Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Accountants for Dentists in Brentwood: Specialist Tax and Practice Accounting Support
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Built Around the Way Dentists and Dental Practices Actually Work
Associate & Private Dentists
Self-assessment, allowable expense claims, lab fees and superannuation reconciliation for self-employed associates and private dentists.
Dental Practice Owners & Principals
Practice accounts, payroll for nurses and receptionists, UDA income monitoring, cash flow and profit extraction planning.
Orthodontists & Specialists
Accounting for referral-based and specialist practices, including capital allowances on equipment and VAT on cosmetic treatment.
Squat Practices & Dental Start-Ups
Cash flow forecasts for lenders, company formation, cloud software set-up and registration for new and squat dental practices.
Accounting and Tax Services for Dentists and Dental Practice Owners
Bookkeeping for Dental Practices
We reconcile NHS schedules, private takings, plan income such as Denplan and card receipts so you always know what the practice is really earning.
VAT for Dental Practices
Most dental treatment is VAT exempt, but cosmetic work, teeth whitening and product sales are not. We handle partial exemption and get your returns right.
Self-Assessment for Associate Dentists
We prepare associate tax returns, claim every allowable expense from GDC fees and indemnity to CPD and lab costs, and reconcile superannuation deductions.
Dental Payroll, Auto-Enrolment & NHS Pension
Payroll for nurses, hygienists and reception staff, plus auto-enrolment, statutory pay and NHS Pension submissions handled on time every month.
Practice Accounts & Profitability Reporting
Management accounts that show profit per surgery, per associate and per income stream, so you can see exactly where the practice makes money.
Common Accounting and Tax Considerations for Dental Practices
Dental accounting often involves more moving parts than a straightforward salary or single-stream business, and the details that matter tend to follow the way you work and how your practice is structured. Some of the areas that commonly need attention include:
- Separating and reconciling NHS and private dental income, including contract payments and private treatment fees, so that records reflect the correct source of each payment.
- Associate dentist arrangements, where the split between practice fees, lab costs, materials and your own retained income needs to be tracked accurately for tax purposes.
- Professional expenses such as indemnity and defence cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, continuing professional development, and clinical clothing, some of which may be allowable and some not, depending on the circumstances.
- Dental equipment, fit-out costs and capital expenditure, where the tax treatment can differ between revenue costs and capital items, and where capital allowances may be relevant.
- Staff payroll and employment costs, including payrolled benefits, pension contributions, and the employment tax obligations that come with employing clinical and non-clinical staff.
- VAT considerations, which can be particularly nuanced for dental practices because the tax treatment of different services may not be uniform and depends on the nature of what is provided.
- Practice finances and cash flow, where large outgoings such as equipment, premises costs and associate payments do not always align neatly with when income arrives.
- Business structure decisions, including whether operating as a sole trader, partnership or limited company remains appropriate as profits, risk and retirement plans change.
- Self Assessment and company tax administration, including meeting filing and payment obligations accurately when a dentist has multiple income sources.
Why Dentists in Brentwood Work With CruseBurke
Genuine Dental Expertise
We know UDAs, superannuation, associate agreements and GDC costs without being told.
Built Around Your Practice
Associates, principals and multi-site groups each get a different service, not a template.
Fixed, Transparent Fees
One agreed monthly fee with no hourly billing and no surprises at year end.
Proactive Dental Tax Planning
Incorporation reviews, capital allowances on equipment and profit extraction planned in advance.
Named Accountant, Real Answers
You deal with the same qualified person every time, by phone or email, not a call centre.
A Track Record Since Before WWII
Our roots go back further than the Second World War and we act for dental clients across London.
A Straightforward Three-Step Process for Dental Clients
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.
Professional Standards and a Practically Minded Approach
Technology Driven
Cloud accounting linked to your practice software so your figures are current, not six months old.
Named Dental Accountant
A dedicated accountant for dentists who knows your practice, your contract and your plans.
Ongoing Support
Unlimited support by phone and email, including quick answers on UDA and superannuation queries.
Experienced Team
Our team has over 100 years of combined accountancy experience.
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 Dental Accountants
Take a back seat and let our London dental accountants handle everything. Switching mid-year is straightforward and you do not need to speak to your old accountant:
Get in touch
Reach out to us and we will discuss your practice, your contract and how we can help.
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
It is not compulsory, but many associate dentists choose to work with an accountant because their income is rarely as simple as a single monthly figure. Payments from a practice may be subject to deductions for lab fees, materials and other costs, and you may also have private income, locum work or expenses to account for. An accountant can help ensure your records reflect what you actually earned, identify expenses that may be allowable, and prepare and file your Self Assessment tax return accurately.
Yes. Where you receive both NHS and private income, it is important that the two are recorded separately and reconciled properly, because payments arrive on different schedules and through different routes. Bookkeeping that cleanly separates these streams makes it easier to understand practice performance, complete accurate tax returns and respond to queries from HMRC or your bank. The exact treatment can vary depending on whether income is received personally, through a partnership or through a limited company.
Dental practice accounting often covers annual accounts, Corporation Tax where the practice is incorporated, payroll for clinical and non-clinical staff, bookkeeping, VAT support where applicable, and guidance on equipment purchases and premises costs. Practice owners may also want support with partner drawings, profit extraction, and planning around buying or selling a practice. Which services are needed depends on the structure, size and activities of the practice.
Expenses such as indemnity and defence cover, professional body subscriptions and continuing professional development are commonly claimed by dentists, but whether a particular cost is allowable depends on the nature of the expense, your employment or self-employment status, and the rules in force. Some costs incurred by employed dentists may be claimable through tax relief rather than through a business, and in certain situations relief is not available at all. Your records should support any claim you make.
There is no single answer, because the most suitable structure depends on your profits, the number of principals or partners, how you want to take income, your attitude to risk and your longer-term plans. A limited company, a partnership and sole trader status each carry different tax, administrative and liability consequences. It is worth reviewing the position periodically, as circumstances change over the course of a dental career.
VAT depends on your turnover and on the nature of the services you provide. Some dental services are exempt while others may be standard-rated, so the position can be more complex than for a typical retail or service business. Where registration is required, practices need to consider which income streams are in scope, how to handle partial exemption, and how to keep records that support the returns. Whether VAT applies should be assessed on your specific facts.
Typically, an accountant will ask for details of your working arrangement, your income sources, previous accounts and tax returns, bank and card statements, details of practice drawings or dividends, payroll information if you employ staff, and records of significant purchases such as equipment. If you are switching accountants, authorisation to act on your behalf is also required. The exact list depends on whether you are an individual dentist or a practice.
Yes, switching accountants is a normal process. Once you decide to move, your new accountant requests the relevant information and professional clearance from your previous adviser, and then confirms what is outstanding so that filing obligations and deadlines are not missed during the transition. It helps to make the switch at a sensible point in the year, and to have your records reasonably up to date.