PJL Accounts Ltd

PJL Accounts Ltd Your familiar, friendly, forward thinking accountancy practice.

Specialising in small/medium businesses, start-ups & personal taxation, we personally tailor our services to suit your requirements. Cloud accounting experts & always monitoring new software and technology that could help our clients.

​We welcome all types of businesses/ individuals and have good experience of dealing with a large number of clients around Torbay & Newton Abbot.

​It is priority

to develop & maintain good relationships with our clients so that they are happy to discuss their finances openly, ask any queries big or small & gain trust in our advice and services.

Profitable on paper. Cash nowhere to be seen. 🏗️A builder told me last week his accounts said he'd made £80k profit last...
05/05/2026

Profitable on paper. Cash nowhere to be seen. 🏗️

A builder told me last week his accounts said he'd made £80k profit last year.
His bank account told a very different story.
He thought his accountant had got something wrong. The numbers were right, the problem was something else.

If this sounds familiar, here's what's really going on 👇

1. Profit ≠ Cash
You can be brilliantly profitable and still struggle to cover Friday's wages. It's the timing of money in vs out throughout a project — and the moment one finishes, you're paying out for the next.

2. CIS deductions tie up YOUR money
20% of every payment goes straight to HMRC. That's thousands sitting with the taxman instead of in your business. (Gross Payment Status can fix this — message me to find out how.)

3. You pay before you get paid
Materials, wages, plant — all out the door weeks before the invoice gets settled. The busier you are, the bigger the cash gap.

4. The tax bill is always from yesterday's profit
You're paying tax now on money earned 12-18 months ago. If things have slowed since, the bill feels like it came from nowhere.
━━━━━━━━━━

It's not you. It's how construction finances work.
And it's fixable.
📞 Send us a DM or book a free chat. link in bio.

No jargon. No pressure. Just clear numbers from a team who understand construction accounting.

Pete 👷

One question we hear a lot from construction business owners is:“What’s the best way to pay myself from my limited compa...
13/03/2026

One question we hear a lot from construction business owners is:

“What’s the best way to pay myself from my limited company?”

The honest answer is…
There isn’t a single “best” way that works for everyone.

But for many small UK companies, a combination of salary and dividends can often be tax-efficient.

That’s because salary and dividends are taxed differently.

Here’s the simple overview 👇

Salary

• Counts towards your State Pension record
• The company receives Corporation Tax relief
• But National Insurance may apply

Dividends

• Paid from profits after Corporation Tax
• No National Insurance to pay
• The first £500 of dividends are tax-free

Dividend tax rates:

• 10.75% – basic rate
• 35.75% – higher rate
• 39.35% – additional rate

A common approach

Many small company owners take:

• a small salary
• then dividends from the remaining profits

This can help balance Corporation Tax, Income Tax and National Insurance.

But the right mix always depends on things like:

• your profit levels
• whether family members are involved
• your long-term plans for the business

A quick tip for construction business owners

If you run your trade business through a limited company, it’s worth reviewing your salary and dividend mix every tax year.

Small tweaks can sometimes make a meaningful difference to how much tax you pay.

And the earlier you plan it, the more options you usually have.

One of the most common CIS mistakes we see is taking the deduction from the wrong amount.Under the Construction Industry...
12/03/2026

One of the most common CIS mistakes we see is taking the deduction from the wrong amount.

Under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), you don’t deduct tax from the whole invoice.

First, you remove the subcontractor’s direct cost of materials used for the job.

Then CIS is calculated on the remaining amount of the payment.

What CIS is NOT normally taken from

✔ The subcontractor’s materials used for the job
✔ VAT on the invoice

What CIS is usually taken from

✔ Labour
✔ Travel or accommodation costs linked to the job
✔ Other non-material costs included in the payment

Example

Subcontractor invoice:

Labour: £3,000
Materials: £1,000
VAT: £800

First remove the materials.

CIS is calculated on:

£3,000

If the subcontractor is on the 20% CIS rate:

CIS deduction = £600

Not £800.

Why this matters

Getting this wrong can cause:

❌ Taking too much money from subcontractors
❌ Incorrect CIS returns
❌ HMRC penalties

Need support with your Construction business?

Get in touch today and we will be happy to help!

Every time CIS is deducted from a subcontractor payment, the contractor must provide a:📄 Payment and Deduction Statement...
12/03/2026

Every time CIS is deducted from a subcontractor payment, the contractor must provide a:

📄 Payment and Deduction Statement

This document shows:

- Total payment

- CIS deducted

- Contractor details

- Subcontractor details

🔵Example

A subcontractor receives £4,000 for a labour on a job.

