- Enforced by
- HMRC
- Status
- Amended (in force with amendments)
- Penalty ceiling
- Prosecution 1 of 23 obligations carry a fine up to £300. 22 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Does it bind you?
Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.
Plus 3 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.
Contractor — also bound by 173 other Acts
Applicant — also bound by 307 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 825 other Acts
Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
What it requires
Regulations creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.
INTRODUCTION
0 of 2 sections shown2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
CONTRACTORS
4 of 4 sections shown- If you elect to be treated as multiple contractors, allocate new sub-contractors and notify HMRCContractor
- Submit monthly CIS returns to HMRC within 14 daysContractor
- Optionally appoint a group company as your CIS representativeTrader
- Verify subcontractor registration status with HMRC before payingContractor
PAYMENT AND RECOVERY OF AMOUNTS DEDUCTED UNDER SECTION 61
5 of 11 sections shown- Pay deducted tax to HMRC on timeContractor
- Submit a CIS tax return if requested by HMRCContractor
Fine up to £300
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HMRC may issue a debt certificate following a CIS records inspectionStatutory regulator
- Continue making CIS deductions during payment disputesContractor
- Apply for an in-year CIS tax repayment if you have overpaidContractor
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
PAYMENTS EXCEPTED FROM SECTION 60
0 of 7 sections shown7 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
REGISTRATION OF SUB-CONTRACTORS
1 of 2 sections shown- Register for CIS and provide identity documents to HMRCApplicant
1 other section in this Part — procedural and definitional
CONDITIONS TO BE SATISFIED FOR GROSS PAYMENT
5 of 11 sections shown- Provide evidence to support your CIS gross payment status applicationApplicant
- Provide evidence of living abroad for CIS gross payment statusApplicant
- Provide evidence of overseas tax compliance for CIS registrationApplicant
- Provide evidence of unemployment for CIS gross payment statusApplicant
- Provide evidence of full-time education for CIS registrationApplicant
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
3 of 12 sections shown- Use electronic payment methods for CIS tax paymentsContractor
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HMRC must issue a default notice if CIS payments are lateStatutory regulator
- Pay late CIS payment surcharges within 30 daysContractor
9 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
5 of 11 sections shown- Keep and produce CIS records for HMRC inspectionContractor
- Maintain and produce records of CIS deductions and set-offsContractor
- Notify HMRC of changes in company controlTrader
- Personal representatives must fulfill CIS duties after a contractor's deathAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- HMRC must offset CIS deductions against your company's other tax liabilitiesStatutory regulator
6 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Schedules
0 of 13 shown13 other schedules
Help complying
Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.
Complete your CIS monthly compliance
A practical week-by-week workflow for CIS contractors. Know exactly what to do on each day of the tax month cycle, from verifying …
Protect your business from CIS supply chain fraud
Since 6 April 2026, contractors face severe penalties if they 'knew or should have known' about fraud in their supply chain. This …
Growing your business
Scale your business - funding, hiring, and expansion strategies
Fix CIS payment errors
Something gone wrong with CIS? This troubleshooting guide helps contractors and subcontractors identify and fix common Construction Industry Scheme errors, from wrong …
CIS compliance quick check
Monthly CIS compliance essentials for experienced contractors. Three key actions: verify subcontractors, calculate deductions, submit your return by the 19th.
Keep and maintain your gross payment status
Everything you need to know to keep your CIS gross payment status once granted. Learn when HMRC reviews your GPS, what triggers …
Am I a 'deemed contractor' under CIS?
Determine whether your business is a 'deemed contractor' under the Construction Industry Scheme. If you are not primarily in construction but spend …
Appealing a CIS penalty - what counts as a reasonable excuse
How to appeal Construction Industry Scheme late filing or late payment penalties. Includes examples of reasonable excuses HMRC accepts and rejects, the …
Apply for CIS gross payment status
How subcontractors can apply for gross payment status to receive the full value of construction payments without deductions. Covers eligibility requirements, the …
CIS for small builders - what you actually need to know
A 5-minute guide to the Construction Industry Scheme for small builders with 1 to 10 subcontractors. Covers the 5 essential steps to …
CIS nil returns - when you must file and when you don't
When you must submit a CIS nil return and when you can avoid monthly filing. Covers the rules in force since 6 …
Calculate CIS deductions
How contractors calculate and make CIS deductions from subcontractor payments. This guide covers which deduction rate to apply, how to treat materials …
Claim a refund for CIS deductions
How CIS subcontractors can offset or claim back the tax deductions taken from their construction payments. Includes different processes for sole traders, …
Common CIS mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common Construction Industry Scheme compliance mistakes contractors make, with practical prevention tips for each. Covers materials treatment errors, verification lapses, …
17 more guides that reference this instrument
Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.