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Bookkeeping · Construction & CIS

Construction bookkeeping — CIS, subcontractors and job costing, handled

Construction has its own rules — CIS deductions, subcontractor verification, the VAT reverse charge and job-by-job costs. We keep clean, compliant books so your CIS is right and your margins are clear.

  • Fixed monthly fee
  • Xero, QuickBooks & FreeAgent certified
  • A named accountant, not a portal

What we do for you

Construction bookkeeping, handled

  • CIS handled. Subcontractor verification, the right deductions and monthly CIS returns to HMRC, all taken care of.
  • VAT reverse charge. The domestic reverse charge applied correctly on the right transactions, so your VAT is right.
  • Job costing. Labour, materials and subcontractor costs tracked per project, so you see the margin on every job.
  • Clean records. Retentions, staged payments and CIS suffered all recorded properly and MTD-ready.
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What is construction bookkeeping?

Construction bookkeeping, done properly

Bookkeeping in construction is more involved than most trades: the Construction Industry Scheme means deductions on subcontractor payments, contractors must verify and file monthly CIS returns, and the domestic VAT reverse charge changes how VAT is handled between businesses.

We keep your construction books clean and compliant — CIS deductions calculated and recorded, subcontractors verified, the VAT reverse charge applied correctly, and costs tracked per job — so your CIS filings are right and you can see the margin on every project.

Sound familiar?

The headaches we take off your plate

If any of these are eating your time or worrying you, they’re exactly what we take off your plate.

  • CIS deductions on subcontractor payments
  • Verifying subcontractors and filing monthly CIS returns
  • The domestic VAT reverse charge for construction
  • Costing labour and materials job by job
  • Reclaiming CIS suffered as a subcontractor
  • Retentions and staged payments to track
What we do

Hand it over, and consider it handled

CIS handled

Subcontractor verification, the right deductions and monthly CIS returns to HMRC, all taken care of.

VAT reverse charge

The domestic reverse charge applied correctly on the right transactions, so your VAT is right.

Job costing

Labour, materials and subcontractor costs tracked per project, so you see the margin on every job.

Clean records

Retentions, staged payments and CIS suffered all recorded properly and MTD-ready.

Why it pays

More than tidy books — time and money back

CIS done right

Verification, deductions and returns handled correctly, so HMRC penalties and gross-status risks are off the table.

Reclaim CIS suffered

As a subcontractor, we make sure the CIS deducted from you is properly recorded and reclaimed.

Margin on every job

Job-level costing shows which projects make money and which quietly lose it.

No monthly scramble

CIS returns and records kept current, so the monthly deadline is just handled.

FAQ

Construction bookkeeping — your questions answered

What is CIS and how does it affect bookkeeping?
The Construction Industry Scheme requires contractors to deduct tax from subcontractor payments and pay it to HMRC, with monthly CIS returns. Subcontractors have CIS deducted from their own invoices. It all has to be tracked precisely — we verify subcontractors, calculate the deductions, record them and file the returns.
What is the VAT reverse charge for construction?
The domestic reverse charge means that for many business-to-business construction services, the customer accounts for the VAT rather than the supplier. It changes how invoices and VAT returns are handled — we apply it correctly so your VAT is right.
Can you reclaim the CIS deducted from me?
Yes. If you’re a subcontractor, the CIS deducted from your payments is offset against your tax — through your company’s payroll/CT position or your Self Assessment. We record it properly and make sure you get the credit.
Do you track costs per job?
Yes — we can set up job costing so labour, materials and subcontractor costs are tracked per project, giving you the true margin on every job rather than just an overall figure.
How much does construction bookkeeping cost?
A fixed monthly fee based on your transaction volume and CIS activity, agreed up front. Given the CIS penalties and reclaims involved, getting it right comfortably pays for itself.
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Let’s take this off your plate

Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we’ll show you exactly how we can help — and what it would cost.