CIS for Contractors & Subcontractors
A practical guide to CIS registration, verification, payment deductions and records, with a cautious illustration that separates materials from labour.
The Construction Industry Scheme affects how contractors pay subcontractors for construction work. A contractor must consider the subcontractor’s HMRC status and may make a deduction from the part of a payment that does not represent materials. This page supports records and planning; it does not determine whether work is within CIS or whether a person is employed.
CIS deduction illustration
Use the actual HMRC verification result and your evidence of materials. VAT, employment status, contract scope and offset rules are not determined here.
Contractor pathway
- Register before paying your first subcontractor where CIS applies.
- Verify a subcontractor when required and use the HMRC result for the payment.
- Keep payment, materials and deduction records; give deduction statements where appropriate.
- Send complete CIS returns monthly, including a nil return where required, and pay deductions to HMRC.
- Consider employment status for every engagement; CIS is not a substitute for PAYE analysis.
Subcontractor pathway
Register before construction work begins, retain every deduction statement and reconcile deductions to your Self Assessment or company tax position. Gross payment status has conditions and must be approved; it is not a status a subcontractor can self-select in this estimator.
Records to keep
Keep contract details, verification evidence, invoice/payment date, payment excluding VAT, documented materials, deduction rate, deduction amount and deduction statement reference. A simple record template is available below.
Download CIS payment & deduction record (CSV)Use this as a record/planning illustration only. Obtain specialist advice if a contract may be employment, materials are uncertain, the payer is a deemed contractor, gross status is involved or a limited company is setting CIS deductions against PAYE liabilities.
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Information on this page is general guidance for UK small businesses and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Tax rules, allowances and product terms change. Always check current information with HMRC, Companies House or a qualified professional before making decisions.