CLAIM BACK YOUR CIS TAX RETURNS NOW
If you work in any type of construction or labouring job, you will almost certainly be entitled to claim a Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) tax rebate. And we aren’t talking small numbers here either. The average take-home rebate is over £2,500.
We've helped joiners builders plumbers groundworkers plasterers - Just about everyone working in some type of construction job.
CIS TAX REBATE CALCULATOR
Find out how much CIS tax you could be owed with our CIS tax return calculator. This way you can quickly and easily estimate your CIS tax return online.
Got any questions about your CIS tax refund calculator estimate? Get in touch with our expert team today!
FIND OUT HOW EASY IT WAS CLAIMING MONEY BACK WITH US
We make claiming back your CIS tax refund quick, easy and hassle free but don’t just take our word for it! Check out our customer reviews and find out why people choose Tommy’s Tax when claiming their refund.
WE'VE BEEN FEATURED IN THESE PUBLICATIONS
Here at Tommy’s Tax we strive to provide the very best experience for each and every one of our clients. During our time within the industry we’re proud to say we’ve been published in a number of top publications offering tips and advice.
WHAT IS CIS (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SCHEME)?
CIS or ‘Construction Industry Scheme’ tax is a type of tax that the government uses to collect income from people working in construction or construction-related roles across the UK. These deductions are then sent on to HMRC. They basically count as advance payments towards the tax and your National Insurance that you pay anyway. The HMRC does this as a way to prevent tax evasion. But what often happens is too many honest, tax-paying people end up paying too much tax as a consequence.
What Work Does CIS Cover?
- Site preparation work (such as laying foundations) - Demolitions - Alterations - Repairs - Painting and decorating - Installing systems such as water, lighting, HVAC units & more - Solar panel installation - Cleaning buildings and interiors at the end of construction work
If you are unsure if your work qualifies, we can check this for you.
What Work Does CIS Not Cover?
- Scaffolding Hire (but only if there's no labour involved)
- Carpet Fitting
- Surveying & Architecture Work
- Making Materials used in Construction
- Delivering Materials to Construction Sites
- Work that isn't construction related, even if it takes place on-site (such as working in a canteen).
Even if your line of work isn’t generally considered to be covered by CIS, you can still claim CIS tax returns if you are working one of the jobs listed here ALONG WITH a job that is covered by CIS. In fact, in that case, you can invoice all of the work under CIS.
So even if, for example, you did some painting and decorating, and then some carpet fitting, you would still be able to claim CIS tax on the whole sum — including the carpet fitting. Even though carpet fitting wouldn’t normally be covered.
WHAT IS A CIS SELF-ASSESSMENT TAX RETURN?
A CIS self-assessment is basically a way of disclosing your earnings to HMRC. This must be done every financial year if you are self-employed. As it is a way for the HMRC to check whether the advance tax contributions — your CIS deductions — have been overpaid or underpaid.
A CIS self-assessment tax return is when HMRC finds out that you have overpaid on your tax contributions and returns that money to you. But if the government can avoid paying out, they will. Not to mention the fact that completing a CIS self-assessment can be long, confusing and boring.
That’s why so many people ask the tax experts to look over this on their behalf. And because experts can look at everything very closely, they often find that HMRC owes you even more money. Meaning that, a lot of the time with expert help, your CIS tax rebate is even larger than if you did it yourself.
WHAT IS THE CIS TAX DEDUCTION RATE?
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), according to their official website, makes the following deductions:
20% for registered subcontractors
30% for subcontractors who are unregistered
0% for subcontractors with ‘gross payment’ status
As you can see, by registering you can save 10% on your CIS tax deductions. You can do this by giving your employer your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number.
If you don’t know this, we can get a UTR number sent out to you quickly. HMRC like to have your UTR number so that they can easily see who you are. If your employer does not have it and show it to them, then the taxman will effectively punish you by increasing your overcall CIS deductions to an extra 10% of your total wages.
HOW DO CIS TAX DEDUCTIONS WORK?
Because it is a type of tax, your boss (the contractor) basically deducts money from your payments, before you are paid. These deductions are then sent on to HMRC. They basically count as advance payments towards the tax and your National Insurance that you pay anyway.
The HMRC does this as a way to prevent “cash-in-hand” tax evasion. But what often happens is too many honest, tax-paying people end up paying too much tax as a consequence.
HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH MY CIS TAX RETURN?
The first thing you will need to do is gather as much information concerning your work as possible. The more information you can get, the more money you may be able to get back from your CIS tax rebate.
Here are some useful documents and records to help maximise your CIS tax return:
– Any copies of CIS tax statements that you have (they are sometimes called ‘CIS vouchers’ or ‘CIS pay slips’)
– Information about the places you have worked on
– MOT certificates that show how much mileage you have done
– Expenses’ receipts
– Invoices for work-related tools and equipment you have purchased
– Bank statements
Obviously it won’t always be possible for you to have the records of everything, but the more information the better.
