Specialist Construction Accountants

We’re THE experts in the Construction Accountants space. Construction is our ONLY niche.

Conor Bentley, construction accountant at Expand Accounts

Are You Struggling With The Following:

Constantly chasing your accountant and hit with random tax bills?

Sixty seconds, six questions. At the end you will know whether we are a better fit than what you have got.

How It Works

Reach Out

Book a call. We will ask about the business, what is going wrong and what you actually want out of it.

Create a Strategy

We tell you what we would do differently. CIS, VAT, job costing, and where the tax is leaking.

Build Your Future

We take it on. You get numbers you can act on, filings that go in on time, and your evenings back.

what our clients say

Reviews From Google

★★★★★

Top construction accountants. They clearly understand CIS and made everything simple for our scaffolding business.

Shea Warner
JMS Scaffolding Ltd
★★★★★

My CIS is fully on track, PAYE is running smoothly and our projections are heading the right way. Conor knows construction like the back of his hand. It has changed our business and our lives.

Charlie Collins
CJC Brickwork Ltd
★★★★★

Conor has completely changed my opinion on accountants. He goes above and beyond and knows the field inside out. I could not recommend anyone else to look after your business.

Louis
Blue Flame Fire Engineering Ltd

What We Do

CIS Management

Verification, monthly returns, deduction statements and the year end reconciliation. Handled for you.

Cash Flow Planning and Forecasting

A forecast built around what construction does to a bank balance. Retentions, payment terms and the VAT you owe.

Profitability Planning

Knowing what you billed is not the same as knowing what you kept. We build the numbers that show the difference.

Job Profitability Analysis

Cost tracking job by job, so you find out a contract is losing money while there is still time to do something about it.

Group Structure Setup and Analysis

A group can save real tax or create work for no benefit. We look at your position and tell you which.

Cloud Accounting and Tax Returns

Xero set up around CIS and job costing rather than bolted on afterwards, so the numbers are right without you rekeying them.

How We Can Support You

Stress-Free Finances

CIS, VAT and year end handled for you, not handed back as a list of jobs.

Always Here for You

You get a reply the same day. Chasing your accountant should not be part of running a business.

Keep More of Your Earnings

Tax planning built around how construction companies actually get paid, so less of it leaves the business.

Common Questions

FAQs for CIS

Clear CIS guidance from trusted construction accountants.

What is the Construction Industry Scheme?

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is a UK tax system where contractors deduct tax from subcontractors and pay it to HMRC. It applies to most construction labour and some related costs. Contractors must register, verify subcontractors, submit monthly returns, and issue deduction statements. CIS deductions count towards the subcontractor’s tax and National Insurance bill and help spread tax payments across the year.

CIS vs PAYE: which tax scheme is right for you?

PAYE applies to employees, with tax and National Insurance deducted through payroll. CIS usually applies to self-employed subcontractors, with fixed deductions made by contractors. The correct scheme depends on working arrangements, control, and financial risk. Using the wrong scheme can lead to HMRC penalties and backdated tax.

What is the CIS deduction percentage?

CIS deductions depend on registration status. Verified subcontractors are deducted at 20%, unverified subcontractors at 30%, and those with Gross Payment Status at 0%. Deductions usually apply to labour only, not materials, when materials are clearly shown on invoices.

Is the Construction Industry Scheme worth it?

CIS can be beneficial because tax is collected gradually instead of as a large bill later. However, subcontractors with high expenses may overpay during the year and need to reclaim tax. Whether CIS is worthwhile depends on cash flow, expenses, and record-keeping.

Who is exempt from CIS?

Certain services are exempt from CIS, including some professional services, material-only suppliers, and employees paid through PAYE. Private householders are generally not contractors unless operating as developers or landlords under specific conditions.

Can you reclaim CIS tax?

Yes. If CIS deductions exceed your final tax and National Insurance liability, the excess can be reclaimed through your Self Assessment tax return. Accurate CIS statements, invoices, and expense records are essential to ensure refunds are processed correctly.

How can you help with CIS?

We support CIS registration, subcontractor verification, monthly CIS returns, deduction statements, and Self Assessment filings. Our construction accountants ensure deductions are correct, compliance is maintained, and cash flow is protected.

Working With Us

The questions we get asked before someone books a call.

Do you only work with construction businesses?

Yes. Construction is all we do. That means we already know how CIS works, when the VAT domestic reverse charge applies and what retentions do to a set of accounts, so you are not paying us to learn on the job.

What size of business do you work with?

Limited companies turning over roughly £500,000 to £5 million. Below that the work usually does not justify what we charge, and above it you tend to need someone in house.

Can you take over from my current accountant part way through the year?

Yes, and most people do. You do not have to wait for a year end. We handle the handover and request the records from your existing accountant, so there is very little for you to do.

Do you work with businesses outside Staffordshire?

Yes. We are based in Cannock and we work with construction companies across the whole of the UK. Everything runs on cloud accounting, so where you are makes no difference to how well we can support you.

Does the VAT domestic reverse charge apply to my work?

It applies where you supply construction services that fall inside CIS to another VAT registered business that is not an end user. In that case your customer accounts for the VAT instead of you. It does not apply to supplies to end users, to domestic customers, or to work outside the scope of CIS. Getting this wrong is common and it is usually months before anyone notices, so it is worth checking.

Can you help if my CIS returns are already late?

Yes. Late returns and the penalties attached to them are a large part of what we pick up. We file what is outstanding, work out where you stand and deal with HMRC on the penalty position.

Find out if we are the right fit

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