The importance of matching

HMRC will be sending contractors an additional CD of sub-contractors in March – they will also be mailing sub-contractors to confirm the details that are currently held on HMRC’s files.

Hopefully many businesses will be well underway with the matching process, following the first batch of records that HMRC sent out in November. However, this process could be quite time consuming in the first instance.

For the contractor, one of the chief problems in matching the data on their system to that of HMRC’s is likely to be the trading name or even something as simple as a space in a field – double-barrelled names will need a hyphen! Incorrect data could mean an error in the deductions made from a sub-contractor’s payments. Not good for relationships between the contractor and sub-contractor. (in fact there are three items which must match HMRC’s database – the Unique Taxpayer Reference, the sub-contractor name and NINO/CRN).

If there are any discrepancies, the contractor needs to talk to the sub-contractor not HMRC. In fact we’d be very interested to hear your personal experiences of matching the data – any feedback for others who are still going through the process I am sure would be greatly received!

For more information on Access CIS or a copy of the BASDA guide visit: www.access-accounts.com/cis