Swift Accountants
CIS, VAT, payroll and company accounts, with a dedicated accountant to explain what matters. We’ll agree the support you need and a clear fixed fee before you join.
Listening, Understanding, Advising
Your initial conversation is completely free. No obligation to join Swift.
Tell us about your business and what you need help with. We’ll listen, explain how we can help and talk through your next steps.
Built around your construction business
Materials, wages and subcontractor payments can fall due before a customer pays your invoice. You need a clear view of what’s coming in, what’s going out and what to set aside.
Our accountants for construction companies help you organise the records behind your work and plan for the tax and filing requirements that apply to your business. You’ll have a dedicated accountant who explains your numbers and answers your questions in plain English.
Whether you run a building firm, manage subcontractors or work for larger contractors, we’ll talk through your setup and recommend the support you need. Your fixed-fee quote will explain what’s included before you decide to join.
Dedicated accountant | Fixed fees agreed upfront | Secure document sharing
The pressures behind the projects
After a full day organising people, materials and deadlines, there are still invoices to check, payments to record and tax questions to answer.
We help you establish a manageable routine, with clear responsibilities and someone to ask when you’re unsure.
We help you understand your CIS responsibilities, from subcontractor verification and deduction records to monthly returns, and flag when employment status needs closer attention.
We help you keep track of unpaid invoices, upcoming bills and tax commitments, so you can see how payment timings affect the money available to your business.
We help you check the work, the customer and whether the construction reverse charge applies, so you understand how the invoice should be prepared.
We agree a practical routine for invoices, receipts and payroll information, with clear submission dates and reminders for the work included in your service.
Who we help
Your accounting needs depend on the work you take on, who you employ and how you get paid. We start by understanding your business, then agree the support that fits.
You may work directly for customers, manage subcontractors or deliver projects for other contractors. Many businesses do a combination of all three.
For businesses delivering extensions, refurbishments and new builds, with support for keeping project records organised and managing the accounting requirements of the business.
For firms coordinating several trades and paying subcontractors, with help organising CIS records, reporting responsibilities and the information needed each month.
For electrical, plumbing, roofing, groundworks and other trade businesses that need accounting support shaped around their contracts, invoicing, staff and costs.
For companies carrying out work for other contractors. Where CIS is deducted from your payments, we help you track the deductions and report them correctly.
Tell us how your business works and what you need help with. We’ll explain the support available and how we would price it. Your initial conversation is free, with no obligation to join.
Services
From CIS paperwork to understanding the costs behind a job, we help you put a practical accounting routine in place. Your fixed-fee quote will explain the services included, what we’ll handle and what we need from you.
If you pay subcontractors, we help with CIS registration, verification, deductions and monthly returns. You’ll know which records to send us and what needs to be paid to HMRC.
If contractors deduct CIS from your company’s payments, we reconcile those deductions and report them through your company’s payroll scheme. We also help with offsets or repayment claims where available.
We help you check the VAT treatment of your work, including when the construction reverse charge applies. We prepare VAT returns and help you maintain the digital records needed for filing.
We process pay, prepare payslips and submit payroll reports to HMRC. Workplace pension support can also be included, with a clear timetable for sending us hours, starters, leavers and other changes.
We organise invoices, receipts and bank records, and help track labour, materials, plant hire and other project costs. Clear records give you a better view of where each job’s money goes.
We prepare your company accounts and Corporation Tax Return, explain the figures and confirm filing and payment dates. You’ll review and approve the documents before they are submitted.
We help you track staged payments, retentions, supplier bills and tax commitments. You can see where payment gaps may arise and plan ahead for the costs of your next project.
We review allowable expenses and discuss salary, dividends and planned business purchases in the context of your company and personal tax position. You can ask questions before making a decision.
Not sure which support you need? Tell us about your business and the questions you want answered. We’ll listen, explain how we can help and talk through the options.
Explore our VAT return services and payroll support.
Fees
You should know what your accountant will handle, what you need to provide and what it will cost before you decide to join.
Our accountants for construction companies prepare a fixed-fee quote around your business. We consider your bookkeeping volume, payroll, subcontractor payments, CIS and VAT requirements, and whether any records need bringing up to date.
