Morocco’s General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) has launched a series of rigorous audits targeting doctors and engineers suspected of providing false financial declarations. The investigations revealed discrepancies between reported incomes and actual expenditures, notably extravagant vacations abroad, with spending ranging between MAD 200,000 and MAD 270,000.
According to trusted sources, tax officials uncovered inconsistencies in a doctor’s financial declarations, where declared income did not align with significant expenditures. By exercising the legal right to access bank data, authorities uncovered details of international transactions via Moroccan bank cards. These expenses included luxury hotel stays, designer clothing, jewelry, and high-end watches during a 10-day European vacation with his family, totaling MAD 270,000.
Engineers were also flagged for similar discrepancies. Their spending on lavish vacations in destinations like Greece, Italy, Monaco, Ibiza, and Cannes exceeded declared income and official travel allowances. Tax officials employed electronic data exchange systems in coordination with the Foreign Exchange Office and Customs Administration to track unauthorized foreign expenditures, forwarding these findings for further investigation into potential violations of foreign exchange regulations.
Tax evasion audits have extended to high-income earners investing in fine art to conceal unreported earnings. Many professionals prefer cash transactions to avoid banking scrutiny and use art acquisitions as a means of wealth storage. Previous investigations highlighted the use of artworks to circumvent depositing significant amounts in banks, ensuring tax authorities remained unaware of actual earnings.
Tax inspectors are increasingly analyzing social media activity to identify discrepancies in financial declarations. Public posts showcasing luxurious lifestyles, international trips, and assets provide valuable leads for evaluating the accuracy of tax filings. Freelance professionals, such as doctors, engineers, and artists, are particularly targeted due to their tendency to underreport earnings relative to their actual lifestyles.
Tax officials have deployed advanced monitoring tools and cross-referenced multiple data sources, including banking information, customs records, and digital footprints, to trace hidden assets and assess the credibility of tax declarations. This approach aims to close loopholes and ensure compliance among high-income professionals.
The crackdown reflects Morocco’s commitment to strengthening its fiscal governance and ensuring equitable tax contributions across all sectors. By leveraging digital tools and inter-agency cooperation, the DGI is intensifying its efforts to address systemic tax evasion practices.
The post Moroccan tax authorities target high-income professionals in tax evasion crackdown as ‘luxury vacations’ flagged appeared first on HESPRESS English – Morocco News.
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