Every self-employed person (regardless of whether a sideline activity is pursued as an employee or housewife, etc.) may apply to be exempted from pension and health insurance to the Social Insurance for Commerce and Trade (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Gewerblichen Wirtschaft) if a maximum annual turnover of EUR 35,000 is not exceeded and the maximum surplus of income of over expenditure (according to the tax notice) does not exceed 12 times the amount of the monthly marginal earnings threshold. However, small business operators must at any rate pay accident insurance contributions.