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Rabat – Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Mohamed Benchaaboun has said that merchants and craftsmen subject to the lump sum system are exempt from electronic billing under tax law, Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported.
Last week, Minister of Trade and Industry Moulay Hafid Elalamy Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani, Government Spokesman Mustapha El Khalfi, and the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), all reacted to the new tax measures on the use of electronic invoicing.
The tax situation of merchants and service providers subject to the lump sum system has not changed, Benchaaboun affirmed in response to a question in the House of Representatives on Monday in Rabat.
The minister noted that there was a misunderstanding of the new provisions of the 2018 Finance Law regarding the new tax measures using electronic invoicing.
Read Also: El Othmani Halts Implementation of Controversial Electronic Billing
The new tax measures, which recently sparked an uproar among merchants, stipulate that merchants should use an electronic system to issue invoices. To do this, merchants must have billing software approved by tax authorities and an information system allowing a common database with the tax authorities.
Last week, El Othmani announced that the government will suspend the implementation of the new tax measures using electronic invoicing, planned to come into force in early 2019 to fight tax fraud.
Benchaaboun reiterated Monday that the electronic invoicing system concerns only professionals subject to financial control. No one has the right to demand or impose electronic invoicing in commercial transactions “in the absence of an organic law governing the modalities of its implementation,” he stressed.
Electronic billing law to involve input from those concerned
The minister added that the development of the organic law regarding electronic billing will inevitably involve the input of those concerned and professional associations, taking into account the specificities of each commercial activity.
Meeting the demands of small merchants and craftsmen, Benchaaboun said that professional associations will take part in the upcoming conferences on national tax with the aim to start broad debate on how to define a legal framework for local commerce.
Read Also: Elalamy Responds to Moroccan Merchants’ Anger over Electronic Billing
El Khalfi said Thursday that the new measures “will not be applied until an agreement between all parties is reached.”
Trade minister Elalamy announced last week he will meet with the chambers of commerce and industry, customs, and merchants’ representatives tomorrow to discuss electronic billing and merchants’ demands.
