Construction & trades
MTD software for bricklayers.
Keep laying. Let your records keep pace.
Price work and day rates can leave you checking bank payments against contractor statements after a hard week. Avona helps bricklayers keep gross earnings, tools and CIS deductions clearly separated.
- Who it is for
- Bricklayers working as sole traders, managing their own business records and MTD for Income Tax updates.
- Available now
- Digital records, bank feeds, statement imports, transaction categorisation and quarterly self-employment updates. Pro adds customer invoicing, VAT accounting and reporting.
- Monthly price
- From £15/month for Lite. Pro is £20/month.
- Free trial
- Full access for 7 days. No credit card required.
- Annual-return limitations
- Quarterly updates do not replace your annual tax return. HMRC lists CIS deductions and other annual-return items, including PAYE income, interest and dividends, as in development. Check the listing and confirm support for your income sources before relying on Avona for your annual return.
Making Tax Digital
It’s what comes in.
Before costs go out.
Your weekly bank payment may already have 20% CIS deducted. The income used to assess MTD is the gross amount before CIS and expenses, not just what reaches your account.
Understand Making Tax Digital →When does MTD apply?
Combined qualifying self-employment and property income, before expenses:
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25
- From 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26
- From 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27
- From 6 April 2028
Eligibility and exemptions matter. These are income thresholds, not tax-free allowances.
Check HMRC’s eligibility guidance ↗From the work to your records
Clear records for your boundary-wall brickwork.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your boundary-wall brickwork, shared purchases and a labour-only bricklaying payment.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £2,100 for your boundary-wall brickwork £720 spent on bricks, sand and cement | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for bricks, sand and cement. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £2,100 as the sale and the £720 cost separately. The £1,380 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for bricks for a customer's wall; £20 for paving for your own garden | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify bricks for a customer's wall separately from paving for your own garden. | Only the eligible £80 business portion belongs in business costs. Exclude the £20 personal purchase, and check that importing both the bank transaction and the receipt has not counted the spending twice. |
| £800 received from a contractor £1,000 gross labour; £200 CIS withheld | Bring a labour-only bricklaying payment into your review alongside the contractor's payment and deduction statement. Reconcile it against the bank entry. | The income is £1,000 and the £200 is tax withheld, not a running expense. This assumes a 20% deduction on labour only. Keep the statement for your annual return; Avona's CIS tax-return support is currently listed as in development. |
The CIS example explains the records you need. HMRC currently lists Avona’s CIS tax-return support as in development; this is not a demonstration of an available CIS submission feature. HMRC: CIS deductions and tax ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for bricklayers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Trowels and levels
Line pins and string
Mixer hire
Protective safety boots
Job-related consumables
Eligible business travel
One thing to watch
CIS withheld is tax paid, not another cost
Do not list the contractor's tax deduction with tools or travel. Keep the deduction statement and report the gross pay separately so the withheld amount can be credited correctly.
HMRC: CIS deductions and tax ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your boundary-wall brickwork.
Match each contractor statement to its bank receipt, attach site-expense evidence and review the difference before filing your quarterly totals.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for bricks, sand and cement. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish bricks for a customer's wall from paving for your own garden.
How document capture works →Reconcile your boundary-wall brickwork payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a labour-only bricklaying payment available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
Understand your CIS records →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your boundary-wall brickwork income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a labour-only bricklaying payment ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from bricklayers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers bricklayers working as sole traders. Your start date depends on combined qualifying self-employment and property income before expenses, and any exemptions. Employment and limited-company work have different reporting arrangements.
What if a contractor deducts tax before paying me?
Use the contractor statement to reconcile the gross pay and tax withheld. Keep that evidence for the annual return rather than treating the deduction as a running expense.
How do I record a labour-only bricklaying payment?
Example: £800 received from a contractor (£1,000 gross labour; £200 cis withheld). The income is £1,000 and the £200 is tax withheld, not a running expense. This assumes a 20% deduction on labour only. Keep the statement for your annual return; Avona's CIS tax-return support is currently listed as in development.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
CIS withheld is tax paid, not another cost. Do not list the contractor's tax deduction with tools or travel. Keep the deduction statement and report the gross pay separately so the withheld amount can be credited correctly.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your boundary-wall brickwork income records and evidence of bricks, sand and cement into Avona using supported spreadsheet uploads. Check dates, categories, personal spending and duplicates against the original documents before you approve the records.
Do quarterly updates complete my annual tax return?
No. You still need the annual tax return and any relevant adjustments or other income. HMRC currently lists Avona's CIS tax-return support as in development. Keep contractor deduction statements and confirm the available support before relying on Avona to report CIS deductions.
Built for the way you earn
Get your bricklaying and CIS records straight.
Choosing Avona
Your questions, answered.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. You can create customer invoices with Avona Pro.
What if I am VAT-registered?
Full VAT accounting is available with Avona Pro, so you can manage your VAT-registered business with Avona.
Can my accountant review my records?
Yes. You can connect your Avona account to your bookkeeper or accountant so they can review your records.
Can I use my phone on site?
Yes. Every feature has a mobile-friendly version, so you can manage your accounts from your phone while you are on the move.
Can I keep using my personal bank account?
Yes. Avona supports Open Banking connections and PDF bank statement uploads. You can clearly separate personal and business transactions to keep your business records organised.