Construction & trades
MTD software for groundworkers.
From first dig to final figures.
Excavation, drainage and site preparation involve machinery, deliveries and contractor paperwork. Avona helps independent groundworkers keep the evidence organised between jobs.
- Who it is for
- Groundworkers 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.
If a contractor pays you after CIS deductions, the money arriving in your bank is not the full value of your work. Keep the gross earnings and deductions visible.
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 drainage groundwork.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your drainage groundwork, shared purchases and a labour-only groundwork subcontract.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £2,600 for your drainage groundwork £980 spent on drainage pipe and excavator hire | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for drainage pipe and excavator hire. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £2,600 as the sale and the £980 cost separately. The £1,620 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for materials for a customer's drainage run; £20 for supplies for your own driveway | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify materials for a customer's drainage run separately from supplies for your own driveway. | 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 groundwork subcontract 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 groundworkers. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Excavator hire
Drainage pipes
Aggregates
Machine running costs
Protective workwear
Business liability insurance
One thing to watch
Keep CIS statements alongside invoices
Where CIS applies, the contractor’s deduction represents tax withheld rather than an ordinary running cost. Retain the monthly statements so gross payments and deductions can be checked together.
HMRC: CIS deductions and tax ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your drainage groundwork.
Upload plant-hire bills and material invoices, then reconcile contractor payments with the corresponding CIS statements.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for drainage pipe and excavator hire. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish materials for a customer's drainage run from supplies for your own driveway.
How document capture works →Reconcile your drainage groundwork payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a labour-only groundwork subcontract 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 drainage groundwork income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a labour-only groundwork subcontract ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from groundworkers.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers groundworkers 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 should I do if the contractor statement does not match my bank?
Keep both records and ask the contractor to explain the difference. A deduction, retention or adjustment needs supporting evidence before you finalise the figures.
How do I record a labour-only groundwork subcontract?
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?
Keep CIS statements alongside invoices. Where CIS applies, the contractor’s deduction represents tax withheld rather than an ordinary running cost. Retain the monthly statements so gross payments and deductions can be checked together.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your drainage groundwork income records and evidence of drainage pipe and excavator hire 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 groundwork records ready for review.
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.