Construction Industry Scheme: How the VAT reverse charge will affect your business

A shake-up of VAT rules could impact the cash flow of 150,000 small and medium businesses in the UK construction sector, many of whom are covered by the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Read this article to make sure you don’t get caught out – it covers details about the new domestic reverse charge, offers tips to help you prepare for it, and there’s also a refresher on the CIS and how it works.

Here are the topics covered in the article:

Introduction of the VAT domestic reverse charge for construction

How does the domestic reverse charge work?

What the reverse charge means for subcontractors

What the reverse charge means for contractors

Why is the VAT reverse charge happening?

What do I do now?

Seven key steps to get ahead before 1 March 2021

A refresher on the Construction Industry Scheme

How does CIS work?

Conclusion on the VAT domestic reverse charge

Introduction of the VAT domestic reverse charge for construction

For almost 50 years, UK suppliers have accounted for their own VAT. Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use VAT payments from customers as a source of working capital before sending the funds to HMRC.

But from 1 March 2021, VAT cash will no longer flow between VAT registered businesses involved in the construction industry.

The UK government is rolling out a reverse charge initiative aimed at tackling fraud totalling millions of pounds per year.

This is caused when suppliers or ‘subcontractors’ charge main contractors VAT but ‘disappear’ before passing sums on to HMRC.

The VAT reverse charge rules apply to suppliers of specified services, reported under the CIS.

The changes also apply to goods, where those supplies are provided alongside services specified in the CIS. This will see many more businesses affected than first thought.

It is anticipated that the businesses most directly affected by the building and construction legislation will be those which supply services to main contractors, or that operate through recruitment agencies or umbrella companies.

How does the domestic reverse charge work?

Suppliers will no longer be required to charge or receive VAT from their main contractor customers.

Instead, main contractors will effectively charge themselves VAT on subcontractors’ services, and pay the VAT sums that would have been paid to the subcontractor direct to HMRC in their VAT returns.

From 1 March 2021, for impacted suppliers, subcontractors will need to issue domestic reverse charge VAT invoices to main contractors, which must include wording that reverse VAT rules apply and that the customer must account for the VAT.

This requirement applies through the supply chain until main contractors sell to end users (clients) who do not sell on services.

The new arrangements will only apply to:

• Individuals or businesses registered for VAT in the UK, which sell to other VAT-registered businesses
• Entities that provide services specified under CIS. These include the construction, renovation and demolition of structures; painting and decorating, as well as services such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The arrangements do not apply to businesses providing other support services such as surveying, architecture and consultancy; machinery, drilling or extraction, and the installation of security systems.

HMRC covers a full breakdown of services are that are included and exempt under CIS.

When there is one reverse charge element in a supply, the entire supply would be subject to the domestic reverse VAT charge.

It means that:

• New rules would not apply to the supply of wood for a staircase
• But new rules would apply for the supply of wood for a staircase, if the invoice for the supply of wood is combined with its construction and installation.

This represents a change because CIS payments are currently apportioned and no deductions are made on the materials content.

Once the domestic reverse VAT charge has been applied, subsequent supplies will also be covered, provided the buyer and supplier agree.

The aim is to speed up the decision-making process on whether the domestic reverse VAT charge should apply.

Read more about construction and VAT

What the reverse charge means for subcontractors

As a first step, you need to verify that the contractor is VAT registered.

Once you have confirmed they are VAT registered then instead of ‘charging’ customers VAT, you will need to issue VAT reverse charge invoices – stating that the services provided are subject to domestic reverse VAT rules.

You will no longer receive VAT from customers to send to HMRC.

After you have issued a reverse charge VAT invoice the responsibility for charging, and accounting for, VAT will sit with your customer (the contractor) who receives your services.

What the reverse charge means for contractors

Instead of paying suppliers for their services inclusive of VAT, you will need to pay them exclusive of VAT and account for (i.e. record in your bookkeeping system and VAT return) the appropriate VAT that would have been due, categorised by the normal tax rates (standard rate, reduced rate, or zero rate).

The details needed to record the VAT will be on the invoice that the VAT registered subcontractor sends you, along with wording to remind you that you need to account for the VAT via the reverse charge mechanism.

You will then charge yourself for subcontractors’ VAT at the appropriate rate and recover in your VAT return using reverse charge VAT rules.

Why is the VAT reverse charge happening?

The simplest way to remove subcontractor VAT fraud (also known as carousel fraud) is to remove the ability to charge and collect VAT from the participants.

That way, there is no flow of money and hence it is harder to defraud.

Because the reverse charge makes it the responsibility of the contractors to account for VAT, there is no opportunity for subcontractors (who are the suppliers) to ‘disappear’ without paying the tax to HMRC.

What do I do now?

Whether buying or supplying, all businesses that operate within the construction sector should act now to get up to speed with the new rules.

Construction firms should also prepare to deal with an increase in administration connected with the new arrangements.

Seven key steps to get ahead before 1 March 2021

1. Review your existing business relationships

Be proactive.

