HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
Following directives from central authorities, regional and provincial tax authorities have initiated extensive audits of the tax declarations of a number of professionals belonging to the freelancer category.
This step was taken after the administration received data indicating the possibility of concealing actual income and not declaring it within tax returns. Preliminary data indicates that a portion of this undeclared income was directed towards the acquisition of gold and precious metals, in an attempt to avoid tracking it through traditional financial channels. The investigations, which were conducted in coordination with customs and indirect tax authorities, made it possible to monitor transactions related to some freelancers, such as doctors, especially in the cities of Casablanca and Marrakech, after contradictions appeared between their declared income and their level of spending. The review operations are based on risk analysis reports from the General Directorate of Taxes, which have identified cases of non-declaration of income resulting from medical interventions within private clinics, often paid in cash. The monitoring also relies on the exchange of data between several public institutions, which contributed to uncovering cases of tax evasion and linking them to high-value properties or expenses. The tax law allows the administration to review the tax situation of the obligated parties for a period of up to ten years in the event of non-declaration or the proven existence of manipulations in the accounts, which may result in the collection of due taxes, accompanied by fines and legal increases.
