In brief: Bookkeeping in Morocco is a legal and tax obligation under Law 9-88. Companies can handle it in-house or outsource to a chartered accountant registered with the OEC. Proper bookkeeping ensures compliance with accounting rules and protects against tax reassessments.
Why should you entrust bookkeeping in Morocco to a qualified professional?
A company can handle bookkeeping in Morocco in several ways, but must always comply with the accounting rules in Morocco:
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In-house bookkeeping: large companies have an internal accounting department
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Outsourced bookkeeping: outsourcing the accounting to a specialized firm, which may be:
A fiduciary firm
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A licensed accountant
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A chartered accountant registered with the Order of Chartered Accountants
Bookkeeping in Morocco consists of recording a company’s accounting entries on a daily basis. Indeed, in addition to being mandatory, accounting plays a crucial role. It allows:
- Tax compliance: serving as the basis for tax returns
- Third-party information: informing stakeholders about the financial situation
- Profitability analysis: calculating the company’s profitability
For any inquiry: Contact us.
Bookkeeping in Morocco - Who can perform this mission?
Law No. 127.12 stipulates in its Article 3 that only:
- On one hand, chartered accountants registered with the OEC (Order of Chartered Accountants)
- On the other, licensed accountants registered with the OCA (Organization of Licensed Accountants)
may use the designation of accounting firm, fiduciary accounting firm, or accounting company.
However, in practice, several firms use this designation without holding the required qualifications. Indeed, many of these firms existed before this law was enacted.
How to become a licensed accountant to perform bookkeeping missions in Morocco
No one may be registered with the Organization without meeting certain conditions:
- General conditions: nationality and age requirements
- Honor requirement: not having been convicted of a criminal offense
- Competence requirement: proven by a professional aptitude examination (in addition to academic degrees)
However, there is no specific training program for obtaining this title. Indeed, the minimum training requirement is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree plus 4 years (Bac+4).
How to become a chartered accountant to perform bookkeeping missions in Morocco
To become a chartered accountant, one must hold the National Chartered Accountant Diploma. This is a degree requiring a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education (Bac+7).
A chartered accountant must:
- Academic prerequisite: hold a Bac+4 degree to be admitted to the entrance examination
- Training program: undergo a 3-year training program in the chartered accounting cycle after passing the entrance examination
- Professional internship: complete at least 3 years under a chartered accountant
- Final assessments: pass three aptitude certificates and defend a professional thesis
It is impossible to access the title of chartered accountant without a minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience.
Why should you only outsource bookkeeping to a qualified professional?
Outsourcing your bookkeeping should not be taken lightly. Indeed, a company’s tax security depends on proper bookkeeping.
Accounting records can be used by the Tax Administration as evidence during a tax audit.
Corporate accounting in Morocco also holds a central place in business management. As such, well-maintained accounting enables better management of cash flow, costs, and more.
Furthermore, entrusting your bookkeeping to a chartered accountant also allows you to benefit from tax advisory support. A diligent professional is expected to stay up to date with the various regulatory changes and help you benefit from them.
For any inquiry: Contact us.
Bookkeeping - a tax and legal obligation
Every Moroccan company (or branch) is mandatorily subject to Corporate Tax (IS) in Morocco. In addition, it must comply with a tax calendar. Sometimes, these returns are due even in the absence of business activity.
Furthermore, in accordance with Moroccan laws, these accounts must be prepared on the basis of the Moroccan chart of accounts and the provisions of the General Chart of Accounts (CGNC).
Upsilon Consulting’s Commitment
**For our clients, our commitment consists of fully outsourcing your accounting. Our experts supervise: **
- First, bookkeeping based on the documents provided by the client (invoices, bank statements, etc.).
- Then, accounting that complies with Moroccan accounting standards, necessary for Corporate Tax (IS) compliance
- Finally, communication increasingly based on online exchanges
Services related to accounting outsourcing
A chartered accountant can also handle the following services:
First, payroll management
In addition to bookkeeping, the chartered accountant handles all annual and monthly social declarations. These declarations include:
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First, CNSS (National Social Security Fund)
preparation of pay slips,
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salary declaration forms
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monthly payment slips
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Second, Income Tax on wages (IR)
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preparation of the monthly payment voucher
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monthly transfer statements and form 9421
Second, tax compliance
A chartered accountant ensures compliance with filing obligations in order to limit the risks of surcharges and tax penalties.
Indeed, this service includes monitoring your tax calendar. It also includes regular updates on the options available to you in order to optimize your taxes.
The table below shows the main dates for the various tax returns:
| **Tax** | **Due date** | **Return** |
| Professional tax (Taxe professionnelle) | January | Annual asset declaration |
| Income Tax (IR) | Monthly | Monthly withholdings on salaries |
| February Y+1 | Annual salary declaration | |
| Corporate Tax (IS) | March Y+1 | Moroccan financial statements |
| March Y+1 | Annual return | |
| Quarter + 1 month | Quarterly installments | |
| March Y+1 | Details of services paid to foreign suppliers | |
| March Y+1 | Details of fees paid to local suppliers | |
| March Y+1 | Client details | |
| Value Added Tax (VAT) | Monthly | Monthly VAT return |
| Quarterly | VAT credit refund application | |
| Withholding taxes | Monthly | Withholding tax on service fees paid to foreign suppliers |
For any inquiry: Contact us.
Third, Foreign Exchange Office compliance
The foreign exchange regime in Morocco requires compliance with certain specific reporting rules.
In this regard, your chartered accountant can handle the annual compliance with the Foreign Exchange Office. They will take care of the declarations related to your foreign currency transactions in order to comply with exchange regulations.
Fourth, annual corporate legal secretariat
Bookkeeping services in Morocco are accompanied by the management of your annual corporate legal secretariat, which includes:
- First, the drafting of legal documents: minutes of the annual ordinary general meeting, letter on regulated agreements where applicable,
- Then, the maintenance of legal registers: inventory book, logbook, and register of general meetings.
Bookkeeping in Morocco - Year-end financial statement work
The chartered accountant must carry out an annual intervention related to year-end financial statement work.
Indeed, this intervention consists of preparing the annual financial statements. In addition, they must prepare all the schedules required by Moroccan law.
For any inquiry: Contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are needed for bookkeeping in Morocco?
Essential documents include sales and purchase invoices, bank statements, expense receipts, payroll records, tax declarations, and contracts. Moroccan law requires companies to retain all accounting documents for a minimum of 10 years, and they must be available for inspection during tax audits.
Can a company handle bookkeeping internally in Morocco?
Yes, companies can manage their bookkeeping internally, but it requires qualified staff familiar with the CGNC framework and Moroccan tax regulations. Many businesses, especially SMEs, prefer to outsource to a chartered accountant to ensure compliance, accuracy, and to benefit from professional expertise.
What are the penalties for poor bookkeeping in Morocco?
Poor or non-existent bookkeeping can result in the tax administration rejecting the company’s accounts and assessing taxes on a notional basis. Additional penalties include fines for late filing, surcharges on reassessed taxes, and in severe cases, criminal liability for company directors under Moroccan law.
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