Specialist Accountants for GPs, Consultants & Locum Doctors

Accountants for Doctors in Harpenden

Specialist accounting support for doctors in Harpenden, built around the way you actually work. Whether you are a salaried hospital doctor, a GP, a locum, a consultant with private practice income, or you combine NHS and private work, the tax and accounting picture can quickly become layered. We help you keep Self Assessment accurate, records tidy, and your tax position clear across every income source you hold, so you can make decisions with confidence rather than guesswork.

4.9/5.0

Google Reviews

⭐ What Clients Say About Us

See what doctors, dentists, and care providers say about working with us.

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Jamie Fletcher profile picture
Jamie Fletcher
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It was a pleasure working with Anum on our accounts. The whole process was swift and effortless, and it was one less thing to worry about. I'd highly recommend them.
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Mansur Liman profile picture
Mansur Liman
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Accotax have been our accountants for many years now. We maintained them, because of their professionalism. In the last coiple of years, i have working with Imran, who has been very professional and helpful in guiding us through the whole process explaining and clarifying every aspect of it. Very prompt in responding to questions and patient with us even when we seem to be slow. I really enjoy working with him. Thank you
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Muna Mohamoud profile picture
Muna Mohamoud
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I highly recommend Imran to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable accountant. He helped me sort out a very complicated backlog of accounts and prepared my overdue tax returns with professionalism and attention to detail. Throughout the process, he was incredibly patient, took the time to answer all of my questions, and explained everything clearly. He guided me through each step and helped rectify issues that had built up over time, making what felt like an overwhelming situation much more manageable. I'm very pleased with the service I've received and truly appreciate his support. If you need help with your accounts or taxes, I would highly recommend Imran.
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Sergey M profile picture
Sergey M
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I had a positive experience with Accotax. The work was completed promptly, my tax return was successfully filed, and I received a refund of overpaid tax. I found the cooperation efficient and helpful. Special thanks to Muhammad Saifullah for his assistance.
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Ebba Qureshi profile picture
Ebba Qureshi
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Fabulous team at ACCOTAX - very efficient and good response time . Honest and professional with their work. I would highly recommend them even if you’re a young start up - or a large business they have it covered .
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Mael Leboucher profile picture
Mael Leboucher
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We worked with a few different accountants before finally settling with Accotax, and we’re really glad we did. Their team is great. Abdul is responsive and easy to reach whenever I have a question, which makes a big difference. They take the time to understand how our business works and what our needs are. They are very knowledgeable, and when they don’t have the answer straight away, they take the time to look into it and get back to us quickly. Anum, who looks after our account on a day-to-day basis, including reconciling invoices and preparing the annual accounts, is amazing. She is professional, efficient, and follows the processes we have put in place together. She's also very quickin getting back to us whenever needed. We’re very happy to work with her and hope to continue doing so for as long as possible. Overall, Accotax has made our accounting experience much smoother and easier. We see them as a long-term partner as our business continues to grow. I would 100% recommend them.
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3rd Hub profile picture
3rd Hub
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Imran provides a very dependable and straightforward accounting service. He is always responsive and professional when managing our accounts. Excellent support.
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Martin Tyrrell profile picture
Martin Tyrrell
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I have really impressed to date with all dealings with Accotax highly enough. From day one, they've made what can often be a complicated and stressful part of running a business feel straightforward and hassle-free. A special mention has to go to Anum, who has been friendly, incredibly responsive, and genuinely cares about providing the best possible service. No question is ever too much trouble, and she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure everything is dealt with efficiently. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to anyone looking for an accountant they can genuinely trust.
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Matthew Lyon profile picture
Matthew Lyon
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Great speedy service and very personable. Anum dealt with my income certificate and did everything quickly and helped me out massively. Very happy with the service provided.
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Which Doctors Do We Support?

