MRE (Moroccans living abroad)
MRE stands for “Marocains résidant à l'étranger”, Moroccans living abroad; many own a home in Morocco that they let as a short-term rental outside their own stays.
The abbreviation MRE, for “Marocains résidant à l'étranger”, appears in texts from the tax administration and the Office des changes, Morocco's foreign exchange office. In short-term rentals, an MRE is often an owner who manages from a distance and keeps a few weeks a year for themselves, often in summer.
What does not change from abroad
- rent from a property located in Morocco is taxable there, even for a non-resident (article 23 of the General Tax Code, CGI);
- letting the home you keep in Morocco can cost you the capital gains exemption when you sell (article 63 of the CGI);
- to transfer rent abroad, the bank asks in particular for proof that the purchase was financed in foreign currency or convertible dirhams, and for proof that Moroccan taxes were paid;
- the police registration form and, where due, the tourist tax still have to be handled locally.
There are three options: manage it yourself with someone on site, hand the property to a management company under a property management agreement, or share management with a co-host. Our guide to renting out your home in Morocco from abroad covers each option. Have an accountant confirm your tax position.