broadened to include false declarations in free trade zones. In addition, customs tariffs have been revised. Applicable rates have been adjusted to encourage local production and limit imports. Pharmaceutical products and certain industrial inputs have seen reduced duties, while plastics, rubber, and several household appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) have experienced a moderate increase in import duties.

Regarding the domestic consumption tax (TIC), two major changes are being introduced: only authorized operators will now be able to market petroleum products (diesel, gasoline, propane, butane, heating oil, and kerosene), and the new tariffs will not fully come into effect until January 1, 2028, providing a transition period for the energy sector. A duty on imported timber is set at 12%, while maintaining certain exemptions for raw timber and semi-processed panels, in order to support the local industry.

The remaining amendments concern technical adjustments related to special Treasury accounts, public institutions, and the creation of budget positions. The second part of the bill, dedicated to sectoral budgets and public institutions, is expected to undergo less extensive scrutiny. The vote is scheduled for this Friday, following the plenary session in the House of Representatives. As a reminder, the Finance and Economic Development Committee will review and adopt the entire Finance Bill before its transmission to the House of Councillors.

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(Featured image by Towfiqu barbhuiya via Unsplash)

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First published in LES ECO.ma. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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