We work with doctors across a wide range of working arrangements, because no two medical careers look the same from a tax perspective. That includes salaried hospital doctors and GPs, consultants, locum doctors moving between contracts, private practitioners running their own clinics or practices, and doctors who hold NHS income alongside private medical income. It also covers doctors in specialist training, those building a portfolio career, and those moving into partnership or setting up a limited company for consultancy or private work. The accounting and tax treatment can differ considerably depending on how your income is earned, whether you are employed, self-employed or both, whether you work through a partnership or a company, and which expenses you incur in the course of your professional work. Because of that, we take the time to understand your individual circumstances before advising on the right approach for your returns, records and structure.

GPs

Accounting and tax support for GPs with NHS income, private work, practice interests or additional professional earnings.

Hospital Doctors

Support with Self Assessment, professional expenses and tax matters alongside employment income and other professional earnings.

Consultants

Accounting support for consultants managing NHS employment, private practice income, professional expenses and tax obligations.

Locum Doctors

Support with Self Assessment, locum income, allowable expenses, bookkeeping and relevant business structure considerations.

Salaried Doctors

Tax and accounting support for salaried doctors with additional professional income or expenses requiring reporting.

Private Practitioners

Accounting support for doctors providing private medical services through individual practices, partnerships or companies.

Accounting and Tax Services for Doctors

Our services are shaped around the financial realities of medical work. For doctors who are self-employed, whether through locum shifts, private consultations or consultancy work, Self Assessment is usually the starting point, and we prepare and file returns that accurately reflect all of your income sources. Where you run a private practice, clinic or medical business, we can prepare annual accounts, maintain bookkeeping, and handle payroll if you employ practice staff. VAT registration and returns are relevant to some doctors and not others, and we will advise on whether it applies to you based on your turnover and activities. For those operating through a limited company, we cover company accounts, Corporation Tax, directors’ responsibilities and the practical questions around salary and dividends. Where doctors work in partnership, we can prepare partnership accounts and allocate profits appropriately. Alongside the compliance work, we provide tax planning and management accounts so you can see how the practice or your portfolio is performing and plan ahead, including around pension considerations, where the interaction between your income and annual allowance can be a genuine planning issue. Everything is scoped to your circumstances rather than applied as a standard package.

Self Assessment Tax Returns

Preparation and support for doctors with employment, locum, private practice or other taxable income.

NHS & Private Income

Help organising accounting records where income comes from NHS work, private services, locum assignments or other professional activities.

Accurate records built around the way GP practices, partnerships and locum doctors actually work, with cloud software set up for you.

Tax Planning for Doctors & Consultants

Incorporation reviews for private practice, profit extraction, capital allowances and timing of income to keep your effective tax rate down.

Locum Tax & IR35 Support

Contract and IR35 status reviews, limited company versus sole trader comparisons and expense claims for locums working across multiple trusts.

Accounting and Tax Challenges Doctors Commonly Face

Doctors often carry a more complicated financial picture than their payslips suggest. NHS income, private fees, locum work and consultancy can all arrive in different ways and at different times, and each carries its own record-keeping and reporting expectations.

  • Combining NHS and private income means two very different streams to track, and getting the split right matters when it comes to reporting taxable income accurately.
  • Multiple income sources can push a doctor into higher tax bands or trigger pension annual allowance considerations, which are easy to overlook until a return is due.
  • Self Assessment deadlines sit outside the working year, so returns can be squeezed into an already full clinical schedule and details missed.
  • Allowable professional expenses are often under-claimed because doctors are unsure whether items such as medical indemnity, professional subscriptions, training and equipment qualify.
  • Medical indemnity and professional body subscriptions are common costs of practising, but their treatment depends on how and why they are incurred.
  • Travel and mileage between sites, practices or hospitals needs clear records, and the rules differ between employment and self-employment.
  • Pension considerations, including contributions made through NHS schemes and any private arrangements, can interact with your overall tax position in ways that benefit from forward planning.
  • Locum and consultancy income usually means registering for Self Assessment and understanding payments on account, which can catch doctors out in the first year.
  • Choosing between sole trader, partnership and limited company structures has long-term tax and administrative consequences, and the right answer depends on your income level and plans.
  • Partnership and practice finances bring additional complexity around profit shares, drawings, capital accounts and the timing of tax payments.
  • Record keeping is often the weakest link, particularly for doctors who are time-poor and juggling clinical work with paperwork.

