The rules governing Social Security contributions for self-employed workers are changing in January. Graduated income tax brackets will no longer be the reference point. Payments will be based on 70% of declared earnings in the previous three months, rather than on the total of sole trader income from the previous year. The rate of contributions also drops from 29.6% to 21.4%. Freelancers will have to submit a quarterly statement to determine the relevant income, which will be the basis for Social Security assessment in the following trimester.

Earned income can be adjusted by up to 25% (up or down) so that workers can elect to pay a higher or lower amount that will eventually be reflected in benefits. The new rules also establish a minimum monthly Social Security payment of €20, including periods with no recorded income, as a way to ensure on-going social protection coverage, rather than the start-and-stop method that was used in the past.