Industries
Building and civil engineering
We support construction companies with bookkeeping, project accounting and HR. We pay particular attention to VAT, work in progress and the documentation required by clients.
Industry
What matters to you
In building and civil engineering, contracts often run for several months or years. Progress payments, retentions, variations and subcontractors make accounting demanding, and specific VAT rules apply in the construction sector.
We advise construction companies, specialist building trades and property developers in South Tyrol. In addition to accounting and payroll, we support you with project billing, your customers’ tax bonuses and the documentation required for public tenders.
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VAT in construction
Where subcontractors provide construction services to another construction company, the reverse charge mechanism often applies in Italy. The subcontractor issues its invoice without VAT, and the client calculates and reports it itself. Whether a service falls under this rule depends on the type of work and the position of the parties involved.
For public sector contracts, VAT is often paid by the client directly to the state (split payment). There are also different VAT rates, for example for work on residential buildings. We review your invoices and contracts and make sure you apply the correct rate and procedure.
- Reverse charge on subcontractor services
- Split payment with public-sector clients
- VAT rates for residential construction and renovation
Site and project accounting
An analysis by construction site shows how costs and revenue are developing. We help allocate materials, staff, machinery and subcontractor services and compare them with your cost estimate.
For the financial statements, contracts not yet completed at year-end must be valued. Specific valuation rules apply to long-term contracts. Careful valuation prevents profits from being recognised too early or too late.
Tax bonuses for renovations
Many of your customers use tax incentives for renovation, energy efficiency or earthquake safety. The rules have changed frequently in recent years, and deduction rates now depend heavily on the type of property and on when the expenses are incurred.
For tax-incentivised works, invoice details, payment method and supporting documents must match. We clarify the tax requirements and account for any tax withheld by the bank in the bookkeeping. Technical requirements are agreed with the relevant technical experts.
Staff, certifications and tenders
Construction companies constantly need proof of good standing, such as the certificate of social security compliance (DURC) issued with regard to the social security institutions and the construction workers’ fund (Cassa Edile). Public tenders also require financial statements, declarations and certificates.
Our payroll team knows the collective agreements in construction, the reporting to the construction workers’ fund (Cassa Edile) and the specifics of field work and site allowances. For tenders, we provide the tax and financial documents in good time.
Step by step
How we work together
Analysis of the order structure
We look at who you work for, which subcontractors you use and which types of contract apply. This determines the tax treatment of your sales.
Set up the project structure
Together we define how costs and revenue are allocated to individual sites and analysed at regular intervals.
Ongoing support
We handle bookkeeping, payroll and filings and provide certificates and documents when clients request them.
Year-end and planning
At year end we value work in progress, prepare the financial statements and tax returns and discuss your order book and liquidity with you.
Frequently asked questions
Answers on invoicing, construction contracts and public tenders.
When must I invoice without VAT as a subcontractor?
If you carry out construction work for another business that itself operates in construction, the reverse charge often applies. What matters is the type of work and the contractual relationship. If in doubt, we review the contract before you issue the first invoice.
What must my invoice state for my customer to get the bonus?
The invoice must clearly describe the works and the property, and payment must usually be made by a dedicated type of bank transfer. Depending on the bonus, further documents are required, such as technical certifications. We tell you what information is needed for each bonus.
How is work in progress on construction sites valued in the balance sheet?
Valuation depends on the applicable accounting rules, the contract terms and the reliability of the estimates. Duration alone does not determine the method. In particular, we examine the requirements for valuation by stage of completion and agree the necessary information with your site management.
What documents do I need for a public tender?
That depends on the tender. Commonly required are financial statements for recent years, proof of tax and social security payments, declarations on the company’s reliability and, where applicable, qualifications for certain types of work. We compile the documents that fall within our remit.
Let’s talk about your plans.
Arrange a no-obligation initial meeting in Merano, Laces or online.