Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Specialist Accountants for Dentists in Bristol Avon
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Which Dentists and Dental Practices We Support
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 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 Considerations That Can Affect Dentists and Dental Practices
Dental accounting is not simply a matter of adding up income and deducting costs. The way your earnings arrive, the structure you trade through and the costs you carry as a professional can all influence how your figures should be treated, and different dentists will face different combinations of these issues.
- Keeping NHS and private dental income clearly separated so that each stream is recorded and reported accurately.
- Associate dentist arrangements, including associate agreements, practice deductions and how self-employed earnings are reported.
- Professional expenses such as indemnity cover, professional body subscriptions and CPD costs, and whether they can be claimed depending on the circumstances.
- Dental equipment, materials and larger capital purchases, including how these are treated and whether capital allowances may be available.
- Payroll and employment costs for practice staff, associates paid through the practice, hygienists and administrative teams.
- Bookkeeping, VAT considerations for mixed NHS and private practices, and the practical differences between sole trader, partnership and limited company structures.
Why Dentists in Bristol Avon 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.
Our Simple 3-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.
Built Around the Practical Realities of Dental Accounting
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
In most cases, yes. If you receive self-employed income as an associate dentist, a locum or a practice owner trading as a sole trader or partner, you will usually need to register with HMRC and report that income through Self Assessment. The return covers your dental earnings, allowable business expenses and any other taxable income, and the liability is calculated from those figures. If you also have employment income, savings, property or dividend income, these may need to be included too. We can prepare and submit the return on your behalf and explain what is due and when, based on your particular circumstances.
Associate dentists are commonly engaged on a self-employed basis, which means their share of fees is treated as trading income rather than salary. That income is reported on a Self Assessment tax return, and tax and National Insurance are calculated on the profits after allowable expenses, which can include indemnity cover, professional subscriptions and certain equipment or travel costs. Where a practice makes deductions, such as for materials, laboratory work or administrative support, it helps to keep those records clear. Arrangements vary, so the treatment should always reflect your actual contract and working pattern.
Yes. Mixed NHS and private income is common in dental practice, and it brings its own record-keeping demands. We can help you keep each stream clearly identified in your bookkeeping, understand how the figures feed into your accounts and tax returns, and consider whether VAT registration may be relevant where private work forms part of your turnover. The correct treatment can depend on how the practice is structured and what is being supplied, so we look at your specific position rather than applying a blanket rule.
It depends on how the practice is set up. A sole trader or partnership practice will generally need well-kept bookkeeping and a Self Assessment return, along with payroll if staff are employed and VAT returns where applicable. A limited company practice will usually need annual accounts, a Corporation Tax computation and confirmation statement, plus payroll and VAT support where relevant. Practice owners may also want help with cash flow planning, equipment purchases, drawings or dividends, and longer-term tax planning around the practice itself.
Expenses that are incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of your dental work may be allowable, and this often includes indemnity cover, professional body and registration fees, CPD that maintains your existing skills, clinical equipment and materials, and certain travel between practice locations. Capital items are treated differently from day-to-day costs and may attract capital allowances instead of a straightforward deduction. Because the rules depend on what the expense was for and how it was used, it is worth keeping receipts, invoices and a clear description of each cost.
There is no single answer that suits every dentist. A sole trader arrangement is straightforward to run, a partnership shares responsibility between principals, and a limited company can offer a different tax and profit-extraction position along with additional reporting obligations. The right structure can depend on your level of profits, whether you own the practice premises, how you want to take money out of the business, and your plans for the future. We can talk through the practical and tax implications of each option without assuming one is automatically better.
To get started, we would typically ask for details of your contracts and working arrangements, your income records, your expense records, any previous accounts or tax returns, and information on payroll or VAT if these apply to you. If you are moving from another accountant, we can usually handle the handover by requesting the relevant information from them, with your authority, and picking up any outstanding filings. The aim is to make the transition orderly so your accounting position stays clear throughout.