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Q3 2026 Corporate Tax Installments Morocco: Business Calendar

Updated on June 12, 202614 min read

Corporate Income Tax (IS) in Morocco is paid in 4 quarterly installments, each representing 25% of the prior fiscal year's tax. The Q3 2026 installment must be paid before September 30, 2026, under penalty of a 5% surcharge plus 0.5% per month of delay. This guide details the 4 tax brackets (17.5% to 37%), the precise 2026 calendar, calculation method, the CFC regime, and a concrete SME case study.

1. 1. Morocco IS 2026: The 4 Tax Brackets

Revenue (excl. VAT)IS Rate 2026Company Type
< 100,000 MAD17.5%Micro-business
100,001 to 1,000,000 MAD27%Small business
1,000,001 to 5,000,000 MAD32%SME
> 5,000,000 MAD37%Large enterprise

Since the gradual 2023-2026 reform, Morocco's Corporate Income Tax applies a progressive 4-bracket scale based on revenue (not profit). The rate applies to the fiscal year's taxable profit. The 2026 Finance Law confirmed these rates remain unchanged for the current year.

Watch the Revenue Threshold

The rate is determined by revenue excluding VAT, not by profit. A company with 6M MAD revenue and 200k MAD profit will pay 37% on the 200k, or 74,000 MAD in IS.

2. 2. The 4 Quarterly Installments: Principle

  • Installment 1 (Q1): before March 31
  • Installment 2 (Q2): before June 30
  • Installment 3 (Q3): before September 30
  • Installment 4 (Q4): before December 31
  • Annual balance: before March 31 of year N+1

Morocco's General Tax Code (Article 170) requires IS payment via 4 provisional quarterly installments. Each installment represents 25% of the IS amount due for the prior fiscal year. Any balance is settled when filing the annual return, before March 31 of the following year.

3. 3. Calculating the Installment: 25% of Prior Year IS

Each installment's calculation base is the IS actually owed for the prior fiscal year (N-1). The 25% per quarter rule is then applied. If the N-1 fiscal year generated 800,000 MAD in IS, each 2026 quarterly installment will be 200,000 MAD. For newly created companies without a closed N-1 fiscal year, no installment is due the first year: only the balance will be settled in N+1.

Case of N-1 Loss-Making Companies

If the prior fiscal year was in loss, no installment is due for year N. However, the company must still file its annual return and pay the minimum contribution (CM) of 0.25% to 0.5% of revenue depending on activity.

Minimum Contribution (CM)

The CM is due even in case of loss. It represents the fiscal floor and amounts to 0.25% of revenue for startup companies (first 3 fiscal years) and 0.5% beyond. It can be offset against IS for the following 3 years.

4. 4. Precise 2026 Calendar: Deadlines

Deadline2026 Due DateAmountLate Penalty
Q1 InstallmentMarch 31, 202625% of 2025 IS5% + 0.5%/month
Q2 InstallmentJune 30, 202625% of 2025 IS5% + 0.5%/month
Q3 InstallmentSeptember 30, 202625% of 2025 IS5% + 0.5%/month
Q4 InstallmentDecember 31, 202625% of 2025 IS5% + 0.5%/month
2026 IS Return + BalanceMarch 31, 2027Balance after installments5% + 0.5%/month

Here is the complete schedule of IS deadlines for fiscal year 2026, with particular attention to the Q3 installment whose deadline is September 30, 2026. In case of weekend or public holiday, the date is postponed to the next business day.

Q3 2026 Installment: Plan Ahead

The September 30, 2026 installment is often forgotten due to back-to-school season. Schedule the wire transfer in mid-September via SIMPL-IS on the DGI portal to avoid automatic penalties.

5. 5. Late Penalties: 5% + 0.5% per Month

  • Initial surcharge: 5% of unpaid amount
  • Late interest: 0.5%/month or fraction of month
  • Accumulation: applied until effective payment
  • Additional sanction: fixed fine of 500 MAD for non-filing
  • Appeal: gracious remission possible if documented force majeure

Any late payment of an IS installment automatically triggers a 5% surcharge on the amount owed, plus 0.5% per month or fraction of additional month of delay. This penalty is calculated by DGI during audit or final liquidation. A 6-month delay on a 200,000 MAD installment thus costs 16,000 MAD in penalties (5% + 3% = 8% × 200k).

6. 6. CFC Regime: 5-Year Exemption then 8.75%

Companies benefiting from Casablanca Finance City (CFC) status enjoy a particularly attractive derogatory tax regime. During the first 5 fiscal years following status grant, they are totally exempt from IS (0% rate). Beyond that, the rate becomes 8.75% for life on export profits, compared to 17.5% to 37% under the normal regime.

