cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Everything you need to know about banking in QuickBooks Online - Discover more
Stephen Cowling
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

I am trying to turn on CIS payments on my invoices as a self employed contractor. i have followed the instructions as listed in the help section but when i click on the gear icon there is no heading which says company settings or account and settings?? how do i set the cis scheme up.

21 REPLIES 21
RCV
QuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Let me share some information about Constructions Industry Scheme (CIS) in QuickBooks, Stephen Cowling.

 

The CIS is only a feature offered in our small business products and the option to turn it on in QuickBooks Self-Employed is unavailable. However, if you are using QuickBooks Online (QBO), here's how to turn CIS: 

 

  1. Go to the Gear icon.
  2. Select Company Settings (or Account and settings depending on what you see).
  3. Tap Advanced.
  4. Select Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).
  5. Enter your UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference) number, Employer’s PAYE reference number, and Accounts Office reference number.
  6. If you’re a CIS subcontractor, tick the I am a CIS subcontractor.
  7. Choose your CIS rate. We need this to calculate your CIS suffered. You'll get this from HMRC when you register for CIS.
  8. Press Save.

 

I've got some links below to provide information on how QBO handles CIS and processes the tax return: 

 

 

If you still need assistance in recording the CIS deduction, just click the Reply button. I’ll get back to help you. Have a great rest of the day.

Stephen Cowling
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Thanks for that but i cannot see any of the settings you are talking about? Is it because i registered as a sole trader rather than small business//

AbegailS_
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Hi there, @Stephen Cowling

 

I appreciate you for coming back here in the thread. 

 

I replicated your concern and verified that the CIS feature is available to all company types.

 

See screenshot below for your reference.

 

 

To provide you with accurate resolution you can send us a screenshot that you have on your end. 

 

I also thought that you might need to create CIS expenses in the future, so I included an article about it for your reference. You can check this out: CIS in QuickBooks.

 

If you have other questions about CIS, you can always go back to this thread.

Stephen Cowling
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Thank you for the screen shots but i do not have anywhere which says account and settings! i have clicked on all headings and nothing which has the account and settings title

Mich_S
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

I understand this isn't an easy process for you, @Stephen Cowling. I'd like to provide some clarifications about handling CIS payments in QuickBooks.

 

QuickBooks Self-Employed tracks business income and expenses using a single-entry accounting system. The program estimates the taxes for you. This way, you can submit the Self Assessment form easily. That's why the option to track the CIS is currently unavailable using QBSE.

 

As an alternative, I recommend reaching out to your accountant. They can guide you on how to handle QBSE transactions, particularly those of the category type.

 

Otherwise, sign up with a QuickBooks Online account. This allows QuickBooks to automatically compute and e-file CIS, invoices on the go. Check out the plans and pricing to browser further information.

 

Here's a self-help module that you can read in case you'll need further guidance in accomplishing any tasks in QBSE.

 

For future references, learn more about how you can handle CIS in QBO:

 

 

Keep us updated if you need more help with this matter or QuickBooks. We're here to always back you and your business. Keep safe!

 

 

 

Tony Farrugia
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Hi, 

I am based in the U.K and have been self employed for over twenty years, can anyone advise me on when setting up  CIS fields, why I need a PAYE ref when I'm self employed and what is an Accounts Office Ref and where I get it from. I would appreciate any help as when looking online it only tells how to fill in the fields and does not explain where you get them from and why you need these references in your set up when you already have a UTR? Can you complete your CIS activation without these two pieces of information?

 

Thank you. 

 

Tony 

Jovychris_A
Moderator

How to turn on CIS

Hi @Tony Farrugia. I can share clarifications regarding CIS setup.

 

If you're an employer, you can enter the Accounts Office Ref. You can get this when you register as an employer and receive a confirmation letter from HMRC. You're also required to operate PAYE if you work as an employer.

 

In addition, you can't complete the CIS activation without these two details. When HMRC requires you to set up CIS, you can reference this article for the detailed steps: CIS guide in QuickBooks Online.

 

However, if you don't require entering any of the details, you won't have to set up CIS since you're working and paying tax as a self-employed. You might also want to try QuickBooks Self-Employed moving forward.

