If you are a contractor and you engage subcontractors you are required to meet specific obligations under the scheme, including registering with HM Revenue and Customs as a contractor. You will need to verify your subcontractors are registered with HM Revenue & Customs, paying subcontractors, deducting tax, submitting monthly returns, paying HM Revenue and Customs and providing monthly statements confirming these payments.
If you are a subcontractor you need to register with HM Revenue & Customs under the CIS scheme and they will set you up to receive payments ‘under deduction’. This means contractors must make a deduction of tax at 20% (30% for unverified subcontractors) from the labour element of your invoices and pay this over to HM Revenue & Customs.