On Monday evening, the Finance Committee of Morocco’s Chamber of Advisors approved the first part of the 2025 Finance Bill (PLF 2025) by a majority vote, with 12 votes in favor, 2 against, and one abstention.
The Chamber of Advisors, the second chamber of Morocco’s parliament, represents local authorities, professional chambers, and unions. Its Finance Committee reviews economic and budgetary bills, proposes amendments, and makes recommendations before these bills are voted on in plenary sessions.
Out of 231 amendments proposed for this section of the bill, the government accepted 63, including 27 related to customs duties and 117 focused on taxation. Notably, an amendment from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) was adopted to maintain customs duties on honey packaged in containers of 20 kg or less.
On the issue of import duties on certain pharmaceutical products, Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa assured lawmakers that their review would continue through a dedicated committee working in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
A key provision adopted was a gradual exemption of retirement pensions from income tax, with a 50% reduction set to take effect in January 2025 and full exemption planned for 2026. Additionally, an amendment was passed to impose a 30% tax on winnings from games of chance.
The Chamber of Advisors is scheduled to hold plenary sessions on Wednesday and Thursday to review and vote on the full 2025 Finance Bill, marking a crucial step in finalizing the national budget for the coming year.
