Business Russia proposed increasing insurance premiums for SMEs

The press service of the Ministry of Finance informed the publication that the letter was received in early September and that the initiative is under consideration. It is proposed to increase the salary threshold above which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) pay a reduced rate of insurance premiums from one to two minimum wages (minimum wage).

In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, a support measure for small and medium-sized businesses was a benefit in the payment of contributions to extra-budgetary funds. Then, the amount of insurance premiums for the part of the salary exceeding the minimum wage was set at 15% instead of 30%. The rule is still in force. Of the part of the salary up to this threshold (i.e. equal to the minimum wage), the employer pays 30% of the contributions.

The preferential 15% is distributed as follows: 10% goes to compulsory pension insurance and 5% to compulsory health insurance (CHI).

In 2024, the minimum wage will be 19,242 rubles. At the beginning of 2025, it will increase by 16.5%, up to 22,440 rubles. If we take these values ​​into account, then according to the current procedure, 10,098 rubles will be paid from a part of wages within two minimum wages. Business Russia’s proposals will increase this amount to 13,464 rubles.

The number of people employed in SMEs is around 19.1 million people. If all workers’ salaries are at the level of two minimum wages or more, the proposed measure in 2025 could increase income from insurance premiums by approximately 770 billion rubles.

The essence of the Business Russia initiative comes down to aligning the parameters of tax regulation of taxpayers, “which will ensure fairer competition and business conditions,” Repik said in his letter. He considers that the anti-crisis measure introduced in 2020 has worked and fulfilled its function, and “the SME sector is showing constant growth.”

According to Business Russia, increasing the threshold for a reduced rate of insurance premiums will make it possible to whiten wages and more fairly support SMEs. If the initiative is supported, “conscientious and socially responsible companies that pay decent wages to their employees and provide them with social guarantees” will receive a reduction in insurance premiums. A company that does not comply with these conditions and practices gray payments should be left without profits.

In early September, representatives of Opora Russia prepared a proposal to create a new support mechanism for small businesses. They proposed launching a preferential state financing program for leasing programs.