For example, a subcontracting company that keeps its own books will need different support from a main contractor asking us to manage bookkeeping, weekly payroll and CIS returns. Your quote will reflect the work you need us to handle.
Your quote will explain
Tell us about your construction business and the support you need. We’ll explain your options in plain English, so you can decide whether Swift is right for you.
Dedicated accountant | Fixed fees agreed upfront | Secure document sharing
Costs and tax
Materials, subcontractors, plant hire and vehicle costs can quickly change the result of a construction job. We help you record costs clearly, separate business and personal spending, and keep the information needed for your accounts and tax.
The correct treatment depends on how your business operates, what the cost relates to, how an item is used and the records available. We review the details before a cost is included in your accounts.
Construction costs we review before they reach your accounts
| Cost category | What we check |
|---|---|
| Materials and project supplies | Whether the purchase relates to a specific job, has a clear supplier invoice and is recorded against the correct project. |
| Subcontractors and labour | Whether the worker’s status and CIS treatment are correct, including verification, deductions and payment records. |
| Plant, tools and equipment | Whether the cost is a repair, a day-to-day expense or a longer-term asset, and whether capital allowances may apply. |
| Vans, fuel and business travel | Business journeys, private use, mileage and supporting records, including any payroll or benefit treatment where relevant. |
| Wages, PPE and staff costs | Payroll records, protective clothing, staff expenses and whether any benefit or reporting rules need to be considered. |
| Site, premises and storage | The business purpose, job allocation and any personal or mixed use before the cost is recorded. |
| Insurance, software and professional fees | Whether the service supports the business, has a valid invoice and is recorded in the correct period. |
| Phones, home working and mixed-use costs | The business-use proportion and the records supporting the calculation. |
A construction cost is not automatically deductible simply because it relates to a building project. We help you understand the treatment, keep suitable records and ask the right questions before the figures are included.
Tax budgeting
Construction businesses can have several financial commitments moving at different times. Depending on your business structure and who you pay, your calendar may include CIS deductions, VAT, PAYE and National Insurance, Corporation Tax, and personal Self Assessment where it applies.
We help you understand which dates apply to your business, how much money may need to be set aside and how tax payments fit alongside wages, suppliers, materials and project costs.
If your current forecast suggests a £12,000 Corporation Tax bill, setting aside around £1,000 a month could help build a reserve over the year. This is only an illustration; the final amount depends on your profits, allowances, timing and business circumstances.
Tell us how your construction business trades, who you pay and which deadlines concern you. We’ll explain the options in plain English and show you how our support could fit.
Digital Bookkeeping
Keeping your records organised is easier when your bookkeeping fits the way you work. We help construction businesses bring together customer invoices, supplier bills and bank transactions, with clear guidance on the Making Tax Digital rules that apply.
If your construction company is VAT registered, you must already keep the required VAT records digitally and submit VAT returns through compatible software, unless an exemption applies.
| Your business | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| VAT-registered construction company | Making Tax Digital for VAT applies unless exempt. You need digital VAT records and compatible software to submit your returns. |
| Limited company that is not VAT registered | Making Tax Digital for VAT does not apply while the company remains unregistered. Its accounts and Corporation Tax obligations still continue. |
| Builder or subcontractor working as a sole trader | Separate Making Tax Digital for Income Tax rules may apply, depending on your qualifying income and any exemptions. If you are also VAT registered, the VAT requirements apply too. |
The Making Tax Digital for Income Tax thresholds do not apply to a limited company’s Corporation Tax reporting. Directors may be affected personally if they have qualifying self-employment or property income. Salary and dividends do not count towards those thresholds.
From materials receipts collected on site to subcontractor invoices, we help you establish a practical way to capture paperwork, match bank transactions and keep your records up to date.
We can review your existing software, help you organise your digital records and support your VAT return preparation, including checking construction reverse charge treatment where relevant. We agree who handles the bookkeeping, reviews and submissions, so you know what to send us and when.
Getting Started
Whether you are appointing your first accountant or switching to Swift, we start by understanding your construction company and the support you need.
Tell us about the projects you take on, whether you pay subcontractors or employ staff, and how you keep your records. We discuss any CIS, VAT or payroll concerns, along with upcoming deadlines and anything that needs bringing up to date.
