Free UK construction tool

CIS Tax Calculator UK 2026

Calculate Construction Industry Scheme deductions instantly. Enter the gross invoice amount and the calculator shows the labour split, deduction, and net payment. No signup required.

Calculator inputs

GBP
GBP
GBP
GBP

Calculation result

Gross invoiceGBP 5,000.00
Labour elementGBP 5,000.00
CIS deduction at 20%GBP 1,000.00
Net to subcontractorGBP 4,000.00
For your records: the contractor pays GBP 1,000.00 to HMRC. The subcontractor's year-end tax liability reduces by this amount.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides indicative figures based on standard UK CIS rules. Always verify with HMRC or a qualified accountant for specific cases. Domestic reverse charge VAT rules may apply to construction work between VAT-registered businesses.

How CIS works

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) requires contractors to deduct money from payments to subcontractors and pass it to HMRC as advance income tax. The deductions count towards the subcontractor's tax bill at year end.

Three deduction rates apply depending on the subcontractor's status:

  • 0% (gross payment status): No deduction. The subcontractor receives the full labour amount and handles tax themselves.
  • 20% (registered): The most common rate. Applies to subcontractors registered with HMRC under CIS.
  • 30% (unregistered): Applies to subcontractors who are not registered with HMRC or who fail the verification check.

Crucially, CIS is calculated on the labour portion of the invoice only. Materials, plant hire, fuel and VAT are excluded. This is the most common mistake when new contractors first start using CIS.

Worked example

Gross invoice (excl. VAT)GBP 5,000.00
Less: materials(GBP 1,500.00)
Less: plant hire(GBP 200.00)
Labour elementGBP 3,300.00
CIS @ 20%GBP 660.00
Net to subcontractorGBP 4,340.00
(plus VAT on the GBP 5,000 gross invoice if VAT registered)

The contractor pays the GBP 660 to HMRC. The subcontractor receives GBP 4,340 plus any VAT, and the GBP 660 counts as advance tax against their year-end liability.

CIS questions answered

What is CIS tax in the UK?+

CIS stands for Construction Industry Scheme. UK contractors deduct money from subcontractor payments and pass it to HMRC as advance tax. Three rates apply: 0%, 20% and 30%.

How is CIS calculated?+

On the labour portion of the invoice only. Materials, plant hire, fuel and VAT are excluded from the calculation. Apply the verification rate (0%, 20% or 30%) to the labour figure.

Are materials included?+

No. Subtract materials, plant hire and fuel from the gross invoice before applying the CIS rate. The calculator above handles this automatically.

How do I get CIS gross payment status?+

Apply to HMRC. You must pass the business test (genuine construction work), turnover test (typically over GBP 30,000), and compliance test (clean tax record).

What if my subcontractor is not registered?+

Deduct at 30% rate. Verify their status with HMRC before each first payment. Once verified, HMRC tells you which rate applies.

Do I deduct CIS on VAT?+

No. Calculate CIS on the labour figure excluding VAT. Then apply VAT to the gross invoice (not on the CIS deducted amount).

Is CIS the same as PAYE?+

No. CIS applies between contractors and subcontractors. PAYE applies between employers and employees. The same person can be on both schemes for different work.

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