Registration duties, land registry, notary fees and VAT: the real cost of your acquisition, with verified 2026 rates.
Acquisition costs in practice reach 6 to 8% of the price for housing. Rates verified in August 2026 — finance laws may change them.
| Item | Rate / amount | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Registration duties — housing | 4% | Tax Code, art. 133 |
| Registration duties — bare land, premises | 5% | Tax Code, art. 133 |
| Land registry (ANCFCC) | 1.5% + MAD 200 | ANCFCC tariff |
| Notary fees | ≈ 1% (min ≈ MAD 4,000) | Regulated fees |
| VAT on fees | 20% | 2023-2024 finance laws |
| Disbursements, stamps | ≈ MAD 1,500 | Case-dependent |
Four main items add to the sale price. Registration duties (4% for housing, 5% for bare land or premises) are due to the tax authority within 30 days. The land-registry inscription (1.5% + MAD 200) officially transfers the title to your name. Notary fees (≈1%, plus 20% VAT since their alignment on the standard rate) cover drafting and securing the deed, plus disbursements and stamps.
Example for a MAD 1,000,000 apartment: 40,000 (registration) + 15,200 (land registry) + 12,000 (notary incl. VAT) + ≈1,500 disbursements ≈ MAD 68,700, about 6.9% of the price. A mortgage adds separate registration costs.
The main risk of buying in Morocco is not the fee level — it is the legal safety of the asset: untitled property (melkia), unsettled co-ownership, undeclared easements, developers without completion guarantees, unbalanced preliminary agreements. Under-declaring the price exposes the buyer to tax reassessment and weakens the future resale.
A real estate lawyer works upstream of the notary: title and charges verification, agreement negotiation, off-plan (VEFA) specifications audit. For an investment of hundreds of thousands of dirhams, that check costs a fraction of the risks it removes.
Lawyers at your service
Verified profiles, members of Moroccan bar associations — call or message them directly from their page
A lawyer registered with the Casablanca Bar since 2020 and an international arbitrator, I specialise in Business Law. My firm ‘LPF Counsel’ assists individuals in their litigation and provides advice to multinationals and Moroccan companies as a Business Partner.
Lawyer registered with the Tangier Bar since 1997, practising exclusively in business law, both in advisory work and in litigation. We have proven experience in advising and representing national and international companies. Our professionals work in Arabic as well as in French, English and Spanish.
About the Law Firm Established in 2019 in Tangier, Khalid Chafai Law Firm provides professional legal advice, litigation, and representation to individuals, businesses, and institutions. Our firm is committed to providing strategic and effective legal solutions while protecting our clients’ rights and interests with professionalism, accuracy, and dedication. Areas of Expertise - Business Law - Family Law - Real Estate Law Firm Motto "Your Rights, Our Priority" Contact Managing Partner: Khalid Chafai, Attorney at Law – Tangier Bar Association Address: 1st Floor, Apt. 8, Playa Mar Building, Intersection of Antaki St. & Ibn Abbad St., Tangier 90000, Morocco Phone: +212 6 61 79 74 69 Website: attorneyatlawkhalidchafai.com
Go deeper with the property purchase guide
Preliminary agreement, land title, off-plan and pitfalls — the full 2026 guide.
Land title, preliminary agreement, easements, off-plan: a real estate lawyer secures your acquisition for a fraction of its value.
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