Why Doctors Choose CruseBurke

Doctors generally do not need an accountant who simply files a return. They need someone who recognises how medical income actually works and can translate that into accurate reporting and sensible planning. We focus on the areas that matter most: managing multiple income sources, understanding which professional costs are genuinely allowable, keeping Self Assessment and any company or partnership filings on track, and making sure your bookkeeping supports the figures rather than fighting them. Just as importantly, we explain things clearly. Tax rules around pension contributions, expense claims or business structures can become technical quickly, and our role is to remove that friction so you understand your position without having to become an accountant yourself. We support doctors in different arrangements, from those who are employed and simply want their private income handled properly, to those running practices or companies with staff and payroll. The advice is tailored to your circumstances, and it adjusts as your career and working patterns change.

Healthcare Focus

We support GPs, locum doctors, consultants and other medical professionals with accounting and tax matters tailored to their individual circumstances.

Every Allowable Expense Claimed

GMC and indemnity fees, royal college subscriptions, exams, courses, equipment and mileage — nothing left on the table.

NHS Pension Specialists

We calculate your pension input amount, check tapering and advise on Scheme Pays before a charge becomes a problem.

IR35 & Locum Confidence

Status reviews on your engagements and a clear answer on limited company versus sole trader for your circumstances.

Deadlines Handled for You

Returns, accounts and payroll filed on time, with reminders well in advance so penalties never happen.

Fair, Fixed Fees

One agreed monthly fee, quoted up front, with no hourly billing and no surprise invoices.

Our Simple 3-Step Process for Doctors

Getting the right support in place does not need to be complicated. First, we take the time to understand your circumstances, including how you are employed, whether you have NHS income, private medical income, locum fees, consultancy earnings or a combination of these, and what structure you currently operate through. Second, we review your accounting and tax requirements in light of that picture, looking at your existing records, filing obligations, expense claims, and any pension or structural questions worth addressing. This is where we identify what needs to change and what simply needs to be maintained. Third, we put the appropriate accounting support in place, whether that is preparing and filing your Self Assessment return, setting up bookkeeping, running payroll, handling VAT or company accounts, or advising on structure and tax planning. From there, we keep your records organised and your filings on schedule as your working arrangements evolve.

1. Initial Consultation (It’s Free):

We begin by getting to know your practice and understanding your unique needs. This step ensures we have a clear picture of your operations and your goals.

2. Customised Plan:

Based on our initial discussion, we create a personalised plan designed specifically for you. The aim is to keep everything organised and easy to follow. You can rest assured that your numbers are being handled with expert precision.

3. Ongoing Support & Updates:

From there, we take care of the ongoing work and keep you updated with reports. You’ll always know what’s happening, and we’re always here to answer your questions, ensuring you have a clear picture of your financial health at all times.

What Makes CruseBurke Different for Doctors

What sets us apart is the way we approach complexity. Doctors frequently hold several income streams at once, and each one can carry different reporting requirements, different deadlines and different expense rules. Rather than treating your affairs as a single tax return, we look at the whole picture: employed income and its tax treatment, self-employed locum or consultancy earnings, private practice profits, partnership shares and company income where relevant. That wider view allows us to separate allowable professional costs from personal expenditure correctly, keep records structured in a way that stands up to scrutiny, and identify planning points before they become problems. We also recognise that medical careers change. Moving from training into a substantive post, from employment into full-time private practice, or from sole trader into a limited company all shift the accounting and tax landscape. Our support is designed to keep pace with those changes, with clear communication and practical advice rather than jargon.

Technology Driven

We use Xero, Quickbooks, Sage & many other online software.