 

Furthermore, you can consider inquiring the HMRC Support to learn more.

 

Feel free to comment if you have other concerns about setting up CIS. I'm always here to help. Take care.

razer
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Hi

 

My previous CIS returns have been submitted using Moneysoft software by extracting the report from QB and entering the details onto Moneysoft.

 

I want to start using Quickbooks to submit them but it saying that I have to file all the previous returns first.

 

How do I mark the previous returns as being already submitted by another method?

Ashleigh1
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

 Hello Razer, thanks for posting on this thread, so to file all pervious CIS returns all you need to do is follow these steps all the way until the current CIS return, so that you can then submit the next return using QuickBooks and not the other company. Click on Taxes on left hand side main navigation bar> select CIS> under action column on the right hand side click view return> click drop down arrow next to submit to HMRC> click on mark as filed. 

razer
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Yep tried that and it doesn't appear to be working.

GeorgiaC
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Hi razer, do you receive any specific error when actioning this, or are you unable to progress past a specific point in the steps outlined above? 🧐

razer
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

I get no acknowledgement that the returns are submitted when I have marked them as submitted (ie it normally states submitted but doesn't) and when I try to submit this moths return, it is still saying that all the previous returns have to be submitted first. Is there not a way I can just set it to submit from the current month?  

Ashleigh1
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Hi Razer, thanks for coming back to us, there is no other way to do it other than by the steps already provided to you. You would just need to make sure all periods are marked as filed up to the one you need to submit. If you are having issues with this, then we suggest you call the support line on 0808 234 5337 the line is open ,mon to fri 8am to 7pm and you'll be able to set up a screen share with the agent and they can look into more for you there.

07380950371
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Hi! 

I am trying to enable CIS option and error message keeps popping "We're trying to create new CIS accounts and items but you've already got some. Please rename them and try again."

 

Can you please help? 

 

Thanks

 

GeorgiaC
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Hi 07380950371, thanks for joining this thread 

 

Please open your Chart of accounts (Take me there) and search for 'CIS' - if any accounts show here, make these inactive by selecting the drop-down in the action column. Please note, if you already have transactions posting against these accounts, you may need to allocate the transactions to a different account in QuickBooks. We'd recommend consulting your bookkeeper or accountant for advice if you're unsure where to post these to. 

07380950371
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Thanks so much fir your response! 
I do have two CIS (RC CIS Agency Control and RC CIS Agency Suspense), i tried to inactivate those, but then receive another error " 

You can't change or delete this account because it tracks tax amounts."

Ashleigh1
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Hi 07380950371, so you are getting that error as you can not mark the account as inactive, you can merge the two accounts instead. 
 

07380950371
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

Hi Ashleigh, thank you! I might be dumb - but how do i merge them now? 

GeorgiaC
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Hi 07380950371, to merge accounts, simply create a new account in your Chart of accounts with the same details (account type and detail type) and name as the account that you want to merge this with. For full details, see here.

07380950371
Level 1

How to turn on CIS

I am very sorry, but i am too confused here. 

Which two accounts do i need to merge?

I haven't created any account yet, i just joined the QuickBooks yesterday. I am trying to raise an invoice with CIS deduction line, but everything i am trying to do doesn't work 

JamaicaA
QuickBooks Team

How to turn on CIS

Navigating a new program can be overwhelming, @07380950371. Let me share some information about the Constructions Industry Scheme (CIS) in QuickBooks.

 

Inactivating RC CIS Agency Control and RC CIS Agency Suspense is unavailable. These are default tax accounts that's why you're prompt with the error.

 

GeorgiaC suggests merging the two accounts you mentioned. However, it needs to have the same account and details type. I'm adding a screenshots for reference:

 

Please know we cannot merge accounts if one or both are meant for tax withholding. Since you're unable to add CIS, clear the browser's cache to start with a clean slate. This process will help us verify if the internet files affect the program's performance. You can also use other supported browsers as alternatives.

 

For future reference, learn more about how you can handle CIS in QBO:

 

 

Keep us updated if you need more help with this matter. We're always here for you. Keep safe!

Need to get in touch?

Contact us