Property and Construction

Specialist advice for property developers, investors, contractors and the wider construction sector

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Property and construction can be a financially challenging industry, but one with considerable reward for successful business.

The UK’s complex tax regime means that the interactions between VAT, capital allowances, the Construction Industry Scheme, the domestic reverse charge and the corporation tax position on developments and disposals creates a technical environment that requires specialist input.

Our property and construction team works with property developers, investors, landlords, contractors and subcontractors across the sector and provides the audit, tax, VAT, CIS and corporate finance work that the sector needs.

The advisory work that supports construction businesses and developers comes from a team of experts who have done the work for other successful organisations in the sector.

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How we deliver property and construction advice

Each engagement begins by understanding the business. The investment strategy or development model, the entity structure, the financing arrangements, the existing portfolio and the planned activity all need to be understood before substantive advice is given.

From there, the work runs alongside transactions and developments as they happen. Acquisition structuring, capital allowances analysis, VAT treatment, CIS compliance and the Corporation Tax position are all handled by the same team throughout each accounting period.

Our expertise

  • Audits and accounts for property and construction businesses
  • Stamp Duty Land Tax analysis on acquisitions
  • Capital allowances on commercial property
  • VAT on land and property, including options to tax and TOGCs
  • Construction Industry Scheme compliance and audits
  • Domestic reverse charge for construction services
  • Corporation tax on developments and property holdings
  • Joint venture and forward-funding structures
  • ATED for residential property held by companies
  • Cross-border property investment, including non-resident landlord and CGT

We work with construction clients on the practical impact of the UK’s tax and accounting rules, so that they can operate in confidence.

What you can expect from our property
and construction team

Three things define our work in the sector:

Engaged at the structuring stage

On acquisitions, developments and disposals, the most valuable work is done before the deal is committed. SDLT, VAT, capital allowances and the corporate tax position are all easier to optimise at the structuring stage than after the fact.

Technical depth

Property and construction sits at the intersection of several specialist tax areas. Our team has the depth across SDLT, VAT, capital allowances, CIS and corporate tax to handle the issues without being defeated by the interactions.

Practical knowledge

The sector operates on a deal-driven rhythm with tight timelines. Our team has an in-depth sector and technical knowledge to help match the pace that the industry demands.

Property and construction businesses work with us because they want an adviser who is positioned upstream of the structuring decisions, responsive to the pace of the sector and present as a guide when the complexity of the tax interactions – SDLT, VAT, capital allowances and CIS – needs to be navigated together rather than handled in separate silos.

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Here is what our clients have to say… testimonial icon


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Macalvins have been running the Payroll and Pension Plan for Hayes & Yeading United Football Club for over 10 years.… Read more

Bernard Bitmead

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I love the people of macalvins. they are warm and very dependable. and that what matters to me in any… Read more

SUJOY GHOSH

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I have been MaCalvins for the past 6 years and I have found them excellent in every department. They manage… Read more

John Gill

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I’ve been with MaCalvins since 2013, they are managing my company business accounts and my personal tax returns in a… Read more

Taghreed Altuhafi

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Excellent service and understanding of our business needs

Kanesh Rajani

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Thank you Macalvins for excellent service over the years

S Hodzic

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Why choose Macalvins?

Macalvins is a Top 100 UK accountancy firm and a member of PrimeGlobal, a network of around 300 independent firms across more than 80 countries.

Our construction and property specialists have years of experience supporting developers, architects, contractors and sub-contractors with their audit, tax and accounting needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions faq

When should we involve you in an acquisition?

Before heads of terms are agreed. The SDLT analysis, the VAT treatment, the option to tax position, the capital allowances election under section 198 and the structuring of the acquiring entity are all materially easier to optimise before the deal is documented. An exploratory conversation costs nothing.

Can you advise on UK property held through offshore structures?

Yes. UK property held by non-resident corporate vehicles sits within a regime that has evolved substantially. ATED, the non-resident landlord rules, the 2019 non-resident CGT changes, the wider non-dom changes from April 2025 and the Inheritance Tax position on UK residential property all need to be considered together. We advise on the regime as it currently stands and on structural reviews where existing arrangements need to be reconsidered.

How does the domestic reverse charge work for our construction business?

The domestic reverse charge applies to standard and reduced-rate VAT supplies of construction services between VAT-registered businesses, where the recipient is not an end user. The supplier does not charge VAT and the recipient self-accounts for it. The rules on end user notification, the boundaries of qualifying services and the practical operation in supply chains all need careful attention. We work with contractors and subcontractors on the practical implementation.

Mr. Jackson
@mrjackson