Source: https://www.awaragroup.com/blog/employers-social-contributions-and-employee-social-medical-and-pension-benefits-in-russia/
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 12:51:44+00:00

Document:
The system of payment for social, medical and pension insurance has undergone considerable changes, with new laws in force as of January 1, 2010. Prior to the changes a unified social tax was levied for all these purposes. Now the system has been amended so that the contributions to the social insurance fund, pension fund, and compulsory medical insurance funds are paid (hereinafter “employer contributions” or “insurance contributions”) following separate rules for each of these purposes. In this connection the rules on social tax of chapter 24 of the Russian Tax Code have been abolished and replaced by the Law on Insurance Contributions (“On insurance contributions to the pension fund of Russia, social insurance fund of Russia, compulsory medical insurance federal fund, and compulsory medical insurance local funds”, Law No. 212-FZ of 24.07.2009).
Employers as well as self-employed entrepreneurs and professionals are liable to pay insurance contributions, the latter both for the people they employ and for themselves.
The pension system is funded by mandatory pension contributions made to the Pension Fund, which manages the state pension system (Law “On compulsory pension insurance” of 15.12.2001 No. 167).
The pension is divided into three parts: a basic part, an insurance part and an accumulative part. Unlike the first two parts, the latter applies only to persons born after 1967. It is inheritable and can be transferred to a licensed non-governmental pension fund.
The system of social security is managed by the Social Insurance Fund (Law of 29.12.2006 No. 255-FZ “On compulsory social insurance in case of temporary disability and maternity”). The details on the required employer’s contributions to this system and the paid-out benefits will follow below.
The system of compulsory medical insurance is managed by the Medical Insurance Fund (Law No. 326-FZ “On compulsory medical insurance” of 29.11.2010). The system provides the (mainly) free healthcare and hospital services.
The Social Fund also manages the system of compulsory work hazard insurance (insurance against work related accidents and occupational diseases; Law of 24 July 1998 No. 125-FZ “On compulsory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases”).
The insurance rates or work-related accidents are differentiated in relation to the perceived occupational risk. But the system does not actually differentiate for individual risk, basing the risk factor on the statistics connected with the main activity as per official classification of the business of the employer. This assignment of risk factor is based on the amount of insurance premiums actually paid in the preceding year to workers of a certain industry.
The rates range from 0.2% to 8.5 % of the salary (total remuneration). For example, a company employing mainly office workers would pay 0.2% (1 class); a company producing steel would pay 1.9% (class 16); and a coal mining company would pay the maximum 8.5% (32 class). A company (legal entity) may, however, apply individual rates for each of its registered subdivisions.
According to the law, the insurance contributions are levied from payments and other compensation made in favor of both salaried employees and freelancers (in Russia frequently referred to as civil law contractors, who may work e.g. on contracts for performance of works, provision of services, commissioning contracts, licensing agreements).
The question as to whether payments to members of a company’s board of directors and audit committee should be subject to insurance contributions is still disputed. The Ministry of Finance previously held that since such payments are not made under employment or civil law contracts, they should not be subject to social tax (Letter No. 03-03-06/1/475 of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated 10.07.2007). The Ministry of Health and Social Development has extended this interpretation (taken in relation to the former social tax) to apply to the insurance contributions under the new law (letters of Ministry of Health and Social Development No. 2519-19 item 6 of 05.08.2010, No. 1145-19 of 07.05.2010, and No. 421-193 of 01.03.2010). However, the Supreme Commercial Court of Russia in a ruling (under the old law) held that such payments should have been subject to social tax (information letter of the Supreme Commercial Court No. 106 of 14.03.2006).
The amount of insurance contributions due in relation to each employee (insured person) is calculated on an accrual basis from the beginning of the year. Each employer (or other payer of the insurance contributions) makes the calculations solely based on the income the employee earns from this same employer during the calendar year, without regard to income that the employee may have earned from another employer (strictly limited to one legal entity even within a group of companies).
