September 2026

Quick Answer Managing CIS payroll is challenging not because the calculation itself is difficult, but because construction contractors must keep accurate information under control across a constantly changing workforce and multiple live projects. Each subcontractor may have different verification status, rates, working patterns and payment details, while new workers can join shortly before payroll is …

What Makes Managing CIS Payroll Particularly Challenging for Construction Contractors? Read More »

Quick Answer An agency should consider outsourcing CIS payroll when managing it becomes too time-consuming, cumbersome or distracting from the core business. Agencies have a lot of responsibilities to their workers. Collecting schedules, verifying workers, checking deductions, dealing with queries and completing reporting can quickly become another major responsibility, even for a relatively small agency. …

When Should an Agency Consider Outsourcing CIS Payroll, and What Should It Look for in a Provider? Read More »

Quick Answer The most common CIS payroll mistakes often begin with incorrect worker information, poor verification or assumptions about how somebody should be paid. Agencies need to establish whether a worker is genuinely self-employed, consider Supervision, Direction and Control (SDC), and verify each subcontractor with HMRC before applying a deduction. Automatically deducting 20%, using incorrect …

What are the most common CIS payroll mistakes agencies make, and what problems can they cause? Read More »

Quick Answer When paying CIS subcontractors, an agency’s responsibilities start before any payment is made. The first step is establishing that the worker is genuinely self-employed and that CIS is appropriate, including considering Supervision, Direction and Control (SDC). The subcontractor must then be verified with HMRC using the relevant information, including their UTR and National …

What responsibilities does an agency have when paying CIS subcontractors? Read More »