How much CIS refund can I expect?

How much CIS refund can I expect? For 2026-27, a subcontractor at 20% whose costs are about a fifth of their pay can expect roughly £2,800 to £3,100 back on £25,000 to £60,000 of pay. Below £12,570 profit, every penny deducted comes back. There is no official average. In our 2026-27 examples, a subcontractor at 20% with costs of about a fifth of their pay gets back roughly £2,800 to £3,100 on £25,000 to £60,000 of pay. Higher costs mean a bigger refund. At 20% deductions and basic-rate profits, each extra £100 of pay adds £20 of deductions but £26 of Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance. So the refund shrinks by about £6 for every £100 more you earn. For a basic-rate subcontractor in 2026-27, each £100 of allowable costs cuts the bill by £26, made up of £20 Income Tax and £6 Class 4 National Insurance. Keeping receipts is the most reliable way to raise the refund. Read the full answer, with every source, at rightotax.co.uk.