Construction Industry Accounts:Useful Tips

Get to know Construction Industry Accounts software better with these useful hints and tips.

• What to do if you entered the wrong figures on your CIS monthly return

  If you make a mistake when you pay a CIS subcontractor but your return accurately reflects what you have paid them, you don't have to correct your Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) return. But you should contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) so that they can amend the subcontractor's records.

  If the subcontractor is VAT registered, then their invoices will include VAT. You must pay the VAT due to the subcontractor, but make any necessary deductions from the amount net of VAT. If you make the CIS deduction and the VAT in the wrong order you might end up underpaying the subcontractor.
  
  If you can correct this straight away and the CIS monthly return has already been submitted ask the subcontractor for the return of the deduction statement, issue a new one and let HMRC know so they can amend the monthly return. 
  
  More information on correcting payment errors can be found on Business Link web site.

• If you are having trouble sending information online to HMRC, either PAYE end of year or in year returns, or CIS

  please use the following link to see the status of HMRC servers: HMRC Service availability

• You can File your VAT returns on-line directly from CIA

  Prepare, check and archive your Vat Return as you normally would and then go to Company – Submit VAT Return, choose the VAT Return in question from the drop down list at the top and then you are ready to submit it.  This will automatically log in to the HMRC and file your return (exactly the same as the CIS returns).

• Add your company logo on to Sales Invoices/Applications, Remittance Advices and Customer Statements.

  Within Utilities – System Tailoring – Printing Preferences, you can add your company logo, tick the box that says “Print Company Logo” and add a link to where your logo is saved.
  
  Logo must be no bigger than 709 x 120 pixels. 

• Do you need help with credit control?

  Use our new Credit Control function to help you keep track. Simply add notes concerning any calls you have made through Sales - Credit Control. Choose the Supplier and Invoice in question, then run the Invoice/Application Due report and choose the option to Print Notes.

• Make Payments directly from your Bank account via CIA

  With the BACS option enabled CIA can create a file that links directly to your bank. No need to re-enter payment details or sign cheques. Simply run your normal payment run and create the BACS file through Purchase – BACS Payments, then import the file via your banking software (all major banks are supported).

• Email Remittance Advices

  Do you need to post Remittance Advices? Save time and money on postage and stuffing envelopes by automatically emailing remittance advices. Within the supplier or subcontractors details choose Email as contact preference, when you then generate Remittance Advices there is a Print/Email button in the bottom left. Hit this button and anyone with Email as the preference will get a pdf of the advice automatically emailed to them (those with Letter as the preference will automatically be printed).
  
  This option also works with Sales Invoices, Statements, Payment Certificates, CIS Statements and Purchase Orders.

Can not find an answer to your question? Please contact our Support Team.

If you do not use our Construction Industry Accounting Software yet, feel free to request a free non-obligation software demonstration. As a dedicated software for builders, CIA gives you everything you need from construction industry accounting package!