Trusted Accountants for Specialist Trades
Electricians, plumbers, roofers, and other specialist trades face the same CIS and VAT rules as general contractors, but with tighter margins and less back-office capacity to manage them. Our trade-focused accountants keep you compliant and your tax bill as low as legally possible.
- Specialist in Small Trade Business Tax
- CIS Refund Specialists
£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 specialist trade businesses
Whether you’re a sole trader electrician or run a small plumbing or roofing firm with a handful of employees, you face CIS deductions on work for main contractors, VAT decisions on materials-heavy jobs, and vehicle and tool expenses that need claiming correctly. We work with specialist trades daily and know exactly where the tax savings sit.
CIS deduction reconciliation and refund maximisation for trade subcontractors
Vehicle, tool, and materials expense claims specific to your trade
VAT for Materials-Heavy Trades
Get VAT right when materials make up most of the invoice
Trades like plumbing, electrical, and roofing often invoice with a high proportion of materials cost alongside labour, and under the VAT domestic reverse charge, most of that invoice to a contractor is treated differently to a job invoiced directly to a homeowner. We make sure invoices are structured correctly depending on who you’re billing, so VAT treatment doesn’t create disputes or cash flow surprises.
100%
CIS Compliance Rate
CIS & Refunds for Trade Subcontractors
Make sure every pound of CIS deduction comes back to you
Specialist trades working under main contractors have 20% (or 30% if unregistered) deducted from labour on every invoice, and many trades under-claim the vehicle, tool, and materials costs that would otherwise reduce their tax bill and increase their refund . We reconcile every deduction statement, apply the full range of trade-specific allowable expenses, and file promptly to get refunds back quickly.
Deduction statement reconciliation across multiple contractors
Trade-specific expense reviews: tools, vehicles, PPE, training, and materials
Common Pain Points
Main Tax Challenges Specialist Trades Face
Specialist trades often run lean, with the owner doing invoicing and bookkeeping alongside the actual trade work, leaving tax planning as an afterthought.
Under-Claimed Vehicle & Tool Expenses
Vans, tools, and specialist equipment are among the most under-claimed expenses in trade businesses, directly inflating tax bills unnecessarily.
Reverse Charge Confusion on Mixed Client Types
Trades invoicing both contractors (reverse charge) and homeowners (standard VAT) in the same week often apply the wrong treatment to one or the other.
CIS Deduction Reconciliation Errors
With multiple contractors issuing deduction statements in different formats, trades frequently lose track of exactly how much has already been deducted come tax return time.
Late or Missing Bookkeeping
Trades juggling site work and admin often fall behind on invoicing and expense records, leading to rushed, inaccurate year-end returns.
Missed Gross Payment Status Opportunity
Established trades that have grown past the turnover threshold often haven’t applied for gross payment status, leaving 20% deducted unnecessarily every month
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
Tax & Accounting Services for Specialist Trades
From day-to-day bookkeeping to year-end returns and refunds, we handle the accounting side so you can focus on the trade.
CIS Deduction Reconciliation & Refunds
We track every deduction statement across all your contractors and maximise your year-end refund
Trade-Specific Expense Claims
We identify tools, vehicles, PPE, training, and materials costs specific to your trade that are commonly missed.
VAT Advice for Mixed Invoicing
We ensure reverse charge and standard VAT are applied correctly depending on whether you’re billing a contractor or a homeowner.
Gross Payment Status Applications
We assess your eligibility once turnover thresholds are met and manage the application process
Simple Bookkeeping Systems
We set up mobile-friendly bookkeeping that fits around site work, so records stay current without extra admin burden.
Self Assessment & Annual Accounts
We prepare and file your returns accurately and on time, every year, keeping penalties off the table.
Switching Accountants, Step by Step
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 Specialist Trades
Can I claim my van and tools against tax?
Do I charge VAT differently to a contractor versus a homeowner?
Yes, supplies to VAT and CIS-registered contractors generally fall under the domestic reverse charge, while supplies direct to homeowners are invoiced with standard VAT in the normal way.
How do I know if I'm due a CIS refund?
If your total CIS deductions across all contractors exceed your actual tax and National Insurance liability once expenses are deducted, you’re due a refund via your Self Assessment return.
Should I bother applying for gross payment status as a small trade?
If you meet the £30,000 (sole trader/per director) or £100,000 (company) turnover threshold and have a clean compliance record, gross status improves cash flow by removing the 20% deduction entirely.
What happens if a contractor gives me a deduction statement with the wrong rate?
Query it immediately — if you’re registered but deducted at 30%, you may not have been verified correctly, and this should be corrected before it affects your refund calculation.
Do I need to register for VAT if I'm a small trade business?
Only once your taxable turnover exceeds the compulsory registration threshold in any rolling 12-month period, though voluntary registration can sometimes suit materials-heavy trades.
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