# What is Bağ-Kur?Is Bağ-Kur a Fixed Fee or Income-Dependent?

**Bağ-Kur** (short for “Bağımsız Çalışanlar Kurumu,” literally the Social Security Agency for the Self-Employed) is Turkey’s social security system for:

* **Sole proprietors**,
    
* **Self-employed individuals**, and
    
* **Certain partners/shareholders** in companies.
    

It covers retirement, healthcare, and other social security benefits for those who are not insured under the standard employee (4A/SSK) scheme.

---

### Is Bağ-Kur a Fixed Fee or Income-Dependent?

Bağ-Kur premiums are **not** purely fixed; instead, they are calculated based on a **“premium base”** that is tied to the **minimum wage** and the **maximum wage base** set by law. Here’s how it works:

1. **Minimum and Maximum Premium Bases**
    
    * Each year, the government sets a minimum and a maximum earning base on which Bağ-Kur premiums can be calculated.
        
    * You can choose to pay Bağ-Kur on any declared level between this minimum and maximum base.
        
2. **Monthly Premium Amount**
    
    * The premium rate is applied to the chosen base.
        
    * Hence, the actual amount of Bağ-Kur you pay each month depends on which level you declare within the allowed range.
        
    * There is a **lowest** possible monthly premium and a **highest** possible monthly premium.
        
3. **Income-Dependent in Practice**
    
    * While Bağ-Kur itself doesn’t automatically track your monthly income the same way an employee’s payroll taxes do, you do have **some discretion** in selecting the premium base (within the min–max band).
        
    * For many sole proprietors, it’s common to choose the **minimum** base to keep monthly costs lower, although doing so typically results in **lower retirement benefits** later.
        

Therefore, Bağ-Kur is **not a flat, one-size-fits-all fee**. It is calculated according to a base that you select within statutory limits and is thus **somewhat income-dependent** (or at least can be adjusted according to your preference, within the legally permitted range).

For more information please reach us: info@ozmconsultancy.com

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1736597176898/b911c7ae-ca17-48c4-967b-9b52979a6133.png align="center")