CFC Eligibility Conditions

  • International vocation company (export, finance, holding)
  • Effective establishment in the CFC zone in Casablanca
  • Minimum staff and qualified payroll
  • Approval issued by CFC Authority
  • Annual activity reporting

Impact on Installments

A CFC company in the exemption phase (0%) pays no IS installment for 5 years. After this period, installments are calculated based on the 8.75% rate applied to N-1 IS, representing a major competitive advantage over the common-law regime.

7. 7. Concrete Case: SME with 8M MAD Revenue

ItemAmountCalculation
2025 Revenue (excl. VAT)8,000,000 MADBracket > 5M MAD
Applicable IS Rate37%2026 scale
2025 Taxable Profit8,000,000 MADAfter deductible expenses
2025 IS Due2,960,000 MAD8,000,000 × 37%
2026 Quarterly Installment740,000 MAD2,960,000 ÷ 4
Q3 2026 Installment (Sept 30)740,000 MADDue before 09/30/2026
1-Month Late Penalty40,700 MAD5% + 0.5% × 740k

Let's take the example of a Moroccan services-sector SME with 8,000,000 MAD revenue excluding VAT in 2025. With revenue above 5M MAD, it falls in the highest bracket at 37%. Its 2025 taxable profit is 8,000,000 MAD (simplified assumption; in practice, deductible expenses are subtracted).

Cash Flow: Provision Monthly

For an SME, freezing 740k MAD in cash every quarter is heavy. Provision monthly (≈ 247k MAD/month) in a dedicated account to absorb the shock of IS deadlines.

8. 8. Documents and DGI Filing Procedure

IS installment payment is mandatorily made electronically via the SIMPL-IS portal of the General Tax Directorate (DGI). The company must have an active fiscal account and an electronic certificate. The annual return model 8401 must be filed before March 31 of the following year with complete financial statements.

Required Documents for Annual Return

  • Form 8401 (IS return) completed online
  • Balance sheet and income statement (CPC) certified
  • Depreciation and provisions schedule
  • Statement of deductible and non-deductible expenses
  • Statement of distributed dividends
  • Complete fiscal package (ETIC, ESG, etc.)

SIMPL-IS Payment Procedure

  • Login to tax.gov.ma portal with certificate
  • Select ADC form (installment)
  • Enter 25% of N-1 IS amount
  • Validate and obtain electronic receipt
  • Pay by wire transfer or direct debit
  • Archive the receipt (10-year duration)

9. FAQ

Q.What is the Q3 2026 IS installment deadline in Morocco?
The Q3 2026 corporate tax installment must be paid no later than September 30, 2026. Any delay triggers an automatic 5% penalty on the amount owed, increased by 0.5% per month of delay.
Q.How is the quarterly IS installment amount calculated?
Each installment represents 25% of the IS actually owed for the prior fiscal year. If your 2025 IS was 1,000,000 MAD, each 2026 installment will be 250,000 MAD.
Q.What are the IS rates in Morocco in 2026?
The scale has 4 brackets: 17.5% (revenue < 100k MAD), 27% (100k to 1M), 32% (1M to 5M), and 37% (> 5M). The rate is determined by revenue excluding VAT and applied to taxable profit.
Q.Does a loss-making company have to pay IS installments?
No, if the N-1 fiscal year was in loss, no IS installment is due in N. However, the minimum contribution (CM) of 0.25% to 0.5% of revenue remains owed and must be paid annually.
Q.What is the penalty for late payment of the Q3 installment?
The delay triggers a 5% surcharge on the unpaid amount, plus 0.5% per month or fraction of month of delay. For a 740,000 MAD installment, a one-month delay costs 40,700 MAD in penalties.
Q.Do self-employed entrepreneurs pay IS in Morocco?
No, Moroccan self-employed entrepreneurs are exempt from IS. They fall under the Unified Professional Contribution (CPU) regime at 0.5% to 1% of revenue depending on activity, capped at 500,000 MAD annual revenue.
Q.What is the CFC regime and what IS advantage does it offer?
Casablanca Finance City status offers total IS exemption (0%) during the first 5 fiscal years, then a reduced rate of 8.75% for life on export profits. It is Morocco's most advantageous tax regime for internationally oriented companies.
Q.How to pay the IS installment online in Morocco?
Payment is mandatory via the SIMPL-IS portal at tax.gov.ma. Log in with your electronic certificate, select the ADC form (installment), enter 25% of N-1 IS, validate and pay by wire transfer.
Q.Does a new company have to pay installments the first year?
No, a newly created company without a closed N-1 fiscal year has no installments to pay the first year. Only the IS balance will be settled when filing the annual return, before March 31 of the following year.
Q.When must the annual IS return be filed in Morocco?
The annual return model 8401 must be filed before March 31 of the year following fiscal year closing. Any balance (IS due minus installments paid) is settled at the same date.

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