Trusted Accountants for CIS Subcontractors
Being deducted 20% or 30% on every invoice shouldn’t mean losing control of your cash flow. Our CIS-specialist accountants help UK subcontractors register correctly, reclaim overpaid tax, and move onto gross payment status faster .
- Gross Payment Specialist
- CIS Refund Expert
£3.1m+
CIS Recovered
100 %
HMRC & MTD Ready
50+
Five-Star Reviews
Construction
Tax EXPERTS
Fixed Fee
No hidden charges
HMRC Compliance
Who We Are
Accountants who understand life as a CIS subcontractor
Subcontractors face a distinctive tax position: 20% deducted at source if registered, 30% if not, and the ongoing job of proving your tax affairs are in order to HMRC . At Construction Tax Accountants, we handle the paperwork that keeps deductions at the correct rate and gets your refund back as fast as HMRC allows.
CIS registration, verification checks, and deduction statement reconciliation
Gross payment status applications and annual review support
CIS Refunds & Deduction Optimisation
Turn over-deducted CIS tax into cash back in your account
Most subcontractors have 20% withheld on every payment regardless of their actual tax liability, which means many are owed a refund at year end once expenses and allowances are properly accounted for . On a subcontractor billing £60,000 a year in labour, correctly claimed expenses and allowances can turn a five-figure CIS deduction into a meaningful refund.
We review every CIS deduction statement against your actual tax position, ensure the right expenses are claimed, and file your Self Assessment promptly so refunds land as early in the tax year as possible .
100%
CIS Compliance Rate
Gross Payment Status Applications
Stop the 20% deduction altogether: qualify for gross status
If your net construction turnover meets HMRC’s thresholds, £30,000 for a sole trader, £30,000 per partner, or £30,000 per director (£100,000 total for close companies) and your tax record is clean, you may qualify for gross payment status, meaning contractors pay you in full with no deduction at all .
Full eligibility assessment against HMRC’s turnover and compliance tests
Application preparation and submission, plus support through the annual review
Common Pain Points
The Unique Tax Challenges CIS Subcontractors Face
Subcontractors juggle multiple contractors, inconsistent paperwork, and a tax system that withholds money upfront rather than at year end.
Missing or Incorrect Deduction Statements
Contractors don’t always issue statements on time, and errors in the 20%/30% rate applied can go unnoticed for months, distorting your true refund position .
Falling Into the 30% Bracket
Subcontractors who never registered, or who lapse in registration, are deducted at 30% instead of 20% — an unnecessary 10-point cost with no upside .
Under-Claimed Allowable Expenses:
Tools, travel between sites, protective equipment, and subsistence are routinely under-claimed, leaving refunds smaller than they should be.
Losing Gross Payment Status at Annual Review
A single late CIS return, four late payments, or a payment over 14 days late can trigger HMRC to cancel gross status, forcing a full year’s wait before reapplying
Cash Flow Gaps Between Deduction and Refund
With tax withheld monthly but refunds only processed after the tax year ends, subcontractors can face a cash squeeze even while profitable on paper.
Free Consultation
Let’s talk about your construction accounting challenges
Book a 30-minute call with our specialist accountant for construction business. We’ll look at how your business is set up and flag quick wins you can act on straight away.
- CIS and VAT reverse charge handled correctly
- Deep expertise in contractor, subcontractor tax rules
- Forward-looking advice, not just year-end filing
- Transparent fixed fees, no surprises
Our Services
Complete Accounting Support for CIS Subcontractors
From registration through to your annual refund, we manage every step of your CIS tax position.
CIS Registration & Verification
We register you correctly from day one and verify your status with every new contractor, so deductions start at 20%, never 30% .
Gross Payment Status Applications
We assess eligibility, prepare your application, and support you through HMRC’s annual compliance review .
Annual Self Assessment & CIS Refunds
We reconcile every deduction statement against your income, maximise allowable expense claims, and file early to accelerate your refund .
Bookkeeping & Invoice Management
Simple, mobile-friendly bookkeeping so your income and expenses are always accurate and ready for tax time.
