N
The Daily Insight

How do I set up CIS in QuickBooks?

Author

James Craig

Updated on February 19, 2026

How to submit a CIS return in QuickBooks Online
  1. Go to the Gear icon and select Account and Settings.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab and expand the CIS settings by selecting the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) option.
  3. Verify your UTR no., Employer's PAYE reference no., and Accounts office reference no.

Hereof, how does CIS work on QuickBooks?

To record paying a subcontractor, create a bill or expense. When creating your transaction, select your subcontractor, QuickBooks will use their CIS rate to calculate the CIS to deduct (CIS withheld). If materials are a part of this transaction, you can add these on here too.

Additionally, can you set up departments in QuickBooks? You can easily activate it in a few simple steps: Click on the Gear icon and select Account and Settings. Select the Advanced tab and enable Track classes in the Categories section. Choose an option in the Assign classes drop-down based on how much details you need.

Just so, how do I pay a subcontractor in QuickBooks?

Intuit Online Payroll - Enhanced and Full Service

  1. On the homepage under Other Payments, select Pay your contractors.
  2. Select the payment date.
  3. Select the contractors you want to pay.
  4. Enter the payment and or reimbursement amount.
  5. Select Create Paychecks.
  6. Review the payment details and then select Approve Paychecks.

How do I make a CIS invoice?

Invoice templates for CIS subcontractors

  1. A unique invoice number.
  2. An invoice date (the date your invoice is issued)
  3. A due date (the date the invoice is due)
  4. Your contact details.
  5. Your contractor's contact details.
  6. A brief description of the services provided (including a name, quantity, and price per unit)
  7. Subtotal (the amount due before taxes and deductions)

Related Question Answers

How do I file a CIS return?

CIS Contractor – How to file CIS return online
  1. STEP 1 – Login. Go to HM Revenue login website here.
  2. In the section “Services you can use”, click “Activate or access online services”.
  3. STEP 3 – Access CIS.
  4. STEP 4 – Adding subcontractor.
  5. STEP 5 – Verifying subcontractor.
  6. STEP 6 – Filing CIS return.
  7. STEP 7 – Select period.
  8. STEP 8 – Select subcontractor(s)

How do I deduct CIS from an invoice?

So, the CIS is only deducted from the Labour element of your invoice and does not affect the VAT amount the customer has to pay. Remember don't discount your labour element, as your invoice must should show the original cost before any CIS is deducted ay the appropriate rate.

How do I pay someone CIS?

You usually pay your subcontractors directly. But you can pay them through a third party (such as a relative or debt company) if they ask you to. If you make deductions, you must give the subcontractor a payment and deduction statement within 14 days of the end of each tax month.

What is a CIS account?

Under the Construction Industry Scheme ( CIS ), contractors deduct money from a subcontractor's payments and pass it to HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ). If you're already registered as a contractor, you can sign in to CIS online to file your monthly returns or to verify a subcontractor.

Does QuickBooks do CIS?

Upon turning on CIS feature, QuickBooks will calculate your CIS deductions, track your CIS withheld or suffered amounts then create the necessary reports for HMRC. To know more on how CIS feature works in QuickBooks, I'm attaching some helpful articles that you can check: CIS in QuickBooks.

What is a CIS report?

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is a HMRC tax requirement for contractors and subcontractors. Subcontractors can produce a CIS Suffered Report to view CIS payments withheld by contractors in a selected period.

What is the CIS number?

To register for the Construction Industry Scheme ( CIS ) you'll need: your legal business name - you can also give a trading name if it's different to your business name. your National Insurance Number. the unique taxpayer reference number ( UTR ) for your business. your VAT registration number (if you're VAT

What does CIS mean on a payslip?

Construction Industry Scheme

What is CIS withheld?

With a number of similarities to PAYE, the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is a mandatory withholding tax where either 20% or 30% is deducted from a self-employed construction subcontractor's payments and paid directly to HM Revenue and Customs on their behalf.

Is QuickBooks good for construction?

QuickBooks® is among the best accounting systems for smaller companies, and for contractors just starting out, it's a great place to begin toward an organized accounting system. While it isn't designed for construction, it's made to work for a wide range of businesses.

How do I enter a subcontractor in QuickBooks?