The base for insurance contributions in respect of commissioning contracts and licensing agreements is the net amount after deducting the documented expenses, and in the absence of such documentation they are determined as a fixed percentage of income (Law “On insurance contributions” article 8(7)).
The tax base for compensation received in kind is the real cost of the received goods (services) (art. 8(6)) Federal law “On insurance contributions”).
Remuneration in favor of individuals under civil law contracts is not subject to insurance contributions for the part due to the social insurance fund (Law on Insurance Contributions art. 9(3)). Individual entrepreneurs, lawyers, notaries and other persons with private practice are required to pay a fixed amount of insurance contributions to the Pension Fund of Russia and the Compulsory Medical Insurance Federal Fund based on a sum of required insurance contribution that the Russian Government sets for each year (art. 14 (1) Law No. 212-FZ). For people born after or in 1967 this value was set as RUR 17,208.25, of which RUR 14,386.32 is contributed to the Pension Fund and RUR 2,821.93 to the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund.
The insurance contributions for self-employed people must be transferred to the Pension Fund of Russia and the Compulsory Medical Insurance Federal Fund no later than December 31 of the current calendar year (Article 16 (2) Law No. 212-FZ). Self-employed people do not pay disability and maternity leave to the Social Insurance Fund (Article 14(5) Law No. 212-FZ).
Federal, regional or local social aid set by appropriate law.
The accounting period for insurance contributions is a calendar year (article 10.1).
Insurance contributions are accrued monthly when salaries (or other payments) are accrued, and paid monthly before the 15th of the month following the accounting month. For example, insurance contributions for December are paid up to January 15.
Concerning subdivisions with a separate accounting balance and bank account, the company must separately pay the insurance contributions to the local fund authority and file necessary reports to it.
The insurance contributions are paid in full at a rate of 30% for an annual income (from the same employer) of up to RUR 512,000, after which limit the income is subject to a charge rate of 10% without any further limitations. The law initially set this maximum value at RUR 415,000, but this was raised to the RUR 512,000 together with the additional 10% tail rate with amendments in force from January 1st 2012. (In the year 2011 the limit was RUR 463,000) These limits are subject to annual indexation (Government Decree No. 974 dated 24.11.2011.). According to reports in the public domain, the Government has announced that in 2013 the limit will be raised to 567 thousand rubles.
• 5.1% is contributed to the Compulsory Medical Insurance Federal Fund.
The 10% tail on the amounts exceeding the limit goes to Pension Fund.
The table below presents the general rule calculation of insurance contributions under applicable rules as of 2012.
There are several exemptions available for certain categories of employers in the form of preferential charge rates. Some of these are presented below.
• Others (art. 58 Law “On insurance contributions to the Pension Fund” No. 212).
Preferential charge rates for insurance contributions are established for the above categories ranging from 0% to 30%, being subject to the same threshold limits as presented above. The additional contribution of 10% to the Pension Fund does not apply to these kinds of employers (professionals).
The benefits are granted to employers (professionals), provided they meet a number of statutory conditions. Regulatory authorities verify whether the conditions are met at the end of each year. If a taxpayer does not meet any of the conditions, it is no longer entitled to benefit from preferential rates.
The law envisages that these benefits will gradually be effaced by a stepwise increase of rates every 2 years in order to finally catch up with the rates for ordinary categories of employers. But according to the present law, no gradually effacement is foreseen for employers that enjoy preferential treatment by being registered participants of the Skolkovo innovation project (these employers enjoy a special rate of 14%).
The foreign employee works under an employment agreement for an indefinite period or a fixed-term agreement for a period of 6 months or more.
Foreign nationals that have received a work permit under the privileged status of a so-called highly qualified specialist (for more details, please refer to the chapter on Personal Income Tax).
