Materials-heavy cost profile
Plaster, bonding, beading, screws and plasterboard are consumable costs on every job but CIS deductions take no account of them. They must be correctly excluded from the deduction base and separately claimed as expenses.
All trades
CIS accounting
Specialist CIS accountants for plasterers.
Plasterers operate across some of the most materials-intensive work in construction. Plaster, plasterboard, bonding compounds, skimming materials and specialist tools all add up to a cost base that CIS deductions completely ignore. Most plastering subcontractors are owed a refund at the end of each tax year.
20%
CIS deducted on labour
~£2,000
Typical annual overpayment
6%
Class 4 NI on profits up to £50,270
The specific challenges
What makes plasterers accounting different.
Mixed sole trader and limited company work
Some plasterers operate via a limited company to reduce their overall tax exposure. The CIS reclaim mechanism differs completely between the two structures, and errors in filing can delay refunds by months.
Tools and equipment claims
Trowels, floats, gauging equipment, scaffolding boards and access equipment are legitimate deductions but are frequently under-claimed. A review of your receipts typically identifies missed expense claims.
Gross Payment Status eligibility
Plasterers with stable contractor relationships and consistent turnover above £30,000 net may qualify for GPS, eliminating the 20% deduction entirely. Many do not apply because they are unaware of the threshold or the process.
How we help
What we do for plasterers.
Full Self Assessment and refund claim
We work through your deduction statements, materials costs, tools, van expenses and mileage at 55p per mile to calculate the maximum refund and file your Self Assessment return accurately.
Deduction base audit
We confirm that contractors have applied the 20% or 30% rate only to your labour income, not to materials you have supplied. Overclaimed deductions are identified and pursued.
GPS application and maintenance
We assess your GPS eligibility, handle the application and monitor your ongoing compliance to protect the status under the April 2026 anti-fraud rules.
Questions from plasterers
Can I claim for plaster and other materials I buy for jobs?
Yes. Materials you supply are excluded from the CIS deduction base, meaning the contractor should not deduct CIS from that portion of your invoice. You can also claim materials as business expenses in your Self Assessment return. Keep all receipts and a log of which materials went to which job.
I work for several contractors. Do I need a statement from each one?
Yes. Each contractor who makes a CIS deduction is legally required to give you a written payment and deduction statement every time they make a payment with a deduction. You need all of them to reconcile your year-end Self Assessment. If a contractor has not issued one, they are in breach and you should request it in writing.
Get started
Talk to a specialist plasterers accountant
Book a free call. We will talk through your CIS position, your deduction history and whether there is anything worth changing. No hard sell, no obligation.
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Specialist in CIS and construction accounting, not a generalist practice✓
24-hour response guarantee✓
Fixed fees, quoted before we startBook your free call
Other trades we work with