Setting up subcontractor in QuickBooks for invoicing.
  1. Go to List.
  2. Choose Item List.
  3. On the Item drop-down, choose New.
  4. Choose Service as the type of item.
  5. Complete the item information.
  6. Click Ok.

Is paying a subcontractor an expense?

You paid your subcontractors, but did not send them a Form 1099 for the payments. But the IRS auditor says you cannot deduct an expense if you did not send out Form 1099. Your subcontractor labor can be a pretty significant amount, maybe your largest expense.

Where are subcontractors tracked in QuickBooks?

Check the box that says “Track payments for 1099” and QuickBooks will add the independent contractor to the tax filing module. When you go back to the Workers Tab and click the Contractors sub-tab, you will see your new independent contractor on the list.

Is a subcontractor an expense or cogs?

If you pay a subcontractor for a particular job, his cost is a COGS. So is the cost of shipping the product to the customer.

Are contractors an expense?

Using Contract Labor as a Tax Deductible Expense. Independent contractors usually operate under a specific contract and invoice for work completed. Other considerations that identify an individual as an independent contractor include: If the worker supplies his or her own equipment, materials, and tools.

How do I pay someone in QuickBooks?

Make a vendor payment
  1. Login to your QuickBooks Online account.
  2. On the dashboard, select the Bill pay online widget.
  3. Select the Make a payment tab.
  4. Enter payment information for vendor.
  5. Select Choose delivery method.
  6. Select Bank transfer or Check.
  7. Select Review and submit.
  8. Select Submit payment.

Are subcontractors a direct cost?

Direct costs are costs that can easily be directly identifiable with or attributable to a particular job. Examples of these costs include direct materials, direct labor, and subcontractor costs.

Can an employee also be a vendor in QuickBooks?

QuickBooks only provides support for changing an "Other Names" listing to a vendor, employee or customer. Then, you can create a new vendor using the information from the employee record.

How do I set up a contractor in QuickBooks?

Add a contractor from the workers or expenses menu
  1. Select Workers and then Contractors.
  2. Select Add a contractor.
  3. Enter the contractor's Name.
  4. (Optional) Enter the contractor's Email if you have checked the box that invites a contractor to add their own 1099 tax info.
  5. Select Add a contractor.
  6. Select Add.

What is a 1099 subcontractor?

A subcontractor is a worker who is not your employee. You give a Form 1099 to a subcontractor showing the amounts you paid him. The subcontractor is responsible for keeping his or her own records and paying his or her own income and self-employment taxes.

How do I use departments in QuickBooks?

Choose your QuickBooks Product. Select your QuickBooks Version. On the Contact Us page, click a topic.

If you want to add the Department as part of the Header:

  1. Click the Header tab.
  2. Put a check mark for both Screen and Print under Other.
  3. Type in Department.
  4. Click Ok to save.

Can you set up cost centers in QuickBooks?

You can establish Profit and Cost Centers by enabling Class tracking feature in new QuickBooks Online Plus. Experts are available to resolve your Quickbooks issue to ensure minimal downtime and continue running your business.

How many classes can you have in QuickBooks?

40 classes

How do I create departments in QuickBooks desktop?

How to create departments
  1. Go to Settings ⚙.
  2. Select Payroll Settings.
  3. Select Departments.
  4. Select Add.
  5. Type in the Department name, and save.

How do I set up classes in QuickBooks desktop?

Follow these steps to create classes in QuickBooks:
  1. Click the arrow next to the “Class” button at the bottom of the page. Click “New” to create a new class.
  2. Input the name associated with the class.
  3. Associate the class with a specific expense by choosing it on the expense input form when you enter the information.

What does QuickBooks Plus include?

With QuickBooks Online Plus, you get everything available in Simple Start and Essentials, but you also have the ability to track inventory costs and quantities, create purchase orders, and track project profitability, including labor costs, payroll, and expenses with job costing.

How do I set up a class in QuickBooks online?

How do I set up class tracking in QBO?
  1. Click the Gear icon.
  2. Select Account and Settings.
  3. Go to the Advanced tab.
  4. Click on the Edit button for Categories.
  5. Check the Track classes box.
  6. Click on Save.

Does QuickBooks Online Essentials have class tracking?

You can start to track Classes and Location if you have the QuickBooks Online Plus version. These features are not available in Simple Start and Essentials. Location Tracking and Class Tracking lets you track your income and expenses. You can use either one of them individually or both of them together.