Dedicated Medical Accountant

Meet, call or email the same qualified accountant who knows your practice and your pension position.

Unlimited Support

Free telephone & email support
throughout the year.

Experienced Team

Our team have over 100 years of combined experienced.

Free - Email Reminders

Never Miss any deadline with our automated email reminders.

Yes, We Are Chartered!

We’re an ICAEW, ACCA & AAT accredited Firm.

How to Switch to Our Doctor Accountants

Take a back seat and let our specialist healthcare accountants handle everything. Switching part way through the year is straightforward and you never need to speak to your old accountant:

Get in touch

Reach out to us, and we’ll discuss your needs and how we can help your healthcare practice thrive.

Letter of Engagement

We’ll send over a simple letter to formalise our partnership and get everything in motion.

Previous Accountants

If you're switching, we’ll take care of contacting your previous accountants to make the transition smooth.

We Do the Rest

From there, sit back and relax. We’ll manage your accounts, taxes, and everything in between, keeping your practice running smoothly.

FAQs

Not every doctor does, but many benefit from one. If you are employed only and taxed through PAYE with no additional income, your affairs may be straightforward. As soon as you take on locum work, private consultations, consultancy or partnership income, you have a Self Assessment obligation and often several income sources to reconcile. An accountant can help you report that correctly, claim the expenses you are entitled to, and plan around the tax consequences.

Your NHS employment is usually taxed through PAYE, while private fees, locum work and consultancy income are typically reported through Self Assessment. The two interact, so your final tax position depends on your combined income across the tax year. Because your PAYE code rarely reflects private earnings accurately, there is often a balancing payment due, and payments on account may also apply.

It depends on whether a cost is incurred wholly and exclusively for your work and on whether the income is employment or self-employment. Costs such as medical indemnity insurance, professional body subscriptions, required training and professional development, specialist equipment, and travel between work locations may be relevant. Employment expenses are subject to stricter rules than self-employed expenses, so it is worth reviewing your particular situation rather than assuming.

Yes. Locum work generally means registering for Self Assessment, keeping records of fees and expenses, and understanding how payments on account work. These advance payments towards your next bill frequently surprise doctors in their first year of self-employment, because they come on top of the tax already owed. We can explain the position and help you plan cash flow around it.

There is no single answer, because it depends on your income level, how many people you work with, how you take money out of the business, and your longer-term plans. A limited company can suit some private practitioners and consultants, while sole trader or partnership status may be simpler and equally tax-efficient in other cases. We look at the numbers and the practicalities before recommending a structure.

VAT registration depends on your taxable turnover and the nature of your services, and it applies to some doctors and not others. Many purely medical services are exempt, while certain consultancy, medico-legal or advisory services may be treated differently. If your turnover is approaching the registration threshold, it is worth reviewing before you cross it rather than afterwards.

Pension contributions can reduce your taxable income, but the interaction between your earnings and the annual allowance can be complex, particularly for doctors with high income from combined NHS and private work. Charges can apply where contributions exceed the allowance. Because the rules are detailed, we review your position as part of wider tax planning rather than in isolation.

Yes. Accounting support can be delivered remotely with documents shared securely, which suits doctors working varied rotas. If you are moving from another accountant, we can handle the handover, including requesting professional clearance and obtaining the information needed to pick up your records cleanly. A short initial conversation is usually the best way to establish whether we are a good fit.

Speak to an Expert

Get Your Medical Income Organised with Accountants for Doctors in Harpenden

If your tax affairs have grown more complicated than your payslip suggests, whether that is locum fees, private practice income, NHS earnings or consultancy work sitting alongside each other, CruseBurke can help you bring it all into order. We can prepare and file your Self Assessment accurately, review the professional expenses you are entitled to claim, and keep your bookkeeping structured so the figures are ready when deadlines arrive. A straightforward conversation about your circumstances is often the quickest way to see what needs attention, and it costs nothing to find out where you stand.