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Trade Tax Specialists

8 articles

Software and Tools

Practical guides on software and tools for UK construction subcontractors and contractors.

  • Software and Tools

    Best CIS Accounting Software 2026/27: Complete Guide for Contractors and Subcontractors

    Choosing accounting software as a CIS contractor or subcontractor is not like choosing for any other trade: you need CIS300 direct filing, domestic reverse charge VAT handling and MTD ITSA compatibility, and the differences between products on those three points are significant. This guide compares QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, FreeAgent and Clear Books on the features that matter for CIS work, with current UK pricing verified in June 2026.

    10 min read

  • Software and Tools

    Best CIS Payroll Software for Contractors 2026/27: Honest Comparison

    Payroll software that handles CIS is a different product from general payroll software, and most reviews do not make that distinction clearly. This guide compares the main options for UK CIS contractors in 2026/27, covering which tools file CIS300 directly, which ones are genuinely free, and what the April 2026 nil-return reinstatement means for your monthly obligations.

    8 min read

  • Software and Tools

    Free CIS Payroll Software: What Actually Works (HMRC Recognised, 2026/27)

    Most lists of free CIS payroll software include products that are free only for a trial period, free only up to one employee, or free without CIS300 filing capability. In practice, only two options are genuinely free and capable of handling CIS monthly returns in 2026/27: Employment Hero's free tier and HMRC's own CIS online service. This guide covers what each does, what each cannot do, and when the free options stop being sufficient.

    6 min read

  • Software and Tools

    FreeAgent CIS Guide: Subcontractors and Contractors 2026/27

    FreeAgent is free for NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank business customers, making it the lowest-cost entry point for CIS subcontractors who already bank there. This guide covers what FreeAgent does for CIS sole traders and limited companies, where its limitations sit, how it handles MTD for Income Tax, and how it compares to QuickBooks for the subcontractor audience.

    8 min read

  • Software and Tools

    QuickBooks CIS Guide 2026/27: Setup, Pricing and CIS300 Filing

    QuickBooks includes CIS functionality at no extra cost on Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced plans, making it the only major accounting software where the CIS300 monthly return, subcontractor verification and deduction statements are covered in the base plan price. This guide covers current UK pricing verified in June 2026, how to set up CIS in QuickBooks, how to file the CIS300, and where QuickBooks sits in comparison with Xero and Sage for CIS-specific work.

    8 min read

  • Software and Tools

    Sage CIS Guide 2026/27: Payroll, CIS300 and Accounting for Contractors

    Sage Standard at £30 a month is the only major CIS accounting software that bundles payroll, CIS300 direct HMRC filing and telephone support in a single plan price. This guide covers current UK pricing verified in June 2026, how to set up CIS in Sage step by step, the CIS300 filing workflow, Sage 50cloud for larger contractors, and an honest three-way comparison with Xero and QuickBooks.

    8 min read

  • Software and Tools

    Spreadsheets vs Accounting Software for CIS Workers 2026/27

    Spreadsheets remain legal for CIS record-keeping in many situations, but from April 2026 sole traders and partnerships with gross income over £50,000 must use MTD-compatible software for quarterly updates. For CIS contractors, the bigger problem is that spreadsheets cannot file the CIS300 monthly return. This guide sets out what you can still do with a spreadsheet, where it breaks down, and how to migrate your records if you need to make the switch.

    8 min read

  • Software and Tools

    Xero CIS Guide 2026/27: Setup, Pricing and Limitations for Contractors and Subcontractors

    Xero includes CIS deduction calculations on all four of its UK plans, but filing the CIS300 return directly to HMRC requires a £5 a month add-on regardless of which plan you are on. This guide covers exactly what Xero does and does not handle for CIS contractors and subcontractors, current pricing verified in June 2026, step-by-step setup, and an honest head-to-head with QuickBooks on the features that matter most.

    8 min read
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