Employers pay temporary disability benefits using funds from the Social Insurance Fund and their own funds. The law provides for employers’ obligation to pay for the first 3 days of temporary disability and from the 4th day onwards, such payment is made on account of the Social Insurance Fund (FZ No. 255 art. 3(2)1).
Prescribed aftercare in sanatorium and spa resorts in Russia, immediately after hospitalization.
Temporary disability benefits are calculated on the basis of the average daily wage. The daily wage is defined as the ratio of the accrued employee’s wage for two preceding calendar years divided by 730.
Only the amounts for which insurance contributions are paid to the Social Insurance Fund are included in the calculation, including those paid while working at other insured parties.
The period of payment of this benefit depends on the grounds for the entitlement (FZ No. 255 art. 6) as indicated in below table.
Benefit is paid to an employee hired under a fixed-term employment agreement (fixed-term service contract) for up to six months.
Aftercare in sanatorium and spa resorts in Russia, immediately after hospitalization During the period of stay in a sanatorium, but not more than 24 calendar days (except for tuberculosis). During the period of stay in a sanatorium, but not more than 24 calendar days (except for tuberculosis).
And other cases prescribed by law (Article 6 FZ No. 255).
Quarantine of an employee or quarantine of a child aged 7 attending a pre-school educational institution or another family member deemed incapacitated< Benefit is paid to an employee who has contracted an infectious disease or who is found to be a bacteria carrier, during the entire period of suspension from work due to quarantine. If children under the age of 7 attending a pre-school educational institution or other family members are subject to quarantine, benefit is paid for the entire period of quarantine.
The law also provides for specific grounds under which temporary disability benefits are not paid out (art. 9(1) N 255 – FZ).
The amount of payable benefit depends on the period of time that the employee has been included in the insurance program. When that time is less than 5 years, then the benefits are paid out 60% relative to the average wages, 5 to 8 years membership yields – 80% of average wages, and from 8 years and over yields 100% of average wages. If the insured person has been working for fewer than 6 months, then the amount of compensation will not exceed the minimum monthly wage of a full calendar month. Temporary disability compensation is calculated according to a special formula. (FZ No-255, art.7 (1)).
From the 4th day of disability onwards, employers are entitled to decrease or compensate the payments for disability contributions against insurance expenses incurred for their employees. (FZ No-255, art.3 (2)).
You will find below a more detailed description of how to refund or offset amounts from the Social Insurance Fund.
Compensation for maternity leave is granted to women at their request on the basis of a medical certificate. In this case, payable benefits amount to 100% of average wages with some exceptions as listed below (art. 255 Labor Code and No. 255–FZ, art. 13). Maternity benefit is paid in full by the Social Insurance Fund on the basis of a medical certificate confirming the fact. Employers initially execute the payment to the employee and may subsequently refund it from the Social Insurance Fund following the due process (FZ No. 255 art 13 (1)). This rule, however, does not apply to women with a pensionable service of less than six months. The maternity benefit payable to these women may not exceed the minimum monthly wage for one month.
Maternity leave is granted for a total of 140 calendar days (before and after childbirth) and in case of the birth of two or more children for 194 calendar days (total leave before and after childbirth).
The maximum amount of paid out compensation of maternity leave is the average daily salary (in the 730 preceding days) times the number of number of days of maternity leave.
If an employee happened to be on leave to care for a child under the age of 1.5 during the previous two years before going on maternity leave, then the employee may require that her compensation be calculated according to the income of those 2 years. The maximum average wage cannot exceed the threshold set for accrual of insurance contributions at RUR 512,000 (the threshold set by the Russian government for 2012 is subject to annual indexation).
As of 1 January 2011, a new procedure has been introduced for calculating the child care benefit. It extends to insurance cases occurring starting from 1 January 2011. Moreover, in a range of cases, the application of a new procedure might lead to a reduction in the amount of the child care benefit. In connection with this, employees may opt for replacing maternity benefits with childcare allowances. But this will be possible only if the childcare allowances were greater than the maternity benefits (FZ – No. 255, art. 11.1(3)).
