Retention Accounting & Recovery
Stop Retention Money Sitting Unclaimed. Retention withheld on completed work can sit dormant for months or years past its release date simply because nobody is tracking the due date or chasing the client. We track every retention across every contract and recover what’s owed before it’s forgotten.
- Retention Tracking Specialists
- Late-Payment Recovery Experts
£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 track retention so you don’t have to remember to
Retention typically withholds 5% of contract value at practical completion, released in two stages, and with multiple contracts running simultaneously, release dates are easy to lose track of. We log every retention on every contract, flag release dates before they’re missed, and chase overdue payments as a standard part of our service rather than an afterthought.
Retention due-date tracking across every live and completed contract
Proactive chasing of overdue releases, not passive waiting
Chase what’s owed, don’t wait for it
Recovering Overdue and Disputed Retention
Late retention release is one of the most common cash-flow problems in construction, and clients often only pay once formally chased. We pursue overdue retention directly on your behalf, escalating through formal demand where necessary, and build cash-flow forecasts that account for realistic release timing rather than optimistic assumptions.
100%
CIS Compliance Rate
Never lose sight of money you’re owed
Tracking Every Retention, Every Contract
With several contracts running at once, each carrying its own practical completion date, defects liability period, and final release date, retention becomes very easy to lose track of without a dedicated system. We build a retention ledger across your whole contract portfolio, so every sum withheld, its release trigger, and its due date are visible in one place at all times.
Full retention ledger covering practical completion and final release stages
Automated alerts before each retention becomes due
Common Pain Points
Why Retention Money Goes Unrecovered
Retention is one of the easiest sums to lose track of across multiple contracts, and the cost of inaction compounds over time.
No Central Tracking Across Contracts
Without a single ledger, retention due dates across multiple jobs are tracked inconsistently or not at all, and sums are simply forgotten.
Clients Delaying Release Past the Due Date
Retention is often paid late by default, and without active chasing, delays can stretch from weeks into months or years.
Disputes Over Defects Blocking Release
Retention release is sometimes withheld over disputed defects, and without proper documentation, resolving these disputes drags on unnecessarily.
Cash Flow Strain From Withheld Sums
Retention can represent a meaningful percentage of contract value sitting outside the business for extended periods, straining cash flow on otherwise profitable jobs.
Retention Written Off as Uncollectable
After enough time passes, some businesses simply write off retention as a bad debt rather than pursuing genuinely recoverable sums.
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
Comprehensive Retention Accounting and Recovery Support
From tracking to recovery, we manage the full retention lifecycle across every contract.
Retention Ledger Setup
We build and maintain a full ledger tracking every retention sum, its release trigger, and its due date across your contract portfolio.
Release Date Monitoring & Alerts
We flag upcoming and overdue retention releases before they’re missed or forgotten.
Overdue Retention Chasing
We pursue overdue releases directly with clients, escalating formally where required.
Cash Flow Forecasting Including Retention
We build forecasts that reflect realistic retention release timing rather than optimistic assumptions.
Bad Debt & Dispute Support
We help document and resolve disputes blocking retention release, and advise when formal bad debt treatment is appropriate.
Contract-by-Contract Retention Reporting
We provide clear reporting on outstanding retention across every live and recently completed contract.
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 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 Retention Accounting &
Recovery
What is retention in a construction contract?
Why does retention get missed or forgotten?
Without a central tracking system, businesses running multiple contracts simultaneously lose sight of individual release dates, especially on completed jobs.
What can I do if a client won't release overdue retention?
Formal written demand is often the first effective step, followed by escalation depending on the contract terms and the size of the sum involved.
Can retention be withheld indefinitely over a dispute?
No. Retention release should follow the timeline set out in the contract, and disputes over defects should be documented and resolved rather than used to delay payment indefinitely.
How does retention tracking help my cash flow?
Knowing exactly when sums are due lets you forecast cash flow accurately and follow up before delays become long-term problems.
Why choose Construction Tax Accountants for retention accounting?
We build dedicated retention ledgers for every construction client, so nothing is missed across your full contract portfolio, and we actively chase overdue sums rather than waiting for clients to pay voluntarily.
Still have questions?
Our construction accountants are ready to answer any questions about your specific tax situation with no obligation for an initial conversation.
- Mon–Fri, 9am–5:30pm