Construction Industry Scheme, built for UK contractors
Most construction software treats CIS as someone else's problem. ScopeKit handles HMRC subcontractor verification, monthly returns, and CIS certificate generation natively, so the tax workflow doesn't slow your build.
15-minute walkthrough. No credit card required.
Every part of the CIS pipeline, in one place
From the first verification through monthly returns and certificate distribution. CIS in ScopeKit isn't a bolt-on — it's wired into scheduling, payments, and your accounting integration.
HMRC subcontractor verification
Verify a sub's CIS status (gross / 20% / 30%) directly with HMRC. Status is then synced to your scheduling and accounting systems automatically.
Monthly CIS returns
Returns are generated from your live payment data. Validate and submit to HMRC from inside ScopeKit, with the full audit trail.
CIS certificate generation
Subcontractor payment and deduction certificates are produced automatically from each payment. Your subbies get them by email; you keep the audit trail.
Compliance-blocked scheduling
If a subbie's CIS status is missing, ScopeKit blocks you from scheduling them on a paid job until verification completes. No more accidentally paying gross to an unverified sub.
Late-filing protection
Automatic reminders and pre-flight validation catch errors before submission. Failed-filing penalties are eliminated, not just tracked after the fact.
Direct integration with Xero, QuickBooks and Sage
CIS deductions flow into your accounting system without re-keying. Reconciliation runs against the actual ledger entries.
Who CIS in ScopeKit is for
Whether you're paying your first subcontractor or running a regular weekly returns cycle, the workflow scales with you.
Main contractors running 10+ subbies per month
The weekly returns workflow turns from a half-day chore into a 15-minute review. Live payment data flows straight into the return, errors are flagged before submission, and the audit trail is built as you go.
SMEs paying their first sub for the first time
ScopeKit walks you through registration, verification, and the first return. You don't need to know the rules cold — the workflow enforces them, and the system refuses to let you pay a sub at the wrong rate.
Companies switching from a generic accounting tool
ScopeKit imports your existing CIS history and aligns it against the live HMRC record. You start from a clean baseline, with prior returns and certificates preserved for audit.
Questions contractors usually ask
What buyers ask before signing up — answered straight.
01
Will this actually file my monthly CIS return with HMRC?
Yes. Returns are generated from your live payment data and submitted to HMRC directly from inside ScopeKit. You validate before submission; ScopeKit catches the most common errors — unverified subcontractor, mismatched UTR, deduction-rate drift — before HMRC ever sees the file.
02
How does subcontractor verification work?
ScopeKit calls HMRC's subcontractor verification API to confirm a sub's CIS status — gross, 20% standard, or 30% higher. Status is then synced to scheduling (so you can't accidentally schedule an unverified sub on a paid job) and to your accounting system (so deductions reflect reality).
03
What about the certificates we have to send subcontractors?
ScopeKit generates the CIS payment-and-deduction certificate automatically from each payment and emails it to the subcontractor. You keep a permanent record on the project and on the workforce register. No manual PDFs.
04
Is this safe to use if we've never run CIS through software before?
Yes. ScopeKit walks first-time CIS users through HMRC registration, contractor scheme reference setup, and the first verification. The first return runs alongside whatever you used to do, so you can reconcile before going live.
05
What if HMRC fines us for a late return?
ScopeKit's monthly reminder cycle and pre-flight validation are built specifically to prevent this. Returns are auto-drafted by the 14th of each month; you have a clear deadline view; submission requires validation to pass first. We can't undo HMRC's penalty system, but we can make sure you never trigger it.
CIS is included on every plan that supports subcontractor payments. See pricing to compare tiers.
Related features
Trades using CIS
Stop CIS from being the worst week of every month
See how ScopeKit collapses verification, returns and certificates into a single workflow.