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Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT)

  1. Overview
  2. What activities are covered under RCT?
  3. RCT for principal contractors
  4. Notifications for principal contractors
  5. RCT for subcontractors
  6. Credit for RCT deducted and offsets
  7. Penalties for principal contractors
  8. RCT for non-resident subcontractors

RCT for subcontractors

Who is a subcontractor?

You are a subcontractor if you enter into a relevant contract with a principal contractor to carry out work in the:

  • construction
  • forestry
  • or
  • meat processing industries.

This contract is not a contract of employment.

You must give the principal contractor the details they need to register the relevant contract with Revenue. These details must include the name you have recorded with us and your Tax Reference Number (TRN). You should also provide proof of identity, which can include:

  • a copy of your passport
  • a copy of your driving licence
  • details of your tax registration.

Once the principal contractor notifies Revenue of the contract, we will send you the details in a contract confirmation letter. This will also confirm your RCT rate of tax deduction. If any details regarding the contract are incorrect, please contact the principal contractor to correct them. If they cannot correct the details, you should contact us directly.

Site Identifier Number (SIN)

When a principal contractor submits a contract notification, they receive a SIN for the site or project. We will notify you of the SIN on your contract confirmation letter. If you, in turn, subcontract out some of the work, you should use this SIN when you notify the contract to us. This means that all contracts, by all contractors on the same site or project, will use the same SIN.

RCT tax rates

The RCT tax rate will depend on your compliance record with Revenue. The three tax rates in the RCT system for subcontractors apply as follows:

  • an up-to-date tax compliance record: 0%
  • a substantially up-to-date tax compliance record: 20%
  • a poor tax compliance record or for those who have not registered with Revenue: 35%.

After a principal contractor notifies Revenue of a payment, they will receive a deduction authorisation from us. If the principal is to deduct tax, they should give you a copy of this. It will show:

  • the gross payment they will make to you
  • the net payment they will make to you
  • the RCT deduction rate
  • and
  • the amount of RCT they will deduct.

Why has my deduction rate changed?

Revenue currently carries out rolling RCT Bulk Rate Reviews (BRRs). The BRR assesses the current compliance position of each subcontractor in the eRCT system. A determination of their RCT deduction rate of 0%, 20% or 35% is then made. If your RCT deduction page rate changes, a notice of determination will be sent to your Revenue Online Service (ROS) inbox.

Subcontractors who have moved to a higher rate of RCT can check the reasons why such a determination was made. This can be done using the RCT self-service options in ROS. All compliance issues will be dealt with through ROS. Once the compliance issues have been resolved, subcontractors can self-review their RCT rate in ROS and receive a new rate determination. You should allow at least 72 hours from the date you have resolved your compliance issue before self-reviewing.

If your issues cannot be resolved through ROS, please contact our RCT team using MyEnquires in ROS. You should select the category 'Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT)' and sub-category 'RCT Rate Review'. In the Enquiry details box, please set out your reasons as to why a different deduction rate is more appropriate to your circumstances.

 Please see the RCT for subcontractors manual for further information.

Next: Credit for RCT deducted and offsets

Published: 31 July 2023 Print this page

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