CIS Refunds
Contractors deduct a flat 20% (30% if unregistered) all year, so most subcontractors overpay. We check your CIS statements, claim every allowable expense and file — the average refund we recover is over £2,000.
Under the Construction Industry Scheme your contractor takes tax off every payment before you see it — but that deduction ignores your expenses, your allowances and your real tax position. Across a year that almost always means you have overpaid. We reconcile your CIS statements against your actual costs, claim every allowable expense properly, and file your return so the refund lands — usually within a few weeks.
Construction subcontractors have 20% deducted from every payment before a single expense or the £12,570 personal allowance is taken into account — which is why most CIS workers finish the year having overpaid HMRC, often by four figures. The refund is not a windfall or a scheme: it is your own money, returned once the year is filed correctly.
We reconstruct your CIS position from deduction statements (or from bank records when contractors never sent them), claim every allowable expense — tools, travel, protective clothing, phone, insurance, use of home — and file early so the repayment lands in weeks rather than months. If you are on 30% because you were never registered as a subcontractor, we fix that first: it is the single most expensive box left unticked in construction.
What is included
Every deduction checked against what you actually earned.
Tools, travel, materials, workwear, phone — claimed properly.
Registered or not, your position calculated correctly.
Return prepared and filed so the refund is not left waiting.
If you should be on gross payment status, we help you get there.
You know the cost up front — often a fraction of the refund.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I get back?
It depends entirely on your earnings and expenses — anyone quoting a guaranteed figure before seeing your statements is guessing. Use the calculator on this page for a realistic range, then we confirm it against your real records.
What if my contractor never gave me CIS statements?
Common, and fixable. We reconstruct the deductions from your bank records and payment history, and can request the data from HMRC where needed.
How long does the refund take?
Returns filed in April and May are usually repaid within a few weeks. Later in the year it slows down as HMRC volumes rise — filing early is worth real money in waiting time.
I am being deducted 30%, not 20%. Why?
That is the rate for subcontractors who are not registered with HMRC under CIS. We register you so future payments drop to 20%, and the excess already deducted comes back through your return.
Can I claim for previous years?
Yes — generally up to four tax years back. Many clients recover several years at once on their first return with us.
The questions behind this service
Full answers to what people ask before they get in touch.
CIS Tax Refund: How Much Can a Construction Worker Claim Back?
Most CIS subcontractors overpay tax through 20% deductions and are owed a refund every year. How the refund works, what records you need, and what a realistic claim looks like.
Read the guide →What Is the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), and How Does It Work?
Understand the UK Construction Industry Scheme (CIS): a tax system for contractors and subcontractors. Learn its role, benefits, and impact on taxation.
Read the guide →A Complete Guide to Construction Accounting
Learn the ins and outs of construction accounting with our comprehensive guide. From job costing to financial statements to keep your construction business on track.
Read the guide →Services clients often use together
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