CIS Tax Refunds for Construction Workers: Are You Owed Money Back?

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If you work in construction as a subcontractor, there is a good chance tax is being deducted from your wages before you get paid. This is usually done through the Construction Industry Scheme, better known as CIS.
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For many construction workers, CIS deductions mean they end up paying more tax than they actually owe. That is why thousands of subcontractors claim a CIS tax refund every year.
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At Go Tax Refunds, we help construction workers, subcontractors, and self-employed tradespeople check whether they are due money back from HMRC.

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What is CIS?

The Construction Industry Scheme is a HMRC system for contractors and subcontractors working in the construction industry. Under CIS, contractors may deduct tax from payments made to subcontractors and pass those deductions to HMRC. HMRC explains that payments under CIS must take account of the subcontractor’s tax status, which may require a deduction before the subcontractor is paid.
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In simple terms, if you are a subcontractor, your contractor may take tax off your pay before you receive it.

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Why do CIS workers often get tax refunds?

CIS tax is usually deducted before your full income and expenses are calculated. That means HMRC may not yet know about the costs you have paid to do your job.
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You may be able to claim for work-related expenses such as:

• Tools and equipment
• Mileage and travel costs
• Work clothing and protective gear
• Public liability insurance
• Accountancy fees
• Materials you paid for yourself
• Phone costs used for work
• Van running costs
• Parking and tolls
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When these allowable expenses are included in your tax return, your taxable profit may be lower. If too much tax has already been deducted through CIS, you may be due a refund.

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Who can claim a CIS tax refund?

You may be able to claim if you are:

• A CIS subcontractor
• A self-employed construction worker
• A labourer
• A builder
• A plumber
• An electrician
• A roofer
• A bricklayer
• A carpenter
• A painter or decorator
• A scaffolder
• A plasterer
• A groundworker
• A tradesperson working through CIS

Even if you are not sure whether you are due a refund, it is worth checking.

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How do you claim a CIS tax refund?

Most CIS tax refunds are claimed through a Self Assessment tax return. Your tax return tells HMRC how much you earned, how much CIS tax was deducted, and what allowable expenses you paid.

Once HMRC processes the return, they calculate whether you have paid too much tax.

Go Tax Refunds can help you:

• Check your CIS deductions
• Collect the right income and expense details
• Prepare your Self Assessment tax return
• Submit your claim to HMRC
• Claim back any tax you are owed

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What documents do you need?

To make a CIS tax refund claim, it helps to have:

• CIS deduction statements
• Invoices
• Bank statements
• Receipts for expenses
• Mileage records
• Details of tools, equipment, clothing, and materials
• Your Unique Taxpayer Reference, if you have one

Do not worry if you do not have everything ready. Go Tax Refunds can help you understand what is needed.

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How far back can you claim?

In many cases, you may be able to claim for previous tax years if you have not already claimed. This can be especially useful if you have worked under CIS for a few years and never checked whether you were owed a refund.

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Why use Go Tax Refunds?

Claiming a CIS tax refund can feel confusing, especially if you are busy working long hours on site. Go Tax Refunds makes the process simple.

We help you understand what you can claim, prepare your tax return correctly, and deal with HMRC on your behalf.

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