Trades & home services accountancy in 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.
Do I have to use Xero?
No. Trades work fine on Sage, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, or HMRC-recognised bridging if you keep records on a spreadsheet. We recommend based on what fits your workflow, not what makes our life easier.
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 4138We also work with
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Learn moreNot in trades & home services? We work with NI businesses across every industry. The accountancy principles are the same. Get in touch.