From 6 April 2026, important changes to the Construction Industry Scheme came into effect. These changes mainly affect contractors who either use subcontractors or have periods where no subcontractors are paid.
Contractors must now either file a CIS return every month, including nil returns, or tell HMRC in advance that they will not be paying subcontractors for that month by submitting an inactivity request. HMRC confirms that penalties may apply where neither action is taken without reasonable excuse.
The full late filing penalty regime has also returned. A late CIS return can trigger a £100 fixed penalty, followed by a £200 penalty after two months. Further penalties may apply at six and twelve months, including tax-geared penalties based on the liability that should have been reported.
There are also tougher rules around fraud and Gross Payment Status. From 6 April 2026, HMRC can remove Gross Payment Status immediately, recover lost tax and charge penalties of up to 30% where a business knew, or should have known, that a payment was connected to fraud.
For construction businesses, the message is simple: every CIS month now needs to be accounted for. Filing nothing is no longer a safe option.
At A&C Chartered Accountants, we help construction businesses stay compliant, avoid unnecessary penalties and keep their CIS records in order. If you are unsure whether you need to file a return or submit an inactivity request, speak to us before the deadline.