Buyers and suppliers within the construction supply chain should review transactions between their own VAT-registered businesses and other VAT-registered organisations.

The aim is to work out whether reverse VAT charges affect your sales, purchases or both.

Whatever your status, it would be helpful to tell your clients and suppliers about the changes in order to help the supply chain get ready for 1 March 2021.

Contractors: You will need to tell subcontractors whether or not you are at the end of supply chains. This could be commercially sensitive but is essential in working out whether the reverse VAT charge applies.

If you do not provide this information to suppliers, you will be responsible for accounting for the domestic reverse VAT charge.

Subcontractors: Determine whether the services you provide are included within the list of specified services in CIS.

If you supply materials, consider whether you provide these as a standalone supply (not subject to reverse VAT charges) or alongside supporting services such as installation – ‘packages’ that would be subject to new VAT rules.

You should stop charging VAT on services for main contractors and prepare to issue reverse charge VAT invoices instead of normal VAT invoices.

2. Review systems and processes

Subcontractors: You may need to adapt your invoicing systems and processes in order to correctly send invoices inclusive of VAT or to send reverse charge VAT invoices.

Contractors: You need systems in place so you’re ready to correctly account for VAT on reverse charge VAT invoices received from subcontractors and report on these sums to HMRC.

3. Prepare for a potential change to your cash flow

Subcontractors: You should consider the impact on your cash flow of not receiving VAT from your customers. Think about ways to mitigate the impact.

Contractors: The changes are not expected to affect your cash flow because they are tax neutral. However, it’s worth being mindful of the impact that VAT changes may have on your suppliers.

4. Ask for help

HMRC recognises that this marks a fairly big change for businesses in the construction sector. It has published guidance on the scheme.

If you need support with the domestic reverse charge, contact HMRC, speak to your accountant (if you have one) or contact a VAT specialist.

5. Don’t panic

HMRC has said it will operate a ‘light touch’ on genuine mistakes and penalties for a six-month period after the reverse charge comes into effect.

This is on the condition that companies are trying to comply with the new legislation and have acted in good faith.

HMRC offices may assess for mistakes during this initial period but will only consider penalties if people are found to be deliberately taking advantage of the measure through poor accounting.

Errors need to be amended as soon as possible because the longer inaccurate sums remain outstanding, the harder it may be to correct or recover them.

6. Keep good records

Contractors: You will need to keep accurate records relating to the calculation and VAT accounting for reverse charges and ensure that VAT is correctly processed.

This is in addition to keeping track of how much CIS tax you withhold from subcontractors in your accounting.

You will also need to verify the status of subcontractors; that their services are covered by CIS and that your subcontractors are not issuing you VAT inclusive invoices when they should be invoicing under the reverse charge VAT regime.

Subcontractors: You will need to keep track of which of your customers are not end-users but are VAT registered, and for these customers you may need to issue reverse charge VAT invoices.

7. Check your house is in order

Businesses operating within the construction sector must check that they are registered appropriately with the HMRC Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

A refresher on the Construction Industry Scheme

The CIS outlines special tax rules for buyers and suppliers operating in the construction industry.

Under CIS, contractors take deductions from subcontractors’ payments and pass these on to HMRC as advances towards subcontractors’ tax and National Insurance.

Which services are covered?

According to HMRC, the CIS covers most construction work including permanent or temporary buildings and structures, as well as civil projects such as roads and bridges.

This includes preparing sites, providing access works, demolitions, building, alterations, repairs and decorating, installing systems for heating, lighting and power, and cleaning the inside of buildings after construction work.

Material issue

There are a range of exemptions for CIS – notably for ‘associated services’ or the standalone supply of materials.

For a full list of what is and isn’t covered under the Construction Industry Scheme, visit the CIS guide for contractors and subcontractors.

How does CIS work?

Businesses that are part of the construction supply chain need to register for the CIS – either as a contractor, a subcontractor or both.

Construction Industry Scheme contractors

You must register as a contractor if either:

• You pay subcontractors to carry out construction work
• You spend an average of more than £1m a year on construction in any three-year period – even if your business doesn’t do construction work.

Under the CIS tax return, contractors must check that subcontractors are registered with HMRC, pay them, deduct tax, and submit online monthly statements confirming these payments.

Construction Industry Scheme subcontractors

It is worth registering as a CIS subcontractor if you do work for a contractor. You don’t have to sign up – but if you don’t, deductions from your payments might be made at a higher rate.

After registering with HMRC, you must update them with any changes to your business, such as the company name, address and partners.

I am a contractor and a subcontractor

You should register as a contractor and a subcontractor if you buy and supply construction services.

Conclusion on the VAT domestic reverse charge

There’s not long to go before we get to 1 March 2021, so it pays to start your preparations for the domestic reverse charge now.

Check your processes, speak to your contacts and suppliers, and if you need additional help, turn to a VAT specialist or accountant.

There is the potential for more admin to deal with but by getting up to speed with HMRC’s changes now, you will be able to put the right processes in place so you’re not playing catch up when the legislation comes into force.

Editor’s note: This article was first published in July 2019 and has been updated for relevance.