Construction industry scheme

Building industry expertise

We’re construction industry experts — but what is the construction industry scheme (CIS), and how does it affect your business?

The CIS is HMRC’s answer to the problem of cash-in-hand payments in the building industry, requiring contractors to deduct a portion of payments they give to subcontractors, which is then paid to HMRC. They also have to complete regular CIS returns.

With our CIS services, we can ensure you stay compliant with your duties and avoid getting bogged down in the admin work. From CIS calculations and statements to filing with HMRC, we can handle the whole process on your behalf.

Subcontractor advice

Subcontractors have their own duties with CIS, too. First, they have to register for the scheme to ensure the correct amount of tax is withheld – 20% rather than 30% for unregistered subcontractors. They then have to keep up-to-date records to know how much tax has been withheld throughout the year. Finally, they need to complete a tax return, which is when any amount you have overpaid through CIS can be reclaimed as a tax rebate or refund.

As a subcontractor, you may also be able to register for gross payment status, meaning no taxes would be withheld. While that might sound good for your cashflow, you still need to build a plan to pay your tax bill at the end of the year.

Helping you build a plan

Whatever it is you want to achieve, whether you just need someone to go through your CIS submission or you need a more dedicated plan to help you with your future reporting, we’ll be here to help.

Talk to us to find out which approach is best for you or if you have any other queries about CIS.