I am a newly qualified bookkeeper with the ICB (level II manual and computerised) and I'm currently studying for the Self Assessment diploma and will then follow this with the Payroll Diploma.
I have just secured my first client who just happens to be in the construction business, which I have no experience of and so I don't know a lot about CIS.
My new client has asked if I can include the filing of his CIS on a monthly basis. My understanding is that I can only do this as a filing agent which does not allow me to not make any changes or correct any errors, and use non-HMRC software to do it.
Apart from my lack of knowledge on CIS (which I can read up on) do I need different qualification to be able to act as either a filing or authorising agent for CIS?
Also any other advice on being a filing agent would be gratefully received. Thanks
You can act as an agent to file CIS returns.
You need to register with HMRC as an agent, and you will get a reference number to be a CIS agent.
Once registered as an agent you can add clients to your account in order to file their CIS returns (all this is electronic but could take a few weeks to get set up).
If you or your client has software that communicates with HMRC then you can do CIS via third party non-HMRC software, but the HMRC returns are relatively easy and simple if the client has a small number of sub contractors, and CIS enabled software is usually relatively expensive.
The CIS returns process is relatively simple, but it is time critical and understanding the system for CIS is important, so make sure you read up about it.
I'm not sure what "make any changes or correct any errors" means? Once you are authorised to act you can do what the client can do which is to verify sub contractors, make CIS returns, amend CIS returns, etc.
