Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Accountants for Dentists in Brighton
4.9/5.0
Google Reviews
⭐ What Clients Say About Us
See what doctors, dentists, and care providers say about working with us.
Accounting Support for Dentists and Dental Practices in Brighton
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.
Our Accounting Services for Dentists and Dental Practices
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.
Accounting and Tax Considerations That Can Affect Dentists
Dental accounting is not simply a matter of adding up treatment fees. How you are engaged, the mix of NHS and private income, and the structure you trade through all influence how figures should be recorded and reported. The points below are common considerations rather than a checklist that applies to every dentist or practice.
- Managing NHS and private dental income so each stream is recorded separately and reported accurately
- Associate dentist arrangements, from UDA or percentage-based pay to the expenses that may be offset against that income
- Professional costs such as indemnity cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, and continuing professional development
- Dental equipment, surgery fit-outs and other capital purchases, where the tax treatment can depend on the type of asset and how it is used in the business
- Practice payroll for hygienists, nurses and reception staff, along with the wider employment costs that come with running a team
- Business structure, bookkeeping and VAT, including whether a sole trader, partnership or limited company setup suits your circumstances and whether registration is required
Why Dentists Choose CruseBurke for Their Accounting
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.
Our Simple Three-Step Approach to Dental Accounting
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 Accounting Support Built Around Dentists
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
You are not obliged to use a specialist, but associate dentists often have a mix of income that a general accountant may not routinely deal with. If you are paid a percentage of NHS or private fees, receive a UDA-related amount, or have several practices paying you separately, each source and any related expenses need to be recorded correctly on your tax return. An accountant familiar with associate arrangements can help you keep those records organised, make sure the right expenses are claimed where they are allowable, and check that payments on account and any tax already deducted are properly reflected.
For a self-employed dentist, both NHS and private treatment income are generally treated as taxable trading income, but they often arrive on different cycles and are documented in different ways. NHS payments may follow contract or activity schedules, while private fees come through the practice or your own billing. Keeping the two streams distinguishable makes it easier to reconcile what you have earned and to answer queries from HMRC if they arise. Where you are an employee rather than self-employed, the position is different again, as tax is usually handled through payroll. The right treatment depends on your contract and working arrangement.
Each structure has different implications for tax, administrative obligations, how profits are taken, and the level of publicly available information about your business. A sole trader setup is relatively simple, partnerships suit dentists working together and sharing premises or costs, and a limited company can be appropriate where you want a formal separation between the business and your personal affairs. There is no single answer that suits every practice, and the right choice can change as profits, staffing or retirement plans develop. We can talk through the practical differences so you can decide with a clear picture of what each option involves.
The general principle is that costs must be incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business or, for employees, be allowable against employment income. Dentists commonly look at items such as indemnity or professional liability cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, continuing professional development, specialist clothing and equipment, professional journals, and certain travel costs. Some items, including equipment and larger purchases, may instead fall under capital allowances rules, and mixed personal and business use can complicate matters. Because individual circumstances differ, it is worth reviewing your outgoings with an accountant before assuming something can be claimed.
Yes. Payroll for a dental practice can include hygienists, therapists, nurses, reception and administrative staff, and in some cases associate dentists who are engaged as employees. Payroll work covers calculating pay, dealing with tax and National Insurance through the relevant reporting, handling pension duties where they apply, and producing the information needed for year-end submissions. If you have a combination of salaried staff and self-employed associates, it is important that each person is treated correctly, as the distinction affects what must be reported and deducted.
VAT registration depends on your taxable turnover measured against the current registration threshold, and on whether the services you provide are exempt, standard-rated or zero-rated. Most clinical dental treatment is exempt from VAT, but other activities a practice carries out, such as the sale of certain cosmetic treatments, dental products or laboratory work, may not be. This can make VAT a more complex area for dental businesses than for many other sectors. If you are approaching the threshold, or are unsure whether a particular service is exempt, it is worth reviewing your position before you register or before you assume you do not need to.
Yes, there is no need to wait for a particular date, although it is often easier to change once your records for the previous period are complete and any outstanding returns have been filed. In most cases, the new accountant contacts the previous firm to obtain professional clearance and the information needed to take over the record-keeping. It also helps to gather your bookkeeping, bank statements, previous accounts and returns, and details of any correspondence with HMRC, so the handover can be handled without gaps.
It depends on whether you are an associate, a principal, a partner or a practice owner, but a useful starting point is your most recent tax return, accounts or self-employment records, details of all income sources including NHS and private work, and a summary of regular expenses such as indemnity cover and subscriptions. Practice owners would also typically provide payroll information, VAT records where registered, details of equipment or premises costs, and any HMRC correspondence. Once we have a picture of your situation, we can tell you exactly what is needed and how the ongoing record-keeping will work.