Under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), contractors deduct money from a subcontractor’s payments and pass it to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The deductions count as advance payments towards the subcontractor’s tax and National Insurance.
Contractors must register for the scheme. Subcontractors do not have to register, but deductions are taken from their payments at a higher rate if they are not registered.
If you are already registered as a contractor, you can sign in to CIS online to file your monthly returns or to verify a subcontractor.
Who counts as a contractor or subcontractor
Register as a contractor if either:
- you pay subcontractors for construction work
- your business doesn’t do construction work but you spend an average of more than £1 million a year on construction in any 3-year period
Register as a subcontractor if you do construction work for a contractor.
You must register as both if you fall under both categories.
Work covered by CIS
CIS covers most construction work to:
- a permanent or temporary building or structure
- civil engineering work like roads and bridges
For the purpose of CIS, construction work includes:
- preparing the site, eg laying foundations and providing access works
- demolition and dismantling
- building work
- alterations, repairs and decorating
- installing systems for heating, lighting, power, water and ventilation
- cleaning the inside of buildings after construction work
Exceptions
You do not have to register if you only do certain jobs, including:
- architecture and surveying
- scaffolding hire (with no labour)
- carpet fitting
- making materials used in construction including plant and machinery
- delivering materials
- work on construction sites that is clearly not construction, eg running a canteen or site facilities
The CIS guide for contractors and subcontractors has more detail on what is and isn’t covered by the scheme.
Your business is based outside the UK
The same CIS rules apply if your business is based outside the UK, but you do construction work as a contractor or subcontractor in the UK.