The Construction Confederation is in talks with HM Revenue & Customs over softening the impact of the CIS tax scheme in April after resigning itself to the launch.

The joint taxation committee, which includes the Construction Confederation, is in discussions over measures to ease the introduction for construction firms. However, the confederation denied industry speculation that it had asked to be reinstated at formal meetings to give it greater access to information.

A confederation spokesperson said: “We have not asked to be part of the main talks again and we have no intention of doing so.

“However, we are speaking separately to the Revenue about ways of softening the blow of the launch.”

HM Revenue & Customs is holding meetings with the remaining industry representatives on the taxation committee every month until April to brief them on the detail of its plans. The department has rejected calls for a phased introduction but has promised representatives that they will have the opportunity to trial the software.