Question 1

I am an electrician working on the Station Hill development in Reading. How does CIS apply?

Accepted Answer

Robert McAlpine and other CIS-registered main contractors on Station Hill must deduct 20 per cent (registered subcontractor) or 30 per cent (unregistered) from the labour element of your invoices before paying you. Materials you supply are excluded from the deduction base. At the end of the tax year you file a Self Assessment return, credit those deductions against your actual tax bill, and receive the overpayment back as a refund. We handle this for Reading-area electricians and other sub-trades.

Question 2

What expenses can a Reading CIS subcontractor claim to reduce their tax bill?

Accepted Answer

Reading-based subcontractors often work across the M4 and M3 corridors, travelling regularly to London, Slough, Wokingham, Basingstoke or Oxford. You can claim 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles from 6 April 2026 (an increase from 45p), which is material for high-mileage subcontractors. Tools, PPE, specialist workwear, relevant training and a proportion of mobile phone costs are also allowable. We review your expenses thoroughly to make sure nothing is missed.

Question 3

Can I claim CIS refunds for previous years if I worked on Reading projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. HMRC allows you to claim refunds for up to four prior tax years. If you have been working on Station Hill, Green Park Village or other Reading sites and have outstanding Self Assessment returns, we can file those and recover any overpaid CIS for each year. The combined four-year figure can be substantial.

Question 4

Does Making Tax Digital affect me as a Reading CIS subcontractor?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, from April 2026. MTD for Income Tax applies to sole traders with gross annual income above £50,000. The key point for CIS subcontractors is that income is measured on your gross receipts before deductions, not on what arrives in your bank. A Reading plumber receiving £41,600 after 20 per cent deductions has gross income of £52,000, which is above the threshold. The threshold drops to £30,000 from April 2027. We advise on MTD compliance and compatible software as part of our CIS accountancy service.

Question 5

Do I need a Reading-based accountant to make a CIS refund claim?

Accepted Answer

No. Trade Tax Specialists is a fully remote UK-wide practice. We act for CIS subcontractors across Reading, Slough, Wokingham, Bracknell, Newbury and the wider Berkshire and Thames Valley area entirely online. You send us your CIS deduction statements and expense records; we handle the rest.

Question 6

I work for multiple contractors across Berkshire and London. How do I consolidate my CIS tax position?

Accepted Answer

Each contractor deducts independently and issues you a CIS deduction statement. You report all CIS income on a single Self Assessment return, offsetting all deductions together against your tax bill. We collect all your deduction statements, calculate your total income and expenses, and file the consolidated return. This is standard practice for multi-site Reading-area subcontractors.

CIS accountants in Reading

The Reading construction scene

Major construction projects in Reading

Station Hill (Lincoln MGT / Robert McAlpine)

Green Park Village (Berkeley Group)

Reading Riverworks (Berkeley Group)

Huntley Wharf (Berkeley Group)

Trades we support in Reading

CIS questions from Reading contractors

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