CIS Overview

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 don’t have to register, but deductions are taken from their payments at a higher rate if they’re not registered.

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 buildings, including site preparation, decorating and refurbishment.

Exceptions 

You don’t have to register if you only do certain jobs, including: 

• architecture and surveying
  
  
• scaffolding hire (with no labour)
  
  
• carpet fitting
  
  
• delivering materials
  
  
• work on construction sites that is clearly not construction, e.g. running a canteen or site facilities

HMRC's CIS guide for contractors and subcontractors explains what is and isn’t covered by the scheme, the guide can be found here