Expense & Allowance Reviews
We identify tools, mileage, protective clothing, and other allowable costs frequently missed by subcontractors filing on their own.
HMRC Correspondence Handling
We deal directly with HMRC on deduction disputes, registration issues, and review queries so you don’t have to
A Simple, Fast Onboarding Process
Four stages from enquiry to full onboarding
Moving to a new accountant mid-contract feels risky, so we have built a process designed to protect your CIS records, VAT position and ongoing site work throughout.
Initial Consultation
A free 30-minute call to walk through your current contracts, subcontractor arrangements and any outstanding CIS or VAT issues.
Custom Fee Proposal
Within 48 hours, you receive a fixed-fee proposal built around your actual contract volume and subcontractor headcount, not a generic package.
Coordinated Transition
We contact your current accountant directly to transfer CIS records, VAT history and working papers without any gaps in compliance.
Continued Support
Once onboarded, our accountant remains your single point of contact for every contract, HMRC query and financial decision going forward.
Client Stories
Real feedback from real construction businesses
Over 60 verified five-star reviews from subcontractors, contractors and developers across the UK.
★★★★★
“I’d been under-claiming CIS repayments for two years without realising it. They found and recovered £14,000 within weeks of taking us on. Nobody had ever explained the scheme to me this clearly before.”
★★★★★
“We had no real idea which contracts were making money until they built us a proper job-costing system. Now we price the next tender based on actual data, not guesswork.”
★★★★★
“Every site brings its own VAT and SDLT questions, and they have never once been slow to answer. Switching from our old firm was the easiest financial decision we have made in years.”
Why Choose US
Why CIS Subcontractors choose Construction Tax Accountants
Dedicated Accountant
Your dedicated accountant already knows your subcontractor list, your live contracts and your VAT position, so every call picks up exactly where the last one left off.
ACCA Qualified Team
Registered as Chartered Certified Accountants, providing you with expert advice you can rely on and trust completely.
Transparent Fixed Fees
You will never receive an unexpected invoice. All fees are fixed, all-inclusive and agreed upfront, with no hourly rates and no extra charges for additional advice or HMRC queries.
Repayments Chased, Not Just Filed
We do not wait for HMRC to process your CIS repayment in its own time. We track every claim and follow up until it is paid.
Cloud Systems Built for Site-Based Businesses
We work across Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent, integrated with CIS and job-costing tools so your figures are accurate whether you are in the office or on site.
Beyond the Numbers
We connect clients with invoice-finance providers, contractor-insurance brokers and CITB levy specialists as part of the relationship, not as an upsell.
FAQS
Commonly Asked Accounting Questions about CIS Subcontractors
What's the difference between the 20% and 30% CIS deduction rates?
Registered subcontractors have 20% deducted from labour payments; unregistered subcontractors are deducted 30%. Materials and VAT are excluded from the deduction calculation
Why choose Construction Tax Accountants for CIS support?
We specialise exclusively in construction-sector tax, so we understand deduction statements, gross status reviews, and refund timing better than a generalist accountant would.
How do I qualify for gross payment status?
You need a clean HMRC payment and filing record, UK-based construction work, a business bank account, and net construction turnover of at least £30,000 per director/partner (or £100,000 total for close companies) .
Will I definitely get a CIS refund?
Not automatically, a refund depends on whether your total CIS deductions exceed your actual tax and National Insurance liability once expenses are accounted for; most subcontractors are due something back
What happens if I fail my gross payment status annual review?
HMRC will cancel your gross status and revert you to 20% deductions, and you must wait a full year before reapplying .
Can I claim for tools and travel between sites?
Yes, tools, protective equipment, and travel between temporary workplaces are generally allowable expenses that reduce your taxable profit and refund calculation.
Do I need to register for CIS if I only do occasional subcontract work?
Yes, if you’re providing labour or construction services to a contractor, CIS registration is required regardless of how often you work .
Still have questions?
Our construction specialist accountants are ready to answer any questions about your specific tax situation with no obligation for an initial conversation.
- Mon–Fri, 9am–5:30pm