The CIS/RCT Setup is similar to the VAT posting setup:
- Type and period for the tax retention
- Posting setup for all combination of what you buy and from whom. The combinations are contained of various CIS/RCT Business and CIS/RCT Product Posting Groups.
In addition to the CIS/RCT Setup, users are encouraged to configure online services, such as monthly return and subcontractor verification, by supplying essential credentials provided by HMRC data on the contractor registration.
Assisted setup
The Assisted Setup wizard will guide you througt the initial configuration of Pryme CIS/RCT. It will help you to set up tax rates, posting groups, and general ledger g/l accounts. It helps you to ensure that key tax-related settings are correctly configured, enabling companies to comply with regulations and automate the withholding tax process. In addition, it offers the option to configure online submission to HMRC, providing a complete solution for managing CIS/RCT tax requirements.
- Choose the 🔍 icon and enter Assisted Setup.
- Choose Set up CIS/RCT and complete the steps.
After the assisted setup is run, you need to do some additional setup:
- Choose the 🔍 icon, enter CIS/RCT Setup, choose the related link.
- Set up the HMRC Data.
- Set up the CIS/RCT Tax periods.
- Configure your vendors.
- Set up CIS/RCT product posting group for items, resources, fixed asset, and g/l accounts.
Tip
You can use the CIS/RCT Setup guide only if you have created a My Company and haven’t posted transactions for CIS/RCT or set up CIS/RCT posting groups on vendors, items, resources, fixed assets, or g/l accounts.CIS setup page
General
The general CIS/RCT information. Hover over a field to read a short description. Two fields are important when you create the retention periods.
- Starting date - specifies the date from which retension tax should be in effect ant the first tax retention period will be based on this field.
- Period No Series - Must be added to be able to create the tax periods.
Posting
The CIS Business posting groups you add on the Vendor card for the different rates of deduction.
HMRC data
In the HMRC Data fast tab you enter the data you should provide as a contractor.
Required fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Accounts Office Reference No. | This is 13 characters, like 123PX00123456 or 123PX0012345X. It will be on letters from HMRC about PAYE and when you registered as an employer. |
| Contractor UTR | This is 10 characters, like 1234567890. It might just be called ‘tax reference’. You can find your UTR number: in your Personal Tax Account, in the HMRC app, on previous tax returns and other documents from HMRC (for example, notices to file a return or payment reminders). |
| Tax Office Number | This is 3 characters, like 123. It is the first three digits of the Employer PAYE reference. If your Employer PAYE reference is 123/AB456 the the Tax Office number is 123. |
| Tax Office Reference | This is 5 characters, like AB456. It is the last five digits of the Employer PAYE reference. If your Employer PAYE reference is 123/AB456 the the Tax Office reference is AB456. |
| Sender ID | The user ID for the account used to log in to the HMRC online services. |
| Password Value | The password for the account used to log in to the HMRC online services. |
Field Format Definition
Use the Field Formats feature (found under the Related action group) to define and validate the structure of input fields required for CIS submissions. This helps ensure compliance with field requirements and prevents submission errors.
Each format is defined in the FormatStr field using symbolic characters and optional length rules.
Supported Symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| # | A digit (0–9) | 123 |
| @ | A letter (A–Z, case-insensitive) | ABC |
| ? | Any alphanumeric character | A1, B7 |
Additional characters such as /, -, or space can be used as fixed separators and must match exactly in the input.
Fixed-Length Format
Each symbol corresponds to one required character. The input must match the pattern exactly in length and character type.
Examples:
- ### → Exactly 3 digits
- @@@ → Exactly 3 letters
- ?? → Exactly 2 alphanumeric characters
- ###/@@@ → 3 digits, slash, 3 letters (e.g., 123/ABC)
Variable-Length Format
To support variable lengths, add a range using curly braces {min,max} after a single symbol. This allows variation in the number of characters.
Examples:
- #{5,8} → 5 to 8 digits
- @{2,3} → 2 to 3 letters
- ?{1,10} → 1 to 10 alphanumeric characters
Tip
You can only use one symbol type within a{min,max} range. Mixed symbol blocks like @#{2,5} are not supported.Current Limitations
- Mixed type ranges @#{2,5} are not supported
- Concatenated variable blocks (e.g., @{2,3}-#{3,4}) are not supported
- Use fixed-length formats for strict pattern validation
- Use variable-length formats for more flexible input
Validation is applied automatically to the linked input fields, helping enforce data accuracy in CIS submissions.
Posting groups
Posting setup
The posting setup for all combination of what you buy and from whom, and the retention % for each combination. The combinations are contained of various CIS/RCT Business and Product Posting Groups. They are crucial for accurate financial management, ensuring that deductions and settlements are appropriately recorded in the General Ledger.
Buisness posting groups
The codes to select on the vendor card for the use of retention tax, and for identifying each retention entry in the CIS/RCT Entries.
Product posting groups
The codes for CIS/RCT to be selected on item card, G/L account, resource, fixed asset card and directly on the purchase lines, for identifying each retention entry.
Categories
The codes for different tax categories of labour or materials. The categories can be set on each product posting group and will be saved on the entries for reporting purposes.
Reporting
CIS/RCT tax periods
CIS/RCT Periods work similarly to VAT periods. They define a structured timeline for calculating and managing retention taxes and are required for processing CIS/RCT postings. Tax periods are generated based on:
- Starting Date
- Period No. Series
- Period Calculation Type
Tax periods usually follow the accounting periods, but they may have different start dates. When you create a new fiscal year, CIS/RCT periods will automatically be created. If you forget to create the tax periods, the system generates the period automatically.
Tip
If the CIS/RCT periods are incorrect, you can delete them — even if transactions exist — as long as the period is not closed. When they are deleted it is possible to create them again.Set up Vendors
After completing the basic setup, you must configure the vendors and assign the appropriate CIS/RCT Business Posting Group.
- Choose the 🔎 icon, search for Vendors
- In the vendor list, select the vendor you want to configure
- Under CIS/RCT fasttab, set Use CIS/RCT to True.
- Select the CIS/RCT Business Posting Group.
- Verify the subcontractor/vendor.
Set up CIS/RCT product posting group for items/resources/fixed asset/g/l accounts
You must assign a CIS/RCT Product Posting Group to any item, resource, fixed asset, or G/L account used in purchase transactions with vendors subject to tax retention. This group is automatically applied to purchase lines. If you use the same G/L account for different types of services, you can leave the CIS/RCT Product Posting Group field blank and manually select the correct group on the invoice line.
- Choose the 🔍 Search icon, enter one of the following, and select the related link:
- Items
- Resources
- Fixed Assets
- Chart of Accounts
- Under posting/invoice details, select the CIS/RCT Product Posting Group.
Permissions
To ensure efficient usage and access control, there are four permission sets in Pryme CIS: CIS/RCT View, CIS/RCT Post, CIS/RCT Setup and CIS/RCT Super.