Bağ-Kur farmer contribution refers to deductions affecting agricultural workers who receive social security through Bağ-Kur. As one of Turkey’s three main social security institutions, Bağ-Kur helps provide healthcare, retirement, and other social protections. Governments organize these services through separate institutions, and eligibility depends on a person’s work status and employment type. Civil servants, private sector employees, self-employed persons and those not working are covered by different systems. Bağ-Kur serves self-employed individuals and those not employed under formal payrolls. Farmers, as self-employed agricultural workers, access social security through the agricultural branch of Bağ-Kur, and the Bağ-Kur farmer contribution falls under this scope.
Social security benefits from Bağ-Kur and other institutions are funded through premium payments. Regardless of which institution provides coverage, paying premiums is a precondition for receiving benefits such as healthcare and retirement. The way these premiums are handled differs by institution: civil servants’ contributions are managed by the Emekli Sandığı, private sector contributions are paid to the Social Insurance Institution by employers, while Bağ-Kur subscribers are generally responsible for paying their own premiums. Bağ-Kur coverage does not require formal employment; as long as premiums are paid, individuals retain their benefits. Like other insurance systems, Bağ-Kur transactions involve certain deductions. The Bağ-Kur farmer contribution refers specifically to deductions applied to agricultural Bağ-Kur participants. These deductions are regulated by law and subject to defined conditions, so it is useful for farmers registered with Bağ-Kur to understand how and when these contributions are charged.
What Is the Agricultural Deduction and Who Is Covered?
The agricultural deduction, or the Bağ-Kur farmer contribution applied to agricultural Bağ-Kur subscribers, is part of routine social insurance procedures and can affect many users. The law specifies which transactions and entities may generate deductions from the payments farmers receive for their products. Typical sources and scenarios where a Bağ-Kur farmer contribution may be applied include the following types of organizations:
- Public bodies and institutions or publicly owned commercial enterprises.
- State economic enterprises.
- Cooperatives and similar organizations.
- Commercial companies.
- Associations, foundations, and their economic enterprises.
- Self-employed professionals who are required to declare their actual income.
Farmers can pay required Bağ-Kur premiums in installments. Those who commit to paying outstanding premium debts in installments and keep those payments up to date may benefit from an exemption from certain deductions. The deduction exemption is obtained by applying to the Social Security Institution (SGK) for relief from Bağ-Kur farmer contributions. Without such an application or without meeting the conditions specified in the law, a farmer may face deductions calculated as a percentage of the sale price for each product sold. To avoid these deductions, eligible Bağ-Kur subscribers should submit an exemption application in line with the legal requirements. Any Bağ-Kur user who satisfies the conditions set out in the legislation may apply for exemption from the Bağ-Kur farmer contribution.