This allowance is paid upon submission of a birth certificate confirming childbirth together with a statement from the workplace of the other parent to confirm that no allowance will be given to that parent. In 2012, this allowance was set at RUR 12,405.32, while in 2011 it was RUR 11,703.13.
A mother (or other caretaker of a child) is eligible for a monthly childcare allowance for the time until the child reaches the age of 1.5 years. (It is to be noted that the person who takes care of the child may prolong the childcare leave yet further until when the child reaches 3 years but no compensation is due for the extended period).
This allowance is granted upon submission of a request to the employer’s accounting department together with a birth certificate, a birth certificate for the previous child (if any), as well as a statement from the workplace of the other parent to confirm that no allowance will be given to that parent. The rights to childcare leave and allowance are not limited to the mother of the child. Other family members such as the father, grand-parents and even other close relatives, who actually care for the child and contribute to compulsory social insurance, are also entitled to these rights. Childcare allowance is granted to one person only, so if another family member receives this allowance, then the mother will not be eligible for it (Decree No. 1012n of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of 23.12.2009).
• RUR 4,651.99 (per month, in 2012) for care for the second child and subsequent children.
You will find below a more detailed description on how the employer may refund or offset amounts from the Social Insurance Fund.
In case of inpatient treatment – in the amount determined by the length of pensionable service in accordance with the general procedure.
When such benefit is required to care for a sick child under the age of 15 under outpatient treatment, it is paid regardless of the length of the employee’s pensionable service.
The law limits the number of days (as mentioned in the above table) for such sick leave in a calendar year. Companies must therefore keep a record of the number of days paid to their employees for caring for a sick child. If an employee has several children, records are kept for each child.
From the 4th day of temporary disability, employers may set off the benefits paid to their employees against future payments to the Social Insurance Fund (art. 3 (2)1 FZ No. 255). Employers may thus decrease their monthly payments to the Social Insurance Fund by the amount of benefits paid after the 3rd day of temporary disability.
If the amount of paid benefits exceeds the monthly payments to the Social Insurance Fund, employers may get this overpaid amount refunded by sending a written application and required documents to the local office of the Social Insurance Fund with which their company is registered (please see section Refunds from the Social Insurance Fund).
b. Get overpaid amounts compensated by the Social Insurance Fund.
Employers are not required to pay contributions to the Social Insurance Fund until the overpaid amount is fully repaid. However, offsetting must be carried out within the reporting period, i.e. the calendar year (art. 15 (2.1) FZ No. 212).
To get the amounts paid over the limit set for insurance contributions compensated, employers must apply for compensation to their local office of the Social Insurance Fund. There is no limitation term for such application for compensation to the Social Insurance Fund, so the general term of 3 years is usually used (art. 196 Civil Code).
If the Social Insurance Fund does not find any irregularities in the allocation, calculation and payment of benefits, as well as in the accrual and payment of contributions, it will transfer the required amount to the company’s account. Such transfer is made within 10 calendar days from the date of submission of all required documents (FZ No. 255 Article 4.6).
The Social Insurance Fund may not compensate if benefits were paid in violation of the law, were not documented, or were paid on the basis of documents which were not duly drawn up (FZ – No. 255, art. 4.7 (4)).
The Social Insurance Fund may check the validity and correctness of insurance payments. In this case, the Social Insurance Fund may request additional information and documents confirming the validity of insurance payments and the correctness of their calculation (art. 4.7 and 4.6 FZ N – 255). For example, the following documents may be requested: copies of employment agreements, copies of employee passports, the sick leave registry and other documents directly related to the payment of benefits.
The benefits paid by employers for the first 3 days of temporary disability are not returned, but employers are entitled to deduct these amounts from their company’s profit tax base (art. 264(1)48.1 Tax Code).

References: art. 9
 art. 3
 art. 6
 art.7
 art.3
 art. 13
 art 13
 art. 11
 art. 4