Construction Industry Scheme Online

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Welcome to Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) Online - Electronic Data Interchange. More suitable for contractors with a high number of subcontractors, typically in the thousands.

What is EDI?

EDI is the transfer of data from an application running on the computer of one organisation to an application running on the computer of another organisation, with no manual intervention.

Who would be interested in CIS Online - EDI?

Any contractor who handles high volumes of CIS23 and/or CIS25 vouchers.

Benefits of using CIS Online - EDI

Savings - can be found in areas such as: printing, paper storage and manpower (postroom, administration and data entry).

Flexibility - EDI allows the contractor to send data to HM Revenue & Customs at a time that suits them. There are no restrictions on the time when data can be sent. The usual deadlines for monthly submission of vouchers and annual submission of End of Year Returns (CIS36's) do however still apply.

Speed - by using EDI, the process of transferring Forms from one organisation to another takes hours or even minutes - not days. With Forms sent online the risk of unforeseen delays, which can occur with paper Forms, is reduced dramatically. Filing online, unlike paper, does not depend on various handling parties along the way, which can potentially slow down the exchange of data.

Quality and Accuracy - primarily EDI improves the quality of service, since it enables information to go from one computer application to another with no manual intervention. This reduces the likelihood of errors that can be incurred as a result of re-keying data from paper Forms. It is a known statistic that 2% of all Forms that are hand written have errors introduced when re-keyed. This finding is based on an experienced key operator carrying out the action. By using EDI the Forms are processed with 100% accuracy. More details about the benefits of using EDI can be obtained from case studies written by Standard Life, CMG UK Ltd (PDF 16K), and Enable or the article written by Suffolk County Council (PDF 24K).

CIS Online - EDI Forms currently available

CSI Online - EDI currently supports the following Forms:

 

CIS Forms

Direction

Description

CIS23 Construction Gross Payment Voucher

Contractor to HM Revenue & Customs

Voucher used to record payments made to subcontractors holding a CIS5

CIS25 Tax Payment Voucher

Contractor to HM Revenue & Customs

Voucher used to record payments made to subcontractors holding a CIS4

CIS36(CS) Contractors Annual Return Continuation Sheet

Contractor to HM Revenue & Customs

Schedule accompanying the contractors annual return. Includes details of all payments made in the year.

Interested - what do I do next?

To use CIS Online - EDI you must first register with Online Services.

You register using one of the following options:

Email - download the Registration Form (RTF 99K) and save it to your desktop before completion. After completing the registration form, return it as an email attachment to helpdesk@ir-efile.gov.uk

Fax - you can fax copies of the Registration Form (RTF 99K) to us on 01274 534792.

Post - return your completed Registration Form to us by post to:

Online Services
Crown House
Victoria Street
Shipley
West Yorkshire
BD17 7TW

Or you can contact the Online Services Helpdesk who will take the necessary information over the telephone.

Following registration, a representative of Online Services will contact you to discuss the way forward.

Further information

Further information is available from the following:

Any additional enquiries may be directed to our Online Services Helpdesk