Your quote explains the work included, the fee and what we need from you. We make clear which bookkeeping, CIS, VAT, payroll and year-end services are covered, and how any catch-up work would be priced. You can ask questions before deciding whether to go ahead.
We guide you through the necessary checks and HMRC authorisations. If you are switching, we contact your existing accountant with your permission. Together, we agree the records needed, who will handle upcoming deadlines and how you will share invoices, receipts and subcontractor payment details.
Your records do not need to be perfect before we speak. If a filing deadline is close, tell us when you get in touch.
Support & Client Portal
When you are managing sites, suppliers and subcontractors, it helps to speak to someone who knows your business. Your dedicated accountant provides a familiar point of contact for the support included in your agreed service.
From a CIS deduction you want to query to the VAT treatment of a subcontractor invoice, we help you understand what needs checking and what to do next. We explain your figures in plain English, so you can make informed decisions.
Use our client portal to share requested documents, including supplier invoices, CIS payment and deduction statements and payroll information. We agree what you need to send and when, helping you keep the paperwork moving alongside your projects.
Phone, email and online meetings give you practical ways to stay in touch. If you are planning to take on staff, buy a van or invest in machinery, speak to us early so we can review the accounting and tax implications before you commit.
Dedicated Accountant | Clear, Agreed Fees | Simple Document Sharing
Client evidence
Choosing an accountant is a personal decision. Hearing how other clients found the communication, support and day-to-day service can help you decide whether we are right for you.
Switching Accountants
Clear fees, agreed responsibilities and a planned handover.
If you are chasing answers about CIS, unsure how the VAT reverse charge affects your invoices or unclear about your fees, it may be time to review your accountancy support.
With your permission, we contact your existing accountant to request the records needed for the handover. We review your upcoming CIS, VAT, payroll and year-end deadlines, where relevant, and check for any outstanding work.
Before we take over the agreed services, we confirm the start date, fees and who will handle the next returns and payroll run. We also guide you through the HMRC authorisations needed for the work we will manage.
We do not charge for our standard switching process. If catch-up bookkeeping, overdue returns or corrections are needed, we explain any separate fees before you agree to the work.
If a filing or payroll deadline is close, tell us when you enquire.
Construction Accounting FAQs
Clear answers on CIS, VAT, company accounts and working with Swift, for builders, contractors and construction company owners.
You do not have to appoint a construction specialist, but relevant experience can help when CIS, reverse charge VAT, subcontractor payments and project records overlap.
Alongside company accounts and Corporation Tax, we can discuss the bookkeeping, payroll and reporting your business needs. Your quote sets out the services included. As a director, you remain responsible for your company’s records and filings.
The fee depends on the work involved, including your transaction volume, number of subcontractors and employees, VAT requirements and the condition of your records.
Swift provides a fixed-fee quote setting out the services included. We explain whether bookkeeping, CIS returns, payroll, VAT returns, company accounts, Corporation Tax and software are covered, along with any separate charge for catch-up work.
If your construction business pays subcontractors for work covered by the Construction Industry Scheme, you normally need to register as a CIS contractor before taking on your first subcontractor.
You must check employment status, verify subcontractors where required, apply the correct deductions and submit monthly returns. A business can be both a contractor and a subcontractor, with responsibilities in both roles.
HMRC’s verification process confirms the deduction rate: usually 20% for a registered, verified subcontractor, 30% where they cannot be verified, or no deduction where gross payment status applies.
Before calculating the deduction, exclude VAT charged on the invoice and qualifying direct material costs paid by the subcontractor. Other permitted costs may also be excluded. Check the actual costs and supporting evidence rather than relying only on how the invoice is labelled.
Yes. A limited company reports CIS deductions suffered through an Employer Payment Summary, or EPS. These deductions can reduce eligible amounts owed through the company’s PAYE scheme.
An excess remaining after the tax year ends on 5 April can usually be claimed back once the required returns have been submitted. HMRC first uses the claim against overdue PAYE or Corporation Tax balances. The company should retain its payment and deduction statements to support the figures.
