CIS | Greenford
Same Money, Triple the Refund: Why Your Greenford Mate Gets More Back From HMRC
It is the conversation that brings more new clients through our door than any advert: two Greenford brickies, same site, similar money, and one gets £400 back while the other gets £3,000. Nobody is cheating. One of them is simply claiming his real costs and the other is not.
The refund equation
Your refund is not random. It is: CIS deducted minus the tax actually due on your profit. Deductions are fixed by your contractor, so the only lever you control is profit, and profit drops with every legitimate expense claimed. Two identical incomes with £1,000 versus £8,000 of claimed expenses produce exactly the gap that starts these conversations.
Where the £7,000 difference hides
- The van and the miles around Greenford Quay, the A40 corridor jobs and the merchants: typically £3,000 to £5,000 of deductions on their own.
- The mixer, the tools, the consumables: blades, drill bits, trowels, the new kit bought mid-season.
- Materials fronted on garden walls and weekend jobs.
- PPE, boots, CSCS renewal, phone share, insurance.
- The accountant's fee itself, which is also deductible.
And the kicker: last year's underclaimed return is usually amendable within 12 months of its deadline. The mate conversation often ends with two refunds, not one.
Run your own numbers in 60 seconds on the CIS refund calculator, or see CIS accountant in Greenford.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is claiming all this legal?
Completely. These are the deductions Parliament built into the system. The wholly-and-exclusively rule is the test, and everything above passes it for a working trade.
My mate claims flat amounts without receipts. Should I?
No. Unevidenced round numbers are exactly what triggers HMRC attention. The same money claimed properly, with records, is both safer and usually bigger.
I lost most receipts. Is the year dead?
Rarely. Bank statements evidence most spending, suppliers reprint invoices, and mileage rebuilds from job history. Thin records narrow the claim; they seldom kill it.
Does a bigger refund mean a bigger accountancy bill?
Our fee is fixed and agreed up front, not a percentage of refund. The fee is also deductible.
Can you check my last return for free?
The initial 15-minute call includes an honest look at the headline gaps. If we cannot beat what you did yourself by a clear margin, we tell you.
What if I work through an agency, not direct for a contractor?
CIS through agencies works the same: deductions at source, statements issued, refund through the return. Multiple agencies just means gathering every statement, which we do.
How long does the refund take once filed?
HMRC typically pays 4 to 6 weeks after filing. File in spring rather than January and it is faster still.
Is there anything I should NOT claim?
Ordinary clothes, family meals, the school-run share of trips, and client entertaining. Claiming junk endangers the genuine claims; we keep the line clean.
Tired of hearing about everyone else's refund?
Bring one year of statements to a free 15-minute call and we will show you your real number.
Or email info@yourtaxhelp.co.uk | CIS accountant in Greenford
General guidance only. Not personal tax advice. Contact us for advice specific to your situation. Figures relate to the 2025/26 tax year unless otherwise stated.