Construction & trades
MTD software for builders.
Build the extension. Reclaim your Sunday evening.
Cement invoices, skip hire and subcontractor payments can leave a second shift at the kitchen table. Avona gives general builders a practical place to organise the records behind every project.
- Who it is for
- Builders 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.
Large material orders and payments to other trades can sit behind tight margins. Customer receipts still count before those costs are deducted, so a modest personal income can coexist with substantial turnover.
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 garden-wall construction.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your garden-wall construction, shared purchases and a labour-only contractor payment.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £2,400 for your garden-wall construction £850 spent on bricks, cement and aggregates | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for bricks, cement and aggregates. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £2,400 as the sale and the £850 cost separately. The £1,550 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for materials for a paid extension; £20 for materials for your own shed | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify materials for a paid extension separately from materials for your own shed. | 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 contractor 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 builders. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Plant and tool hire
Cement and aggregates
Skip hire and disposal
Scaffolding charges
Protective workwear
Subcontractor labour costs
One thing to watch
Contractor duties and your own tax are different
If you pay subcontractors, check your separate CIS contractor responsibilities. CIS withheld from your own invoices is tax paid on your behalf, not an expense to subtract from sales.
HMRC: CIS deductions and tax ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your garden-wall construction.
Keep project invoices, supplier receipts and subcontractor paperwork together. Review bank matches carefully where a single transfer covers several jobs.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for bricks, cement and aggregates. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish materials for a paid extension from materials for your own shed.
How document capture works →Reconcile your garden-wall construction payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a labour-only contractor 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 garden-wall construction income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a labour-only contractor payment ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from builders.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers builders 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 customer pays in several stages?
Keep the agreed stage schedule and every payment against the building job. Review income using your accounting method and avoid counting an invoice again after recording its instalments.
How do I record a labour-only contractor 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?
Contractor duties and your own tax are different. If you pay subcontractors, check your separate CIS contractor responsibilities. CIS withheld from your own invoices is tax paid on your behalf, not an expense to subtract from sales.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your garden-wall construction income records and evidence of bricks, cement and aggregates 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 building records organised.
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.