In the well-intentioned warning letters/notifications sent by the Social Security Institution to some employers, it has been determined that the wages (SSI premium earnings) of the qualified employees declared are at or close to the minimum wage. Also, if this situation is detected during the investigations and audits/inspections by the SSI, administrative fines would be applied. In this sense, it was requested from employers to show the necessary sensitivity to be compliant with their social security obligations.

According to the Circular dated January 5, 2023 and numbered 27998389-010.06.02-1818123 published by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance with the subject ‘Financial and Social Rights', the coefficients used to calculate the wage of a public officers have been revised effective January 1, 2023.

Income Tax Exempted Severance Pay

The following value has been calculated taking these coefficients into account and shall be applied for the period between the dates of January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023, maximum severance pay to be exempted from income tax is determined as 17,904.62 TRY.

With the Communique No. 323 which is published in Official Gazette dated 30th December, 2022 and numbered 32059, the below exemptions have been updated.

• Income Tax Exempted Meal Allowance
• Income Tax Exempted Commuter Allowance
• Disability Degree Discounts

Income Tax Exempted Meal Allowance

The meal allowance tax exemption amount that is applied as of 1st of January 2023 was announced on 30th December, 2022 dated and 32059 numbered Official Gazette. Based on that the meal allowance which is provided by the employer as defined in the 8th clause of Article 23 of Income Tax Law, exemption amount is defined as 110.00 TRY to be applied as of 1st of January 2023.

The statutory deductions applicable in a standard Turkish payroll are social security premium, income tax, and stamp tax. Also, the salaries generated from liaison offices in Türkiye are exempt from income tax per Article 34/14 of Income Tax Law, and these are only subject to social security.

Also, the income tax exemption as much as the income tax deduction amount calculated over the minimum wage for all wages introduced in 2022 will continue in 2023 as well.

Social Security Premium

Social Security Premium is calculated over wages monthly and paid jointly by the employee and the employer. The contribution rates are as follows: