Accountants for Dentists in Brighton

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.