£160/day CIS Take-Home Pay 2025-26
Weekly gross: £800 · Annual gross: £38,400 · Based on 240 working days
How your CIS deduction works
Your contractor deducts 20% from the labour portion of your payment each week (£160/week) and sends it to HMRC. You receive £640/week. At year-end you file a Self Assessment return. HMRC compares the £7,680 deducted against your true tax bill. Based on these figures you should receive a refund of approximately £785.
Full CIS tax breakdown, £160/day
| Item | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross earnings (labour) | £38,400 | £3,200 | £800 |
| CIS deducted at source (20%) | -£7,680 | -£640 | -£148 |
| Received weekly | £30,720 | £2,560 | £640 |
| Income Tax (true liability) | £5,166 | £431 | £99 |
| Class 2 NI (self-employed) | £179 | £15 | £3 |
| Class 4 NI (self-employed) | £1,550 | £129 | £30 |
| True annual net take-home | £31,505 | £2,625 | £606 |
| Year-end refund (est.) | +£785 | ||
Effective tax rate: 17.96% 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 £160/day in 2025-26
On £160/day, your annual gross is £38,400 (assuming 240 working days). Each week your contractor deducts 20% CIS, which amounts to £160/week, leaving you with £640/week in your account.
But the 20% CIS is only an advance tax payment. Your actual annual tax liability is £5,166 income tax plus £1,729 in self-employed NI (Class 2 and 4), totalling £6,895. Over the year HMRC receives £7,680 from your CIS deductions, so at year-end you should receive a refund of approximately £785.
Your true annual take-home, after settling all taxes, is £31,505 (£2,625/month, £606/week), giving an effective tax rate of 17.96%. 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 £160/day CIS subcontractor take home?
A CIS subcontractor earning £160/day (£38,400/year gross) receives £640/week at source after the 20% CIS deduction. The true annual net after income tax, Class 2 NI, and Class 4 NI is £31,505 (£2,625/month).
Will I get a CIS tax refund on £160/day?
Yes, on £160/day (£38,400/year), the 20% CIS deducted (£7,680) exceeds your true tax liability (£6,895). You should receive a refund of approximately £785 via Self Assessment.
What Class 4 NI does a £160/day CIS worker pay?
On £38,400/year, Class 4 NI is £1,550/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: £1,729/year.
What is the effective tax rate for a £160/day CIS subcontractor?
On £38,400/year, total income tax (£5,166) plus self-employed NI (£1,729) gives an effective rate of 17.96% 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 £160/day (£38,400/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 £160/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 £38,400/year, every £1,000 of legitimate expenses reduces income tax by £200 at basic rate, increasing your true annual net beyond £31,505.
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