If in doubt, just let us know and send it over anyway. We can always tell you if a particular receipt or record will be useful or not. It’s better to have it and not need it, and having it could contribute to your CIS tax refunds.
CAN I MAKE A CIS TAX CLAIM MYSELF?
You certainly can claim CIS by yourself. But as it’s the government you’re dealing with, you can bet it is a long, tiring, and complicated process. Here’s what you need to complete a CIS self-assessment tax return:
– Visit the HMRC site to register for a self-assessment tax return
– Once CIS registered, fill out the SA100 form
– Enter in your Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number
– Work out all of your income during the financial year, including any additional income (such as property income) if applicable
– Work out all of your losses during the financial year
– Add up all of the deductions made from your pay during the financial year — these should be visible on your payslips
– Add up all of your business expenses and declare them to HMRC
– Make sure you submit everything before the tax return deadline — otherwise you may be fined.
If this all feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. That’s what we are here for. Our experts will thoroughly look over every tiny detail, in order to maximise your CIS rebate. So that you can get as much money back as possible, all with the click of a button.
CAN I MAKE A CIS TAX CLAIM MYSELF?
Every time you get paid for your work, your boss or employer must provide you with a CIS payslip. They are legally required to do this.
Once you have them, it’s important you hold on to them. So that when you complete your annual Self Assessment tax returns you have all the necessary information at hand. You will need to notify HMRC just how much money you are earning. This will also help to show HMRC all the CIS reductions that have already been deducted from your wages.
A lot of the time, hard working people who lose 20% of their earnings to CIS deductions don’t always get the full benefits of their tax-free Personal Allowances. But in order to finally GET all those benefits, you will need to prove that you have been making CIS payments. And for that, you’ll need the CIS paperwork to back up your claims.
WHAT IS A CIS PAYMENT AND DEDUCTION CERTIFICATE?
CAN I MAKE A CIS TAX CLAIM MYSELF?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS THE DEADLINE FOR A CIS SELF-ASSESSMENT TAX RETURN?
You will be fined £100 by HMRC. Even if you have no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid after three months. To make things worse, HMRC will continue to increase your fine by £10 a day for each day after the deadline you miss (up to a maximum of £900). If you miss the deadline by more than 6 months, then you will be fined an additional 5% on your tax — or the sum of £300 (whichever is the most money). Another 5% or £300 will be added again on to this overall amount if your return is more than 12 months late.
DO MOST CIS WORKERS GET THEIR FULL TAX REBATES?
This is because, if you aren’t an expert, it’s easy to miss out on CIS claims or to make mistakes. Most people do not realise the extent to which they’ve been overcharged by HMRC when they file their own taxes. In extreme cases, some people don’t even get a CIS rebate. Or if they do, it’s a massive undercalculation of what they deserve.
This is where we come in. Our experts closely scrutinise every aspect of your taxes, to see what you are entitled to. In order to claim back the highest number possible.
HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR GROSS PAYMENT STATUS?
Before you can apply for gross payment status, you will first need to register as a CIS subcontractor. You can do this by giving your employer your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number. If you don’t know this, we can get a UTR number sent out to you quickly
Then you can visit the HMRC website and fill in a CIS302 form to register for gross payment.
DOES CIS APPLY TO BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF THE UK?
HOW LONG DOES A CIS TAX REFUND TAKE?
I ONLY WORK FOR ONE COMPANY AND MY PAY IS TAXED BEFORE I GET IT
- SO AM I PAYE OR CIS?
Employment status can get very complicated in construction. Especially if there are large numbers of contractors, subcontractors, agencies, and more all involved. It might seem like you are working under PAYE conditions at times. And you might have colleagues working under very similar conditions who ARE working under PAYE conditions. This can cause confusion, and is why it’s so important to check.
To find out, check what it says on your payslips. If you can see a 20% deduction and the words “CIS statement” then you are paying CIS deductions. (However, if you feel you shouldn’t be paying CIS tax, then talk to your boss.)
The slightly different CIS and PAYE conditions can confuse even experienced workers. So take everything you hear from your mates and colleagues with a pinch of salt. If you have questions, it is far better to speak to the experts.
For more information on PAYE, visit our dedicated PAYE tax return page.
WHAT COSTS CAN MY CIS TAX REBATE COVER?
