CIS

CIS can feel like a maze — one wrong turn and HMRC is suddenly on your back. In this guide, we walk through the real challenges construction businesses in Kent face every day: unexpected 30% deductions, cash-flow squeezes, confusing subcontractor rules, and the constant pressure to stay compliant. You’ll see how proper record-keeping protects you, how gross payment status can transform your cash flow, why so many subcontractors overpay tax, and the steps Kent contractors take to reclaim thousands each year. If you work in construction or CIS in Kent, this is the practical, no-nonsense advice you’ve been looking for.

“Tax is the price we pay for civilisation,” wrote Oliver Wendell Holmes over a century ago. In the construction industry, however, tax often feels less like a civil duty and more like a minefield. The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is one of those areas that sparks confusion among contractors and subcontractors alike. At Zeus Accountants, we’ve had countless conversations with clients who ask the same thing: what exactly is CIS, and how does it affect me? Let’s walk through it together.