£120/day CIS Take-Home Pay 2025-26
Weekly gross: £600 · Annual gross: £28,800 · Based on 240 working days
How your CIS deduction works
Your contractor deducts 20% from the labour portion of your payment each week (£120/week) and sends it to HMRC. You receive £480/week. At year-end you file a Self Assessment return. HMRC compares the £5,760 deducted against your true tax bill. Based on these figures you should receive a refund of approximately £1,361.
Full CIS tax breakdown, £120/day
| Item | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross earnings (labour) | £28,800 | £2,400 | £600 |
| CIS deducted at source (20%) | -£5,760 | -£480 | -£111 |
| Received weekly | £23,040 | £1,920 | £480 |
| Income Tax (true liability) | £3,246 | £271 | £62 |
| Class 2 NI (self-employed) | £179 | £15 | £3 |
| Class 4 NI (self-employed) | £974 | £81 | £19 |
| True annual net take-home | £24,401 | £2,033 | £469 |
| Year-end refund (est.) | +£1,361 | ||
Effective tax rate: 15.27% of gross. Figures assume no deductible business expenses. Allowable expenses (tools, van, fuel, PPE) will reduce income tax and increase any refund.
CIS take-home on £120/day in 2025-26
On £120/day, your annual gross is £28,800 (assuming 240 working days). Each week your contractor deducts 20% CIS, which amounts to £120/week, leaving you with £480/week in your account.
But the 20% CIS is only an advance tax payment. Your actual annual tax liability is £3,246 income tax plus £1,153 in self-employed NI (Class 2 and 4), totalling £4,399. Over the year HMRC receives £5,760 from your CIS deductions, so at year-end you should receive a refund of approximately £1,361.
Your true annual take-home, after settling all taxes, is £24,401 (£2,033/month, £469/week), giving an effective tax rate of 15.27%. Remember this assumes no business expenses; in reality, tools, vehicle costs, and PPE can significantly reduce your income tax bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a £120/day CIS subcontractor take home?
A CIS subcontractor earning £120/day (£28,800/year gross) receives £480/week at source after the 20% CIS deduction. The true annual net after income tax, Class 2 NI, and Class 4 NI is £24,401 (£2,033/month).
Will I get a CIS tax refund on £120/day?
Yes, on £120/day (£28,800/year), the 20% CIS deducted (£5,760) exceeds your true tax liability (£4,399). You should receive a refund of approximately £1,361 via Self Assessment.
What Class 4 NI does a £120/day CIS worker pay?
On £28,800/year, Class 4 NI is £974/year (6% on earnings £12,570 to £50,270, 2% above). Class 2 NI is £179/year (flat rate for self-employed earning above £12,570). Total self-employed NI: £1,153/year.
What is the effective tax rate for a £120/day CIS subcontractor?
On £28,800/year, total income tax (£3,246) plus self-employed NI (£1,153) gives an effective rate of 15.27% of gross earnings. This is your actual tax burden. The 20% CIS deduction is just an advance payment against this.
Do I need to file a Self Assessment tax return as a CIS subcontractor?
All CIS subcontractors must file a Self Assessment tax return each year by 31 January. This is how HMRC reconciles the 20% CIS deductions made by your contractor against your actual tax liability. On £120/day (£28,800/year gross), you would report your income, claim allowable business expenses (tools, vehicle, PPE, insurance), and either receive a refund or pay any shortfall. Failure to file results in automatic penalties starting at £100.
What business expenses can a £120/day CIS worker claim?
CIS subcontractors can deduct allowable business expenses from their taxable income before Self Assessment, reducing their income tax bill. Common deductible expenses include: tools and equipment (or capital allowances for larger items), vehicle costs (fuel, insurance, servicing, or the flat-rate mileage alternative of 45p/mile for the first 10,000 miles), PPE and safety equipment, public liability insurance, professional subscriptions, and a proportion of phone costs. On £28,800/year, every £1,000 of legitimate expenses reduces income tax by £200 at basic rate, increasing your true annual net beyond £24,401.
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