CIS that does not match the bank
Deductions on the statement, nothing in the software.
Trades & contractors
Construction accounts that speak CIS, retentions and a van that is also an office.
Subcontractor tax, reverse charge VAT, and books that survive a site manager’s inbox.
Trades & contractors
Construction Industry
- The tell
- CIS · reverse charge · retentions
- Software
- Xero · Sage · QB · FreeAgent
- Reply
- Same day before 4pm
What we usually fix
- CIS that does not match the bank
- Reverse charge by surprise
- Retentions treated as cash
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What this sector actually gets wrong
Construction cash does not move like shop cash. CIS, reverse charge, retentions and a workforce that changes every month will break a generic bookkeeper. We act for contractors, subcontractors and small main contractors across the North West.
Reverse charge by surprise
A missing VAT number on a labour invoice becomes your problem.
Retentions treated as cash
Profit on a job that has not actually been paid.
You probably need this if
The builders, trades and contractors who call us
- CIS deductions do not appear in the software
- A labour invoice is missing a VAT number and reverse charge is now your problem
- Profit includes retentions that have not been paid
- The van is also the office and nobody has claimed it cleanly
Construction Industry
Who we act for
Subcontractors
CIS suffered on the statement, claimed on the return, not paid twice.
Small main contractors
Verification, reverse charge, retentions that are not cash.
Sole-trader trades
CIS and Self Assessment as the whole job.
What sits in the monthly fee.
4 lines, all included
- CIS returns and verification
- Monthly, on time, matching the ledgers.
- Reverse charge VAT
- Coded so box 1 is not a fiction.
- Job-level margin
- When the volume justifies it. Otherwise a clean set of books first.
- Payroll and labour-only
- The employment status conversation, had early.
Then the calendar takes over.
- 01
Status and schemes
CIS, VAT, PAYE, which ones you are actually in.
- 02
Invoice rhythm
Applications, retentions, materials.
- 03
Month close
CIS and VAT stop being a Sunday night.
From the files
The next CT600 included tax already suffered, instead of paying it twice.
What actually happened
A Warrington contractor drowning in CIS statements
We rebuilt the year, claimed the deductions that were sitting on paper, and put verification in the process.
In plain English
Construction Industry accounting, written properly
Construction cash does not move like shop cash
CIS, reverse charge VAT, retentions and a workforce that changes every month will break a generic bookkeeper. We act for contractors, subcontractors and small main contractors across the North West: monthly CIS that matches the ledgers, reverse charge coded so box 1 is not a fiction, and the employment-status conversation had early.
A CIS-only service exists. Clean books make it true.
The return is only as good as the invoices. Most clients start with CIS and stay for the books. Plant, vans and the ‘is this a van’ conversation with HMRC sit in the same engagement. Use the CIS take-home tool for a first look, then we match it to the slips.
Construction Industry questions
Yes. CIS and Self Assessment are the whole job for a lot of our trades.
Yes, the capital allowances and the ‘is this a van’ conversation, which HMRC enjoys more than you will.
We can. Most clients end up wanting the books too, because the return is only as good as the invoices.
Both offices
One number. Whichever desk you land on.
01925 670289Or message us on WhatsApp- Warrington
- Ragan House, 674 Knutsford Road, WA4 1JHMap
info@countplus.co.uk
Monday–Friday, 9:00–17:00. Same-day response before 4pm.
Write to a human
Accounts, tax or consultancy. Pick a topic.
Countplus Accounting, since 2019
Talk to an accountant who already works with builders, trades and contractors.
A monthly number in a minute, or a conversation with the person who would do the work.
Get a quote, or call the desk on 01925 670289, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. Write before 4pm and a named person answers the same day.