Morocco is tightening the screws on real estate fraudsters. Facing significant damage to the national economy caused by under-the-table payments, the government has decided to take action, warns Nadia Fettah Alaoui, the Minister of Economy and Finance.
The General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) is at the forefront. Since 2017, with the implementation of digital declarations, tax officials have had effective tools to track down irregularities. Between 2020 and 2023, over 700 cases of real estate operators have been thoroughly examined, whether through field inspections or office reviews.
The results speak for themselves, the minister proudly stated: more than one billion dirhams in tax revenue have been recovered thanks to these investigations. This amount has tripled in three years, demonstrating the increased effectiveness of the tax services. “These audits help uncover fraud and recover significant sums,” emphasized the minister.
However, the fight against fraud isn’t just about enforcement. The government also focuses on incentives. Measures have been introduced to encourage access to social housing, including VAT refunds for first-time homebuyers. Real estate developers also benefit from tax exemptions for building social housing, provided they adhere to specific guidelines.
To carry out its mission, the DGI relies on advanced tools like risk analysis and data exploitation from its partners. The 2024 Finance Bill also proposes new measures to monitor taxpayers’ income and detect any potential concealments.
The goal is to ensure tax fairness, safeguard state revenues, and clean up the real estate sector. “We aim to end impunity and foster a climate of trust among all economic actors,” Nadia Fettah insisted.
