Legal guide · payment
Paying for property in Marrakech: safe, traceable payment
The suitcase of banknotes is a thing of the past. In Morocco, settling a property purchase now goes through traceable means of payment, and the 2026 Finance Act reinforces that requirement. Far from being a constraint, it is a protection: a traceable payment secures the buyer, proves the source of funds and, for a Moroccan living abroad, conditions the ability to repatriate money on a resale. This guide explains how to pay cleanly, what the notary checks, and why declaring the real price protects you.
The end of cash: why payment must be traceable
In a Moroccan property transaction, cash settlement is ruled out in favour of traceable means: bank transfer, banker's cheque or certified cheque. The aim is twofold: to fight money laundering and to make the transaction reliable for buyer and seller alike.
A traceable payment leaves undeniable proof of what you paid, to whom and when. In the event of a dispute, that traceability is your best protection. Conversely, an off-the-books settlement exposes you: no proof, no recourse, no legal security.
What the 2026 Finance Act changes
The 2026 Finance Act imposes new documentary rigour: the sale contract must describe the payment method precisely — single payment or instalments, and by what means (transfer, cheque, notary account or escrow account), with the transfer references.
It also introduces a 2% surcharge applied only to the portion of the price paid in cash, for transactions exceeding 300,000 dirhams. In practice, the more you pay in cash above that threshold, the higher the cost: the law makes traceable payment not only safer, but also more advantageous.
Secure means of payment
Three channels dominate: the bank transfer, the banker's or certified cheque, and the notary account (or escrow / guarantee account). The latter is especially protective: the funds pass through the notary, who releases them to the seller only once the conditions are met and the deed regularised.
That escrow neutralises the risk of paying before ownership is secured. For a remote purchase or a first purchase, it is the reflex that reassures everyone: the money is there, but protected, until the operation is properly completed.
The notary and the source of funds
The notary — like the bank — is required to verify the identity of the parties and the source of funds. They may request supporting documents (statements, proof of transfer, documents on the origin of the savings) and suspend the operation in case of anomaly.
This control is not there to complicate your life: it guarantees that the transaction is clean and enforceable. A clear payment file, prepared in advance, smooths the signing rather than delaying it — something we anticipate with you from the outset.
Declared price = real price: ending the cash economy
Declaring a price lower than the real one to reduce registration duties is a false good idea. Under-declaring weakens your title, complicates a future resale and mechanically increases your taxable capital gain when you sell — since the lower official purchase price serves as the calculation base.
Declaring the real price, paid by a traceable means, buys lasting peace of mind: a solid title, a resale free of grey areas and predictable taxation. That is the whole point of the support we offer.
Expatriate Moroccans and non-residents: traceable payment, your ally
For a Moroccan living abroad, traceable payment is not just an obligation: it is the key to repatriation. Funding the purchase in foreign currency, through a convertible dirham account, and declaring it, opens the Office des Changes retransfer guarantee — hence the ability to recover the proceeds of a resale abroad.
In other words, the traceability that secures the operation is also what protects your capital over the long term. It is a central point of our dedicated guide to buying from abroad, which we walk through step by step with you, in Darija if you prefer.
Settling a property purchase safely, step by step
Step by step
- 1
Prepare and justify the source of funds
Gather proof of the origin of your savings. As a non-resident, credit a convertible dirham account from abroad, in foreign currency.
- 2
Choose a traceable means of payment
Opt for a bank transfer, a banker's cheque or a certified cheque. Avoid cash, now penalised above the legal threshold.
- 3
Use the notary or escrow account
Route the funds through the notary account (or escrow): they are released to the seller only once the deed is regularised.
- 4
Declare the real price in the deed
The contract states the real price and describes the payment method precisely (means, references, schedule), in line with the 2026 Finance Act.
- 5
Keep every proof
Keep transfer orders, cheques and receipts: they are your proof of payment and, for an expatriate Moroccan, the basis of the retransfer guarantee.
Frequently asked questions about payment
- Can you still pay for property in cash in Morocco?
- Property payment must be traceable (transfer, banker's cheque, notary account). The 2026 Finance Act also applies a 2% surcharge on the cash-paid portion only, for transactions above 300,000 dirhams. In practice, traceable payment is the norm.
- What is a notary or escrow account?
- It is an account through which the buyer's funds pass. The notary releases them to the seller only once the conditions are met and the deed regularised. It is a strong protection, especially for a remote or first purchase.
- Why does the notary ask for the source of my funds?
- Out of anti-money-laundering vigilance. The notary and the bank verify the parties' identity and the source of funds, and may suspend the operation in case of anomaly. A clear file prepared in advance smooths the signing.
- Why shouldn't you under-declare the purchase price?
- An under-declared price weakens your title, complicates resale and increases your future taxable capital gain, since the lower official purchase price is the calculation base. Declaring the real price, paid traceably, protects the buyer for the long term.
- Is traceable payment mandatory for expatriate Moroccans?
- Yes, and it is to your advantage. Funding in foreign currency through a convertible dirham account and declaring the investment opens the Office des Changes retransfer guarantee: that is what will let you repatriate the proceeds of a resale.
- Can these tax rules change?
- Yes. The threshold and rate change from one finance act to the next. The figures cited here correspond to the 2026 Finance Act; your notary confirms the framework in force at the time of your transaction.