Trades & home services accountants in Belfast and Northern Ireland
Trades are CIS-heavy, van-heavy, and tool-heavy. The accountancy is mostly about three things: getting CIS right, claiming everything you have spent on plant and vehicles, and knowing when to make the jump from sole trader to limited company.
Talk to us about trades & home servicesMost trades start as sole traders. That is the simple, low-overhead option. But once profits move past about £30,000 a year and stay there, the limited-company route starts saving meaningful tax through dividend and salary planning. We run the comparison properly, including the costs of getting there (incorporation, refinancing, payroll, accounting), and recommend based on your numbers, not generic advice.
CIS deductions come off subcontractor work and need monthly returns whether you are the contractor or the subcontractor. Limited-company subbies offset CIS suffered against PAYE liability; sole traders reconcile it through the self-assessment. We file CIS returns monthly, verify subbies, and reconcile statements so HMRC penalties do not appear.
Capital allowances on vans, tools, and plant are where money gets left on the table by general accountants. Annual Investment Allowance covers up to £1m of qualifying spend. Full expensing on qualifying assets continues for limited companies. We review every invoice for kit and machinery so nothing slips through.
What trades & home services businesses ask us
CIS administration
Verifying subbies, calculating 20% or 30% deductions, filing monthly returns, and year-end statements.
Sole trader to limited transition
Running the comparison properly and getting the timing right for the move.
Van and tool capital allowances
Claiming Annual Investment Allowance on every qualifying purchase, not just the obvious big-ticket ones.
VAT reverse charge
Getting invoice wording right and managing the cash-flow knock when output VAT disappears off the till.
Mileage vs actual cost
When each method wins for vehicle expenses, and switching cleanly between them when the maths changes.
Frequently asked about trades & home services accountancy
When should I move from sole trader to limited company?
Roughly when your profits push consistently past £30,000 to £40,000 a year. Below that, the admin and accounting cost of a limited company outweighs the tax saving. Above that, the dividend tax planning starts working. We model it for your specific numbers, factoring in pensions, family wage planning, and any vehicle changes.
I am CIS-registered but I employ a labourer too. How does that work?
You are both a contractor (paying out CIS) and a subcontractor (receiving CIS). The labourer goes on PAYE; subcontractors get CIS deductions if applicable. We run both as one joined-up payroll service.
Can I claim the van as a business expense?
Yes, with rules. Vans get 100% Annual Investment Allowance in the year of purchase if the use is wholly business. Some private use needs apportionment. We handle the calc and keep the records HMRC asks for.
What software will I need?
Sage, and it is included. We run on Sage, we set it up, we keep it right, and it sits inside your monthly fee rather than arriving as another bill. The only thing we need from you is the bank feed, and we organise that too. If you are on something else at the minute, or keeping records on a spreadsheet, we handle the move across.
Talk to an accountant who understands trades & home services in NI
15-minute call. No commitment. We will answer your questions and outline how we work with trades & home services businesses across Northern Ireland.
028 9508 4138Trades & home services guides from our team
Your MTD quarterly update: a checklist for 7 November
Missed or scrambled through the 7 August MTD update? Here is how to recover, and the checklist that gets the 7 November quarterly update filed calmly.
Tax updatesWhen does Making Tax Digital actually start for you?
When does Making Tax Digital start for you? Four questions to find your personal start date, from Belfast accountants.
Running your businessHow much does an accountant cost in Northern Ireland?
How much does an accountant cost? Honest 2026 ranges for sole traders, landlords and NI companies, and what moves the price, from a Belfast accountant.
Tax updatesThe MTD deadline calendar 2026-2028: every date you need
Every Making Tax Digital deadline 2026-2028 in one place. Quarterly updates, final declarations, threshold launches, penalty reset dates. Belfast accountants.
Tax updatesMaking Tax Digital 2026: every threshold and date you need to know
Making Tax Digital 2026: the £50k cohort is in. Here's every threshold, every date, and what's coming for £30k and £20k income bands.
Tax planningDirector's salary vs dividends in 2026/27: the most tax-efficient split
Find the optimal salary and dividend split for company directors in 2026/27. Worked examples, tax rates, and NI-specific considerations.
We also work with
Hospitality
Restaurants, cafés, pubs, and chain operators across NI.
Learn more Independent and multi-site retailers across NIRetail
VAT, stock, and margin discipline for NI retailers.
Learn more Main contractors, subcontractors, and tradesConstruction
CIS, VAT reverse charge, and cash flow for NI builders and contractors.
Learn moreNot in trades & home services? We work with NI businesses across every industry. The accountancy principles are the same. Get in touch.