CIS TAX RETURN

Are you a construction worker using the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and think you may be due a tax refund? Whether you need to recover costs for business travel, food on the go, or tools and equipment, you could be owed by the HMRC. With the help of Swift Refunds, you can maximise your CIS tax return, all whilst minimising the stress of the claim process.

In 2022 we have reclaimed over £23 million in tax rebates back from HMRC

Claim CIS Tax Refunds Now!

Construction workers, including builders, plumbers, joiners, and site labourers using the Construction Industry Scheme can claim CIS tax returns. The main reason for sub-contractor’s tax rebates is that too much tax is deducted from their pay, and over the financial year, this can run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Find out whether you’re entitled to claim a CIS tax refund by answering a few simple questions below using our online form.

Submit Your Claim

Do you work in lots of different locations to do your job and think you may be due a tax rebate? Well, find out whether you’re entitled to make a Tax claim by answering a few simple Tax-related questions below.

What is CIS Tax?

The Construction Industry Scheme was brought in by the HMRC to help end cash-in-hand labour and the avoidance of paying taxes. Under the rules of the CIS, a contractor paying sub-contractors is to withhold their tax deductions and pay them directly to HRMC. When the sub-contractor is filing their tax returns, they can then claim back the deductions to offset the tax for the year; it is then common that a tax refund is due. CIS covers all construction work in the UK, including work done by foreign companies.

How Do I Register For a CIS Number?

If you are in the construction industry, you will need to register for the Construction Industry Scheme. For sub-contractors, it is not compulsory for you to join, although if you don’t register, you could end up paying 30% in tax rather than the lower 20%. To register you will need the following information to hand:

A legal business name
Your National Insurance number
Your UTR number (Unique Taxpayer Reference number)
VAT number (if you are VAT registered)

What Can I Claim a CIS Tax Return On?

The more information you can supply on your CIS tax returns, the better. Having all the information available such as receipts, travel dates, and places will allow you to maximise your claim. You can claim back expenses such as:

Food and drink on the go
Business travel costs including mileage expenses and public transport
Accommodation, parking, and tolls
Protective clothing, tools, equipment, and materials
Administrative costs, phone bills, postage, and stationery
Advertising expenses
Fees, including public liability insurance, memberships to professional bodies, account fees & bank charges

What Does a CIS Tax Return Not Cover?

Architecture and surveying work
Scaffold hire (without labour)
Carpet, vinyl, and laminate fitting
Manufacturing materials machinery
The delivery of materials
Site facilities such as on-site canteens.

How Far Back Can I Claim?

Current legislation in the UK says you can go back up to four tax years when you claim a tax refund. This means at the current moment in time you can claim for the following periods:

Effectively this means you can claim Tax relief from 6th April 2020.

What Are The CIS Deduction Rates?

If you are registered with the CIS, you will pay 20%, if you have not registered yourself as a company, sub-contractor or HMRC have no records of you, then a rate of 30% is applied. Applying for Gross CIS status (0% gross payments – no tax deducted) can be hard, but it can free up vital funds for you to invest in your business.

Are There Penalties For Filing CIS Tax Returns Late?

There are penalties for filing any tax return late, including CIS, even filing one day late can result in a fine. You must keep track of the deadline dates and give yourself plenty of time to fill in and submit your return online, you should give yourself more time if you are sending it by post.

How Do I Make a CIS Tax Return?

Simple! Let Swift Refunds do the hard work for you!

Making a CIS tax return can be quite tricky, there’s a lot of number crunching involved, and you have to take great care when submitting a tax claim. Would you feel confident that you’re making the maximum claim? Would you feel comfortable knowing that an incorrect tax claim can mean that you could get fined and penalised?

Don’t worry about the little details, we’ll take care of it all for you. Contact us today if you have any questions about your CIS tax return.

Customer Stories

Swift Refunds has helped thousands of workers in the construction industry claim back what they are entitled to in CIS Tax returns, check out what our clients have to say about their experience with us.

Matt hayes, serving in the raf

“I got over £3000 back and went on holiday!“
I saw the SWIFT advert on Facebook and thought I would give it a go. I work in the aviation engineering industry and use my own car to travel to base camp. I was happy when I spoke to SWIFT Refunds who informed me I was due a tax rebate of over £3000! This was the easiest money I ever got back! I used the money to book myself a holiday to Mexico.

Matt Hayes – member of the RAF

Jack owens professional athlete and rugby player

“I had no idea you could go back four years for a bigger refund“ I found out about Swift Refunds from the commercial director of the rugby club. I got in touch with Sharon and Denise who did all the work for me. The communication was great and a few months later I got over £3000 on a four-year tax refund.

Jack Owens – Widnes Vikings rugby player.

How Long Do CIS Tax Returns Take?

The duration of your tax refund process can depend on these two factors:

How fast you can get the required information to Swift Refunds.
How busy HMRC are, this depends a lot on what time of the year it is.

The sooner you start a claim process, the better, as a standard claim takes 8-12 weeks for HMRC to process a tax refund.

As deadlines apply for making claims, we advise you to get in touch as early as possible to avoid excessive delays.

As deadlines apply for making claims, we advise you to get in touch as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

CIS Tax Return FAQs

How do I know if I qualify for a tax refund under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)?

To qualify for a CIS tax return, you must be a registered sub-contractor under the scheme and have had tax deducted from your payments. You should also have incurred allowable business expenses during the tax year. If you are unsure, contact our experts today, so they can help evaluate your eligibility.

How long does a CIS tax return take?

The time it takes to receive your CIS tax return can vary based on several factors, including how you submit your claim and the complexity of your situation. With standard claims, it takes 8-12 weeks to process. For fast-track claims, it takes 6-8 weeks.

What information do I need to make a CIS tax return?

You can backdate your expense claims for the last four years. To start a tax refund claim you will need the following information:

Photo ID (e.g., driving licence or passport)
Proof of address (e.g., bank statement, utility bill, or tax bill) if you only have one form of ID
Payment statements or wage slips for each tax year you wish to claim for
A list of construction sites you’ve worked on
Business expenses (e.g., travel, equipment, materials, insurance)

Are there any fees associated with claiming a tax refund?

Claiming a tax refund directly through the HMRC doesn’t always incur a fee, however, many individuals and businesses choose to use professional services, like the service we offer at Swift Refunds, to ensure their claims are accurate and maximised, which does have a fee. We understand that making a claim can be extremely time-consuming, and any small mistake can incur a fee, which is why we offer a 100% Swift Guarantee, meaning that you don’t have to worry about HMRC asking for any of your money back. As long as you give us full and accurate records, if HMRC doesn’t agree with how much we’ve claimed and asked for any money back, we will pay it.

How do CIS tax deductions work?

CIS tax deductions are payments your employer will take out of your wages before you receive them. Those payments go straight to HMRC instead of you. These deductions act as advanced payments towards your tax and National Insurance, to avoid tax evasion within the construction industry. Unfortunately, this often results in workers being overcharged, and many are owed by the HMRC. Get in touch with our specialist teams to see what you’re owed today.

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Cis tax returns