Steps to Follow in Order to Benefit from SGK Incentives
Incentives do not apply by themselves. Which incentive can be applied for which employee requires identification first, then follow-up.
SGK incentives are regulations designed to reduce the employer’s premium burden. None of them, however, applies automatically. Each incentive has its own conditions, its own application route and its own duration; even where the conditions are met, the incentive is not applied unless the notification is filed.
Identifying the Current Position
The first step is identification: variables such as the current staff list, employment start dates, age and gender distribution, İŞKUR registration status and the province where the workplace is located determine which incentives can come into play. More than one incentive condition may arise for the same employee; in that case, which is more advantageous is calculated.
Meeting the Preconditions
The second step is meeting the incentive’s preconditions. Some incentives require İŞKUR registration before hiring; others require that the workplace has no outstanding premium or tax debt. If these conditions are not checked before the hiring decision, irrecoverable losses of entitlement arise later.
Monthly Follow-Up
The third step is monthly follow-up. Incentives are applied on a declaration basis; losing a condition in one month removes that month’s incentive. Debt status, missing-day notifications and staff movements must be re-checked every period.
Retrospective Benefit
Retrospective benefit is possible in some cases, but it depends on time limits and the conditions of the specific regulation. It is therefore safer to make incentive management part of the monthly routine rather than leaving it to year end.
We identify which incentives can be applied in your payroll process and handle the preconditions and monthly follow-up on your behalf.
Frequently asked about this topic
The questions we are asked most under Payroll and SGK Incentive Services.
From how many employees is a payroll service worthwhile?
There is no lower limit on employee numbers. In a business with a single employee the notification obligations and deadlines are the same — and so are the administrative penalties for mistakes. As scale grows, the benefit of outsourcing the process becomes more visible.
Why can’t I benefit from incentives?
The most common reasons are that preconditions were not checked before hiring, that there is outstanding premium or tax debt, and that notifications were not filed on time. We review your current staff list to identify which incentives could apply and where the obstacle lies.
Can incentives be claimed retrospectively?
In some cases retrospective benefit is possible, but this depends on time limits and the conditions of the specific regulation. It is therefore safer to make incentive management part of the monthly routine rather than leaving it to year end.
Do you keep the personnel files?
The originals of the personnel file remain with the employer. We track which documents the file must contain, which are missing and which need updating, and manage the digital copies in an orderly way.