CIS Returns
Services
The Construction Industry Scheme requires contractors to deduct money from subcontractors' payments and pass it to HMRC as an advance on the subcontractor's tax. Deduction is 20% for subcontractors registered under CIS, 30% for those who are not, and 0% for those with gross payment status. It applies to most construction work in the UK.
CIS Returns — what it is and who needs it
The Construction Industry Scheme requires contractors to deduct money from subcontractors' payments and pass it to HMRC as an advance on the subcontractor's tax. Deduction is 20% for subcontractors registered under CIS, 30% for those who are not, and 0% for those with gross payment status. It applies to most construction work in the UK.
If you are a contractor you must verify each subcontractor with HMRC before paying them, file a monthly return by the 19th, and give every subcontractor a payment and deduction statement. Filing late costs £100 immediately, rising with delay, and the returns are due monthly even in months where you paid nobody unless you tell HMRC the scheme is inactive.
If you are a subcontractor, CIS usually means you have overpaid. Deductions are taken from the gross payment before your expenses are considered, so once materials, tools, mileage and other costs are accounted for, most subcontractors are owed a refund at the end of the year. Getting the return in early gets the money back sooner.
The domestic reverse charge complicates matters further for VAT-registered businesses in the sector: for most construction services supplied to another VAT-registered business that will use them in an onward supply, the customer accounts for the VAT rather than the supplier. Invoices need specific wording, and getting it wrong affects both parties.
Who this is for
Contractors, subcontractors and construction businesses that are both, across Norwich and Norfolk.
Key facts & deadlines
-
CIS deduction rates
20% (registered subcontractors), 30% (unregistered), 0% (gross payment status).
-
Monthly return deadline
19th of each month for the previous tax month.
-
Overpayments
Excess CIS deductions can be offset against other tax or reclaimed via Self Assessment.
-
Gross payment status
Available to subcontractors meeting HMRC's turnover and compliance tests.
Free consultation — no obligation
Everything included in our
CIS Returns service
Our all-inclusive service means no surprises — everything you need is handled by your dedicated accountant.
- Monthly CIS return preparation and filing
- Subcontractor verification with HMRC
- Payment and deduction statements
- Gross payment status applications
- CIS suffered reclaims for subcontractors
- Domestic reverse charge VAT guidance
- Nil returns and scheme inactivity notifications
- Support with CIS compliance checks
Who our CIS Returns
service is designed for
Contractors, subcontractors and construction businesses that are both, across Norwich and Norfolk.
Quick checklist
- Monthly CIS return preparation and filing
- Subcontractor verification with HMRC
- Payment and deduction statements
- Gross payment status applications
- CIS suffered reclaims for subcontractors
- Domestic reverse charge VAT guidance
- Nil returns and scheme inactivity notifications
- Support with CIS compliance checks
TAG Accountancy vs. going it alone
See exactly what you get when an expert handles your cis returns.
Other
Accountancy
How our CIS Returns service works
We keep it simple. No jargon, no chasing — just a reliable service that runs in the background.
Verify and record
We verify subcontractors with HMRC and set up records so deduction rates are right from the first payment.
Monthly return filed
Prepared and submitted before the 19th, with statements issued to each subcontractor you paid.
Reclaim what you are owed
For subcontractors, we track CIS suffered across the year and reclaim it as early as the rules allow.
Common CIS Returns questions — answered
Can't find the answer you need? Ask us directly →
Anyone who pays subcontractors for construction work. That includes obvious construction businesses, but also so-called deemed contractors — businesses outside construction that spend more than £3m on construction operations in a rolling twelve-month period.
If you are unsure whether the scheme applies to you, it is worth checking properly. Operating outside CIS when you should be inside it creates a liability for the deductions you failed to make.
20% for subcontractors registered under CIS, 30% for unregistered ones, and nothing for those holding gross payment status. Deductions apply to the labour element only — materials, plant hire and VAT are excluded, provided the invoice separates them.
The money is not an extra tax. It is an advance payment against the subcontractor’s eventual Income Tax and National Insurance, and it is set against their bill at the end of the year.
As a sole trader subcontractor, the deductions suffered during the year are offset against your Self Assessment liability, and any excess is refunded. Because deductions are taken before expenses, most subcontractors end up owed money.
Limited company subcontractors reclaim differently, by offsetting CIS suffered against their PAYE liabilities through the payroll system rather than waiting for a year-end refund. We handle whichever route applies to you.
Gross payment status means contractors pay you in full with no deduction, which is a substantial cash flow advantage. To qualify you must pass a business test, a turnover test and a compliance test — broadly, you need a genuine construction business, turnover above a minimum threshold, and a clean record of filing and paying on time.
HMRC reviews the status periodically and can withdraw it for compliance failures. If you are close to qualifying we will help you apply and, more importantly, help you keep it.
Ready to simplify your
CIS Returns?
Join 250+ businesses who trust TAG Accountancy to handle it brilliantly. The first consultation is completely free.
Let's talk about
your business.
Whether you want to switch accountant, need help with a specific return, or just want to know how much you could be saving — get in touch. The first call is always free.
Call Us
01603 559824
Email Us
office@tag-accountancy.co.uk
Postal Address
5 Marlingford Road, Bawburgh
Norwich, NR9 3LU
Meetings by appointment · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm
Fully Confidential
Your financial data is always secure.
Named Contact
The same accountant, every time.
Zero Obligation
No pressure, no commitment.
Fixed Fees
No surprise invoices, ever.
Message Received!
A member of the TAG team will be in touch shortly.