HMRC currently says it usually responds to limited-company CIS refund claims within eight weeks. Payment timing depends on its checks, whether the claim is complete and whether deductions must first clear outstanding tax.
Missing statements or differences between your figures and the contractor’s records can lead to further enquiries. We can help reconcile the deductions, prepare the claim and respond to requests for evidence.
An excess remaining after the tax year ends on 5 April can usually be claimed back once the required returns have been submitted. HMRC first uses the claim against overdue PAYE or Corporation Tax balances. The company should retain its payment and deduction statements to support the figures.
Your company may qualify if it meets HMRC’s business, turnover and tax-compliance tests. The turnover test looks at construction income excluding VAT and material costs, with company ownership and directors affecting the applicable requirements.
Gross payment status allows contractors to pay your company without CIS deductions, which can help cash flow. Your company must still submit its returns and pay the tax due. We can review eligibility before an application.
CIS monthly returns are due by the 19th following the end of the tax month. For example, payments made from 6 May to 5 June must be reported by 19 June.
If you have made no subcontractor payments, you need to submit a nil return or notify HMRC of a period of inactivity. Leaving the return unfiled can result in a penalty.
For a UK-established business, registration is normally required when taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 over a rolling 12-month period, or you expect it to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone.
The test uses turnover before expenses, not profit. Zero-rated work and supplies subject to the domestic reverse charge count towards taxable turnover. Voluntary registration below the threshold may also be possible, depending on your circumstances.
For qualifying standard- or reduced-rated construction services, it usually applies when both parties are UK VAT registered and the payment must be reported under CIS. The customer accounts for the VAT.
Exceptions include zero-rated work, supplies to private householders and eligible end users who notify the supplier in writing. We check the services, customer status and any exceptions before advising how an invoice should be treated.
You need to establish the worker’s employment status for the particular engagement. Having a UTR, issuing invoices or being registered for CIS does not by itself establish self-employment.
The contract and the way the work is actually carried out both matter. Employees should normally be paid through PAYE; qualifying payments to self-employed construction subcontractors may fall under CIS. We can help review the arrangements and use HMRC’s employment-status guidance where appropriate.
Allowable running costs can include materials, subcontractor costs, wages, business insurance, protective equipment and accounting software, subject to the tax rules and supporting records.
Purchases such as vans, plant and machinery may qualify for capital allowances. Private use, director benefits and VAT recovery need separate consideration. We review the purpose and treatment of the spending so costs are recorded correctly and available reliefs are considered.
For a typical private limited company, the usual deadlines are:
Annual accounts to Companies House: nine months after the financial year ends.
Corporation Tax payment: nine months and one day after the tax accounting period ends.
Company Tax Return: 12 months after the tax accounting period ends.
First accounts and some tax-payment arrangements have different rules. We confirm your company’s actual deadlines and agree which filings we will handle.
Yes. We can discuss reporting that brings together each job’s income, materials, labour and subcontractor costs, alongside unpaid invoices, retentions and work in progress.
A business can show a profit while cash is tied up in customer payments or spent on the next stage of a project. Reviewing job margins and expected payment dates helps you understand what is available for suppliers, wages and tax. We agree the reporting you need within your service.
VAT-registered construction companies must normally keep digital VAT records and submit returns through compatible software, unless exempt. We can review your existing software, including its suitability for CIS and reverse charge transactions, and agree any changes or costs.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is a separate regime for eligible sole traders and landlords. It does not apply to your company’s Corporation Tax reporting, although directors may be affected personally if they also have qualifying self-employment or property income.
You can approach us at any point in the year, including when bookkeeping or returns need bringing up to date.
We first assess the outstanding work and approaching deadlines, then explain the fees and agree responsibilities. With your permission, we request the necessary records from your existing accountant and arrange the relevant HMRC authorisations. Any existing penalties, interest or HMRC enquiries need to be reviewed as part of the handover.
Speak to Swift Accountants
Let’s make your construction accounts easier to manage
Tell us about your construction company and the support you need with CIS, VAT, payroll or year-end accounts. We’ll discuss your priorities and any approaching deadlines, then provide a clear fixed-fee quote for the work you need.
Send a few details and we’ll contact you to discuss your company.
Listening,
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