Construction Industry Scheme

What’s new – last updated 12 September 2012
Get the latest updates - technical specifications may change frequently

On this page:

Internet submissions

Generic Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) Documents

Government Gateway submission protocol version 3.1 (PDF 612K)
Version date 6 March 2008

How to use the test service version 2.3 (PDF 33K)
Version date 23 August 2011

Hints and tips on GovTalk and IRheader version 1.2 (PDF 119K)
Version date 1 November 2005

Core schema version 2.0 (XSD 29K)
Version date 28 October 2003

HMRC IRmark technical pack
Technical specifications and examples of the generic IRmark
Version date 14 June 2004

CIS333 CD ROM technical specifications version 1.0 (PDF 40K)
Version date 29 September 2006

Frequently asked questions (PDF 139K)
These are the most frequently asked questions from software developers

CIS schema and supporting documents

CIS quality standard and business validation specification version 2.1 (PDF 285K)
Version date 13 March 2007

CIS desktop checker validation tool and supporting documents version 1.4.2 (ZIP 2MB)
Version date 25 June 2007

CIS request schema version 1.2 (XSD 8K)
Version date 1 November 2006

Schema changes document from version 1.0 to version 1.2 (TXT 1K)
Version date 1 November 2006

CIS verification response schema version 1.2 (XSD 7K)
Version date 1 November 2006

CIS monthly return schema version 1.2 (XSD 8K)
Version date 1 November 2006

CIS request response messages version 2.1 (PDF 4MB)
Version date 19 December 2005

CIS monthly return response messages version 1.1 (PDF 12K)
Version date 22 September 2005

Instruction for gaining Internet recognition version 1.3 (PDF 30K)
Version date 14 August 2012

Recognition scenarios for CIS verification version 1.6 (PDF 36K)
Version date 4 January 2006

Recognition scenarios for CIS monthly returns version 3.0 (PDF 48K) Version date 16 December 2009

XML valid sample version 1.4 (ZIP 5K)
Version date 16 December 2009

Electronic Data Interchange

Message implementation guidelines to exchange the following forms

EB5 (NEW CIS) CIS300 version1.5 (RTF 2MB)
Version date 19 June 2007

EB5 (NEW CIS) CISREQ version 1.5 (RTF 2.5MB)
Version date 19 June 2007

EB5 (NEW CIS) CISREP version 1.3 (RTF 1MB)
Version date 19 June 2007

See also

CIS 340 (PDF 293K)
Guide for contractors and sub contractors published January 2012

EDI recognition scheme (PDF 22K)
Find out how to gain recognition for the submission of 'Monthly Returns' and/or 'Verification Requests'

CIS information
Further background information and guidance on the new CIS Reform Scheme