The contractor deducts £800 CIS (20%).

The subcontractor should receive a statement confirming this deduction.

Why it matters:

For sole traders, this is used to reclaim CIS on their Self Assessment.

For limited companies, it is offset against PAYE liabilities (Corporation Tax Too, just requires an application to be sent to HMRC).

If these statements are missing, reclaiming CIS becomes extremely difficult.

Good record-keeping here is essential.

Short answer: No.Under MTD ITSA, HMRC requires:🔹Digital record keeping🔹Approved software🔹Quarterly submissions🔹Paper boo...
26/02/2026

Short answer: No.

Under MTD ITSA, HMRC requires:

🔹Digital record keeping

🔹Approved software

🔹Quarterly submissions

🔹Paper books won’t meet the rules.

Simple Example:
If you’re a subcontractor earning £60,000, you won’t just file one annual return anymore. You’ll need quarterly digital updates.

But this doesn’t need to mean more stress.

We can help:
✔️ Move you from paper to digital
✔️ Recommend software that suits construction businesses
✔️ Submit the quarterly MTD returns for you or get you confident enough to do yourself.

You focus on the job.
We’ll handle HMRC.

Get in touch today to get started.

👷‍♂️ CIS Made Simple: 6 terms every UK tradesperson should knowCIS can feel confusing, but once you understand these six...
19/11/2025

👷‍♂️ CIS Made Simple: 6 terms every UK tradesperson should know

CIS can feel confusing, but once you understand these six terms, it gets a LOT easier 👇

1️⃣ Contractor

Someone who pays subcontractors for construction work.
Includes builders, developers, property firms + businesses spending £3m+ on construction (deemed contractors).

✅ Applies: commercial clients, main contractors
❌ Not CIS: private homeowners having work done on their own house

2️⃣ Subcontractor

Anyone who does construction work for a contractor — sole traders, ltd companies, partnerships.
You can be both: contractor on one job, subbie on the next.

3️⃣ Payments

CIS covers any payment for construction work — bank transfer, cheque, credits, advances etc.

If it’s paid because of a construction contract, it’s likely CIS.

4️⃣ Deductions

If HMRC says deductions apply (0%, 20% or 30%), it’s taken off the labour after adjusting for your direct materials/plant/fuel.
You must get a Payment & Deduction Statement each time.

5️⃣ Contracts (made simple)

A contract is just your agreement — written, verbal, email, accepted quote.

Under CIS:
• If the contract includes construction work, CIS usually applies
• If the job mixes construction + non-construction, HMRC normally treat the whole job as CIS

Example:
“Renovate the unit + fit shelving.”
Renovation = construction ➜ so the whole job falls under CIS.

6️⃣ Construction operations

Includes:
🏗️ Building
🛠️ Repairs
🎨 Decorating
🔧 Alterations
💣 Demolition
🚧 Site prep

Not CIS: architecture, surveying, carpet fitting, scaffolding hire without labour, work for private householders.

👉 Official HMRC guide (CIS340):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/construction-industry-scheme-cis-340/construction-industry-scheme-a-guide-for-contractors-and-subcontractors-cis-340

If you want CIS explained simply — and handled properly — just drop me a message. We help construction businesses stay compliant without the stress. 👷‍♂️💬

👷‍♂️ 10 things every CIS Subcontractor should do each monthIf you get paid by another tradesperson or contractor for con...
18/11/2025

👷‍♂️ 10 things every CIS Subcontractor should do each month

If you get paid by another tradesperson or contractor for construction work — whether you’re a sole trader, partnership, or limited company — you’re likely within the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Here’s your quick monthly checklist 👇

1️⃣ Check your status – You’re CIS if you’re paid by a contractor for construction work in the UK.
2️⃣ Register for Self Assessment & CIS – Do this before your first payment so your contractor deducts the right amount.
3️⃣ Consider Gross Payment Status (GPS) – If you qualify, you can be paid in full (no CIS deductions) and sort tax later.
4️⃣ Help your contractor verify you – Give your UTR, business name, address, VAT status & NI/company number.
5️⃣ Invoice clearly – Split labour and materials. Only your materials, plant or fuel reduce CIS (not travel or food).
6️⃣ Get VAT right (DRC) – Add “Reverse charge: customer to account for VAT” when DRC applies.
7️⃣ Check your CIS statements – You should get one every time deductions are made. Keep them safe!
8️⃣ Track CIS suffered – Log invoice value, materials, CIS deducted, contractor name & payment date.
9️⃣ Reclaim or offset CIS –
• Ltd Companies → via PAYE submission (EPS)
• Sole traders → on your Self Assessment
🔟 Keep good records – Hold onto invoices & CIS statements for 3+ years.