You can claim back any work expenses that HMRC consider to be allowable for tax relief. Including:
– Capital expenses, for example if you buy a laptop that you use only for work, then you can claim back on that purchase
– Motor vehicle costs, providing the vehicle is used exclusively for business — including things like fuel, insurance, mileage and road tax
– Any tools or equipment that you have paid for or have had to replace
– Costs incurred from buying or washing uniform (explained further on our uniform tax refunds page)
– Travel costs if you have to move from one site or location to another as part of the job
– Subsistence costs, including meals, tolls, congestion charges, parking charges, the cost of business phone calls — everything you have to do on the job
– Any “remaining admin costs” that relate to your work, but that aren’t listed above
– General business expenses such as public liability insurance
CIS VS PAYE - WHAT EXPENSES CAN I CLAIM?
CIS EXPENSES YOU CAN CLAIM
- Capital Expenses (If For Business Use Only)
- Motor Vehicle Expenses (If For Business Use Only)
- Tools & Equipment Expenses (Can Only Claim on Compulsory Protective Wear)
- Travel & Subsistence
- Remaining Admin Costs
- General Business Expenses
PAYE EXPENSES YOU CAN CLAIM
- Tools & Equipment (Only if you Had to Purchase them as they were not provided)
- Travel & Subsistence (Only if you travelled to a place of work for a temporary time period)
- General Business Expenses (Only for trade union fees and subscription fees)
WHAT IS A SUBCONTRACTOR?
A subcontractor can be either a firm or an individual person who carries out work for a company as part of a larger overall project. Subcontractors get paid by contractors for the work that they do and are eligible for a CIS subcontractor tax return.
HOW TO REGISTER AS A SUBCONTRACTOR
HOW TO DEREGISTER AS A SUBCONTRACTOR
WHO COUNTS AS A CIS CONTRACTOR OR CIS SUBCONTRACTOR?
CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 SUPPORT
The world has been rocked since the coronavirus lockdowns disrupted a lot of construction work. If your finances and work situation has been impacted, then you can still get some help
UTR NUMBERS & SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME SUPPORT
As of 26 March 2020, a new support scheme was announced by the UK government to help self-employed people. Simply called ‘Self-Employment Income Support’. But to find out if you are eligible — and to apply for it — you will need your UTR number.
You will need to meet certain other conditions to apply for Self-Employment Income Support:
– At least half of your income must come from self-employment, and you cannot be earning more than £50,000 profit from it
– You have filed a 2018/2019 tax return
– You aren’t a company director paying yourself a salary, or sharing dividends
– You can prove you have lost business/income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
If you meet all of the above, the government will cover 80% of your average monthly earnings over the last three tax years. Although you won’t earn more than £2,500.
Visit our dedicated UTR number page for more information.
CAN I STILL CLAIM A CIS REFUND IF I APPLIED FOR A GOVERNMENT LOAN SCHEME?
WHAT'S A UTR NUMBER?
Usually, your UTR number is on any letter addressed to you personally from the HMRC. However if you do not know it, we can find your UTR number quickly.
Visit our UTR number page for more information about this.
TOMMYS TAX APP - ALL IN ONE PLACE FOR YOUR TAX REFUND
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CIS TAX - HERE ARE YOUR MOST ASKED QUESTIONS
You can do this online or via the post. For online, visit the HMRC website. There you can claim a repayment online using the CIS rebate form. (You will need your Government Gateway user ID and password beforehand.) To claim via post, you will need to write to the HMRC explaining why you might have overpaid, along with your bank details and PAYE reference numbers.
About 4 weeks. Once you have handed your UTR number over to the contractor or your boss, it can take a month for HMRC to get back to you. In the meantime, unfortunately, you will still be charged 30% worth of CIS deductions. But once registered this number will drop to 20%. You will be able to reclaim your overpaid deductions at the end of the financial year.
No, you cannot opt out of CIS if the work you are doing falls within the CIS scheme. But you may be able to apply for ‘gross payment’ status. Which means you wouldn’t have to pay any CIS deductions at all. However, special conditions are required for this. To apply for gross payment status, visit the HMRC and fill in a CIS302 form to register for gross payment.
You cannot avoid CIS deductions if your line of work has you enrolled within a CIS scheme. Unless you have ‘gross payment’ status. But you must meet certain conditions to be eligible for gross payment status. For most people, you can REDUCE the deductions by registering. Your CIS deductions are automatically 30% of your pay before registering. But once you register, your deductions will reduce to 20%. It is also likely that you will be able to claim some of your deductions back as a CIS tax rebate when declaring your income on your annual Self Assessment.
LET OUR EXPERTS GET YOUR CIS RETURN OVER TO YOU QUICKLY AND STRESS-FREE
Sorting your own CIS tax return is often complicated, boring and hard to do. And because more people don’t really know how to do it, they end up getting short-changed by the tax man.
Our CIS experts won’t let you get short-changed. We will closely study all of your tax details, giving you the maximum claim you are entitled to.
You won’t have to worry about filling in your Self Assessments improperly or missing deadlines with our service, either. Say goodbye to boring, confusing paperwork, and hello to bigger, better tax rebates — the money that you have earned and that you deserve.