Morocco’s Tax Exemptions Total $3 bln in 2019

Morocco’s Tax Exemptions Total $3 bln in 2019
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Morocco’s Tax Exemptions Total $3 bln in 2019

Morocco’s Tax Exemptions Total $3 bln in 2019

Morocco's tax exemptions totaled 27.78 billion dirhams ($3 billion) this year, down 3 percent from a year ago, according to a report by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The report noted that this amount constituted 58 percent in total tax exemptions, 29 percent in tax rate reductions, and 8 percent in partial and temporary exemptions and another 5 percent granted in the form of projections, facilities and liabilities.

The share of the real estate sector in the total tax exemptions granted by the government during the current year was about 15.9 percent, compared with 18.9 percent last year.

The social hedging sector’s share came in second with 17.6 percent of the total value of tax exemptions, while the export sector’s share was 10 percent, followed by the agriculture and fishing sector at 9.1 percent, the financial sector at 7 percent and the transport sector at 5 percent. The food industry sector’s share amounted to 4 percent.

According to the types of tax, VAT exemptions topped the ranking by about 51 percent of the total value of tax exemptions in 2019, but fell by about 3 percent compared to 2018, and income tax exemptions (mainly consisting of wages) decreased by 20 percent compared with last year.



Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
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Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters

The credit rating agency “Moody’s Ratings” upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to “Aa3” in local and foreign currency, with a “stable” outlook.
The agency indicated in its report that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification and the robust growth of its non-oil sector. Over time, the advancements are expected to reduce Saudi Arabia’s exposure to oil market developments and long-term carbon transition on its economy and public finances.
The agency commended the Kingdom's financial planning within the fiscal space, emphasizing its commitment to prioritizing expenditure and enhancing the spending efficiency. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to utilize available fiscal resources to diversify the economic base through transformative spending were highlighted as instrumental in supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom's non-oil economy and maintaining a strong fiscal position.
In its report, the agency noted that the planning and commitment underpin its projection of a relatively stable fiscal deficit, which could range between 2%-3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moody's expected that the non-oil private-sector GDP of Saudi Arabia will expand by 4-5% in the coming years, positioning it among the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, an indication of continued progress in the diversification efforts reducing the Kingdom’s exposure to oil market developments.
In recent years, the Kingdom achieved multiple credit rating upgrades from global rating agencies. These advancements reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts toward economic transformation, supported by structural reforms and the adoption of fiscal policies that promote financial sustainability, enhance financial planning efficiency, and reinforce the Kingdom's strong and resilient fiscal position.