💡 Pro tip: Staying on top of CIS each month keeps your cashflow smooth and your stress low.

Official HMRC guide 👉
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/construction-industry-scheme-cis-340/construction-industry-scheme-a-guide-for-contractors-and-subcontractors-cis-340

If you’re in construction and want CIS made simple and stress-free, drop me a message — we’ve helped loads of subcontractors get organised, compliant, and paid on time. 👷‍♂️

🏗️ CIS Contractors — here’s your quick monthly checklist!If you do construction work and pay subcontractors (or you’ve s...
17/11/2025

🏗️ CIS Contractors — here’s your quick monthly checklist!

If you do construction work and pay subcontractors (or you’ve spent £3m+ on construction in the last 12 months), you’re classed as a CIS Contractor.

Here’s what you need to do each month to stay compliant 👇

1️⃣ Check your status – Make sure you should be deducting CIS.
2️⃣ Confirm employment status – Subbies = CIS. Employees = PAYE. Keep proof!
3️⃣ Verify new subcontractors – HMRC will tell you if it’s 0%, 20% or 30%.
4️⃣ Gather the basics – UTR, business name, address, VAT info.
5️⃣ Apply the correct deduction rate – Before every payment.
6️⃣ Calculate properly – Leave out VAT. Only deduct materials, plant or fuel they paid for.
7️⃣ Give them a Payment & Deduction Statement – Each time you pay.
8️⃣ File your CIS300 return – Covers the 6th → 5th each month. File by the 19th (or NIL return if no subbies).
9️⃣ Pay HMRC – By the 22nd if online.
🔟 Reconcile & keep records – Match subbie invoices to payments. Keep for 3 years.

✅ Bonus tip:
Small CIS mistakes can snowball into big HMRC headaches. Get it set up right once — and save yourself stress later.

Need help keeping CIS simple and stress-free?
That’s exactly what we do at PJL Accounts 👷‍♂️
Drop me a message and we’ll get your systems sorted.

📘 Official HMRC guide:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/construction-industry-scheme-cis-340

What are WINS in your business?As a very sport-orientated chap, I’m naturally competitiveI like to look at challenges in...
07/10/2025

What are WINS in your business?

As a very sport-orientated chap, I’m naturally competitive

I like to look at challenges in the business as wins. It keeps the fire burning and helps me stay motivated week after week.

This week’s win is a big one: helping a client (turnover just over £1m) get their books fully tidied in Xero, CIS reconciled, and a simple, repeatable set of processes in place so they’re up to date, fully compliant, and crystal clear on what’s being done and what’s needed from them each month.

We’ve built this setup using DEXT, Xero and ClickUp, and we’ll keep reviewing the stack to make sure it stays as efficient as possible.

The real win though?
Our conversations are already shifting from:
“Was that done?” ❌
“Did we pay the CIS or VAT bill?”❌

To…
“Now that we’ve got clarity on what’s owed, what can we do with the extra cash?” ✅
“Should we invest in that new bit of equipment now or after the accounting year ends next month?” ✅
"Can the company help contribute to our personal pensions?" ✅

That’s the power of going from reactive to proactive accounting.
Where you stop firefighting and start planning.

What’s been your biggest win this week? 👇

Monday check-in 👇Weekend recap: took Louie to Paignton Zoo (“the jungle”) on Saturday, so he could see the Toucans and F...
06/10/2025

Monday check-in 👇

Weekend recap: took Louie to Paignton Zoo (“the jungle”) on Saturday, so he could see the Toucans and Flamingos — no idea where those obsessions came from, but he was buzzing!

Finished Saturday off with fish and chips and they actually felt like a right treat — I’ve been sticking to calorie counting through the week, so it felt well earned.

And even better… Man United actually won a game! So no need to pretend to be more interested in darts or Formula 1 this week. 😅

Back in the office today and kicking off the week with something that feels both scary and exciting — I’ve just submitted our VAT registration.

It’s a big step for us as a growing business, and a nice reminder that the same nerves clients feel when they’re levelling up — we feel them too.

Growth always feels a little uncomfortable at first, but that’s usually how you know it’s the right move.

Here’s to another great week and more forward steps in our growth journey 👊

Address

16 Upton Hill
Torquay
TQ13EW

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when PJL Accounts Ltd posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to PJL Accounts Ltd:

Shortcuts

Share

Category