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Visibility & firm types
Software for Construction and CIS-Heavy Practices
Keep every subcontractor and CIS return deadline visible, every month.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · Free for 60 days
Recurring tasks
Repeat work is created automatically on schedule.
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Quick answer
CIS-heavy practices file a monthly return by the 19th for every contractor client, on top of usual bookkeeping and tax work. Practice software that tracks recurring monthly deadlines, per-client custom fields and reminders keeps these returns from being buried among everything else.
What does practice software need to offer a CIS-focused firm?
It needs a reliable way to track a monthly deadline, by the 19th, for every contractor client, plus a place to record subcontractor details and verification status without a separate spreadsheet per client.
Firms with a construction-heavy client base carry an extra monthly deadline that non-CIS clients don't: the CIS return, due by the 19th of the month following the tax month. Multiply that across dozens of contractor clients and the operational load is significant, on top of the usual quarterly and annual work.
This isn't a CIS filing or calculation tool — that stays with your specialist CIS or accounts software. What most firms are missing is the tracking layer: which client's return is due, whether subcontractor details are up to date, and who owns each return this month.
Why does CIS deadline tracking keep slipping?
The 19th comes round fast
A monthly deadline leaves very little breathing room between returns, especially when it lands close to other month-end work like VAT or payroll.
Contractor client lists change
Subcontractors join and leave jobs regularly, and keeping each client's list current in a spreadsheet is easy to fall behind on.
Verification status gets lost
Knowing which subcontractors have been verified with HMRC, and which haven't, needs a reliable record, not a memory of the last email.
No single view across contractor clients
Without a shared list, it's hard to see at a glance which of many contractor clients still have an outstanding return this month.
Penalties compound quickly
CIS late filing penalties escalate the longer a return is outstanding, so a delay that seems minor in week one becomes costly by month three.
What does a late CIS return cost a practice or its clients?
HMRC applies escalating penalties for late CIS monthly returns, starting shortly after the deadline and increasing the longer the return remains outstanding, on top of the client relationship damage of repeated lateness.
CIS monthly returns are due by the 19th of the month following the tax month, and penalties apply from the first day late, increasing at set intervals. [VERIFY] current CIS penalty amounts and escalation points on GOV.UK.
For a practice managing many contractor clients, repeated lateness — even where penalties are modest per instance — adds up and signals a systemic tracking problem rather than a one-off mistake.
How do you manage CIS deadlines across a construction-heavy client book? Step by step
- 1
List every contractor client with their CIS obligation
Flag which clients are contractors under CIS, since not every construction client will be, and this list changes as clients grow.
- 2
Set a recurring monthly task per client
Create a repeating task for the return itself, due ahead of the 19th, so it doesn't rely on remembering the deadline exists.
- 3
Record subcontractor details on the client record
Use custom fields to hold subcontractor names, UTRs and verification status against each contractor client.
- 4
Build in an internal cut-off before the 19th
Give yourself a few days' buffer to chase missing subcontractor information before the actual filing deadline.
- 5
Track verification status separately
Note which subcontractors are verified and which are pending, so nothing is paid at the wrong deduction rate by mistake.
- 6
Review outstanding returns weekly during the run-up
A short weekly check of what's still open in the days before the 19th catches stragglers early.
How does Remindoo help CIS and construction-focused practices?
Remindoo tracks the operational side of CIS work: a recurring task for each contractor client's monthly return, due ahead of the 19th, regenerates automatically so nothing depends on someone remembering the cycle. Custom fields let you record subcontractor details, UTRs and verification status directly on the client record, replacing a separate spreadsheet per client. Clients by type makes it simple to filter your contractor clients specifically, so a busy month doesn't bury CIS work among unrelated tasks. Automated reminders flag returns approaching the deadline, and trigger dates let you build in a buffer before the 19th so late subcontractor information doesn't cause a last-minute scramble. This does not calculate or file CIS returns — that stays with your specialist software — but it keeps every client's deadline visible and owned, free to try for 60 days.
Recurring tasks
Repeat work is created automatically on schedule.
See featureCustom fields and data tokens
Capture and reuse the data your firm needs.
See featureClients by type
Understand your mix of entity types.
See featureAutomated reminders
Timely prompts before work becomes urgent.
See featureTrigger dates
Start work from key filing or internal dates.
See featureSpreadsheets vs Remindoo: what changes?
| Area | Spreadsheets & email | With Remindoo |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking monthly returns | Separate spreadsheet per client | One recurring task per client |
| Subcontractor details | Scattered notes and emails | Held on the client record |
| Verification status | Remembered, not recorded | Logged against each subcontractor |
| Spotting outstanding returns | Reviewed reactively | Visible with a filter by client type |
| Deadline buffer | None before the 19th | Internal cut-off built in |
See it with your own clients
A 30-minute walkthrough using your services and deadlines.
“Companies House integration onboards clients in minutes; AML scoring keeps us compliant.”
Frequently asked questions
Does Remindoo file CIS returns with HMRC?
No. Remindoo does not perform CIS filing, calculations or HMRC submissions — it tracks the operational deadlines and subcontractor records alongside your specialist CIS software.
Can I filter clients to see just my CIS contractor book?
Yes, clients by type lets you filter and view your contractor clients separately from the rest of your client base.
How does the free 60-day trial work for a CIS practice?
You get full access to set up recurring monthly CIS tasks and custom fields for at least one full monthly cycle, with no charge until you decide to continue.
Can I record subcontractor verification status per client?
Yes, custom fields let you capture verification status, UTRs and other subcontractor details directly against the client record.
Does this help with the CIS deadline specifically or all deadlines?
It tracks all your firm's deadlines in one place, including CIS returns, so contractor clients aren't managed in a separate system from the rest of your work.
What if a subcontractor's status changes mid-month?
Update the custom field on the client record as soon as you're notified, so the next return reflects the correct status without relying on memory.
Ready to run a calmer practice?
See Remindoo with your own clients, or start free for 60 days with unlimited users.
Sources
Comparing options? Read our guide to practice management software for small accounting firms.
Last updated: . General guidance, not regulatory advice. Check with your professional body.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
