What is the best accounting software for builders?

There is no single best package, and HMRC recommends none. On 19 October 2026, the paid plans we compared started at £5 a month plus VAT. Choose on CIS, VAT and how many jobs and receipts you have.

Accounting software handles daily jobs: quotes and invoices, a bank feed, photos of receipts and sorting costs. A builder on the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) needs it to do one more thing well, which is to show your pay before the contractor's deduction and the deduction itself.

Prices as listed on 19 October 2026

Each price is the provider's own figure for the plan named, with VAT at 20% added where the provider says it is extra.

What each one lists for builders

"Not listed" means the provider's own pages we checked did not mention it, not that it can't be done. The last column is what HMRC's finder showed on 18 October 2026 for CIS on the Making Tax Digital tax return.

"In development" on the finder means the provider has committed to building it in time for the 2026 to 2027 tax return. Our MTD software census found 47 of the 156 sole trader products ready for CIS on 18 October 2026.

What this means for you

As a subcontractor only, you need four things: invoices, a bank feed, receipts kept with each job, and a clear record of gross pay and deductions. GOV.UK says contractors take no deduction from materials you paid for directly, and will estimate the cost if you have no receipt or other evidence. Each contractor that takes a deduction must send a statement within 14 days of the end of each tax month.

If you pay your own subcontractors, you are a contractor too, with a monthly return due by the 19th after each tax month ends.

VAT matters once taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or if you expect it to in the next 30 days alone. Most standard or reduced rate work for VAT-registered contractors under CIS then uses the domestic reverse charge, but not zero-rated work, and not work for a private homeowner, or for a customer who tells you in writing that they are an end user or intermediary supplier.

Unless you are exempt, Making Tax Digital (MTD) has applied since 6 April 2026 if your qualifying income was over £50,000 in 2024-25, starts on 6 April 2027 if it was over £30,000 in 2025-26, and on 6 April 2028 if it was over £20,000 in 2026-27. GOV.UK says HMRC adds your CIS deductions to your MTD tax return, and you must check them before you submit. The best MTD software for builders covers the finder, and what bookkeeping costs builders compares paying someone.

Our Trades Tax plan will keep your books from your bank feed. Coming later. Not available yet: starts once our HMRC registrations are complete. Once our registrations are complete, we'll send your quarterly updates and tax return to HMRC for you, after you confirm the figures. Trades Tax is £35 a month or £350 a year including VAT; monthly plans can add VAT returns for £10 a month. We don't do CIS contractor returns, so if you pay subcontractors, software that files them fits better.

Steps to choose your software

1. Use the free MTD check to see when MTD starts for you.
2. Note whether you pay subcontractors, are VAT registered or work for homeowners.
3. Shortlist two or three products whose own pages list the CIS and VAT features you need.
4. If a contractor pays you under CIS, check HMRC's finder shows CIS as ready now.
5. Work out the price after any offer ends, including VAT and add-ons.
6. Try it with a month of real invoices, receipts and CIS statements.
7. Check the gross pay and deductions match every statement before your first quarterly update.

The trades section has more.