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. Bookkeeping may be performed by an employed accountant. A business without one must use a chartered or licensed accountant, subject to the exception for small and very small businesses using approved accounting management centres under chambers of commerce, industry and services.
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
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: no criminal or correctional conviction for acts contrary to honour, probity or good morals, under article 20 of Law No. 127-12.
- Competence requirement: article 21 of Law No. 127-12 requires an accepted diploma, success in the professional entrance competition and at least two continuous years of internship with a licensed accountant, completed by an internship thesis. Law No. 53-19 provides transitional routes for the professionals concerned.
Article 21 of Law No. 127-12 accepts a licence or higher diploma from Moroccan public education in the disciplines specified by the law, or a recognised equivalent. It also requires an entrance competition and professional internship.
How to become a chartered accountant to perform bookkeeping missions in Morocco
Registration with the OEC requires, among other conditions, the national chartered accountant diploma or a foreign diploma recognised as equivalent by the administration. The national course includes three years of training, a three-year professional internship and a thesis defence.
A chartered accountant must:
- Academic prerequisite: the entrance competition is open to holders of the diplomas listed in article 3 of Decree No. 2-89-519: normal or higher-cycle ISCAE diplomas, a licence in economics specialising in management or business economics, the French higher accounting studies diploma together with the baccalaureate, or an administratively recognised equivalent.
- 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
The national course includes a three-year professional internship during preparation for the certificates. Professional practice and use of the title require OEC registration.
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.
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.
Bookkeeping - a tax and legal obligation
Companies and establishments of non-resident companies are in principle subject to IS, subject to the exclusions in article 3 of the CGI. Moroccan SNC and SCS composed solely of individuals, and joint ventures with no more than five individual partners, fall under IR unless they irrevocably opt for IS. Joint ventures with at least one legal-person partner or more than five individual partners are compulsorily subject to IS for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026. Sole traders fall under IR.
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.
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: For a 31 December year-end, the tax result return and corporate tax balance are due by the following 31 March. Otherwise, the deadline is three months after closing. Third-party and non-resident remuneration returns follow their own deadlines, generally linked to the result return; the sales-by-customer statement accompanies it.
| **Tax** | **Due date** | **Return** |
| Professional tax (Taxe professionnelle) | January | Professional tax: declaration of taxable elements by 31 January following commencement of business or a year in which those elements increase or decrease. |
| Income Tax (IR) | Monthly | Monthly withholdings on salaries |
| February Y+1 | Annual salary declaration | |
| Corporate Tax (IS) | Within three months of closing for the result and IS balance; separate deadlines for other returns | Annual return |
| Before the end of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of the financial year | Quarterly installments | |
| Within three months of closing for the result and IS balance; separate deadlines for other returns | Details of services paid to foreign suppliers | |
| Within three months of closing for the result and IS balance; separate deadlines for other returns | Declaration of fees, commissions and other third-party remuneration booked during the previous year, within the scope and deadlines of article 151 of the CGI. | |
| Within three months of closing for the result and IS balance; separate deadlines for other returns | Client details | |
| Value Added Tax (VAT) | Monthly | Monthly VAT return (taxable turnover of the previous year ≥ MAD 1,000,000; non-residents without an establishment) |
| Quarterly | Quarterly VAT return (taxable turnover < MAD 1,000,000, new taxpayers for the current year, seasonal or occasional activities) | |
| Quarterly | VAT credit refund application for eligible taxpayers: at the end of each quarter, no later than one year following the quarter concerned, under article 103 of the CGI. This is not a compulsory periodic return for every business. | |
| Withholding taxes | Monthly | Withholding applies to article 15 income paid, made available or credited to non-residents, subject to tax treaties. It is remitted during the month following payment, availability or crediting. |
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,
- Accounting books comprise the journal, general ledger and inventory book, subject to legal simplifications. Corporate registers depend on the legal form.
Bookkeeping in Morocco - Year-end financial statement work
The chartered accountant must carry out an annual intervention related to year-end financial statement work.
This intervention consists of preparing the annual financial statements. In addition, they must prepare all the schedules required by Moroccan law.
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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.
