CIS compliance refers to the focus on HMRC’s Construction Industry Scheme guide that ensures the deduction of the tax from the earnings of the contractors from the building firms is done right. There are a few exceptions in the case of subcontractors who are paid without having any kind of tax deductions. The common practice is that the tax is deducted at the rate of 20% before the payment is received by the workers. However, there is a requirement of getting registered as a contractor and submit the requirements on a monthly basis. If you fail to meet the criteria of requirements, you will have to face severe penalties and a hefty amount of fines charged by HMRC.

However, before you initiate any process being newly associated with the fact of being a contractor with a building firm, there are certain basics that you should be aware of. These include the facts regarding the basics of HMRC’s CIS, how is the experience of buying the properties for the purpose of investments, what is the wider scope of HMRC’s Construction Industry Scheme guide, and what is De Minimus limit or how is it created for CIS. Let us kick off further discussion.

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What is HMRC’s Construction Industry Scheme Guide?

Contractors are often defined as those who are considered to be a business of buying subcontractors for the sake of availing certain kinds of services. It is kind of drawn widely by HMRC’s CIS. They are also known as construction companies or firms of buildings. However, sometimes they are the business themselves.

Now comes the series about what is construction work, it is something that is again drawn widely by professionals. It could possibly include dismantling and demolition of the buildings, extensions, repairing, alteration, and construction of the buildings. There are some exceptions too in such cases. Moreover, when you undertake the business for the purpose of obstruction, this is something that is mandatory to process the scheme CIS. However, the case of private households that belong to people who pay for the construction of their own homes can not come under the category of CIS.

What is the Experience of Buying a Property for Investment Purposes?

There is a prominent comparison comes among the people who rent out their properties and the ones who buy the property for a business. Well, the major and prominent difference between both cases is the factor of investments. The Construction Industry Scheme Reform Manual also confirms it under section 12080. They’re considered to be a problem when a contractor or any other business buys a property for the sake of renting the house. This creates confusion about whether the case is now considered a contractor case according to the rules of CIS. Moreover, CIS states this in the following words:

“Where a business that is ordinarily a property investor, undertakes activities attributed to those of ‘property development’, they will be considered a mainstream contractor [caught for CIS] during the period of that development”.

This makes the investor a developer now who is responsible for getting registered according to the rules of CIS. This will remain the same even if there is a single example of the newly renovated property.

What is the Wider Scope of the HMRC’s Construction Industry Scheme Guide?

In the case when the landlord tends to be the predominant investor of the properties, the system will still move further. This is not considered to be a construction business in a wide term. This is because they are most likely deemed to be the contractors. Moreover, there are a few examples of businesses that tend to commission the firms of construction, however, the work belongs to their own business premises. Such cases do not come under the requirement of getting registered as a contractor and associated with CIS.

What is the De Minimus Limit and How is it Related?

The De minimus limit refers to being a part of the application to get registered as a contractor. The small contractors in the industry of construction are not required to do so because of the set limit. Especially for construction projects that are under the amount of £1,000. This excluded the amount spent on the material. This type of condition is not applicable to mainstream contractors as well. You can reach out to the professionals to handle and be compliant in this regard. This will really beneficial for your own set-up in the industry and for the future of your business.

The Bottom Line

Now that you have gathered a fair amount of information about CIS compliance in the UK, we can bring the discussion towards wrapping up. Being a property developer is not easy to be associated with construction and make a positive mark in the industry. However, if you process through the set limits and rules of CIS, there will be a simple and contented way to make a business grow in the future. This is often confusing for the contractors who are associated with the small business because there are a few exceptions in their case. It is better to take the professional’s advice in this regard. We hope these few minutes of reading will help you to develop a better understanding of CIS compliance in the UK and how can you make a choice that turns out to be the most beneficial to your unique circumstances.

Are you seeking professional help to know CIS compliance in the UK for a small business? Why not get help from the experts at the CruseBurke? Talk to us now and we will get back to you instantly. 

Disclaimer: All the information provided in this article on CIS compliance in the UK includes all the texts and graphics. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.