Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Accountants for Dentists in Burgess Hill: Specialist Tax and Accounting Support
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Accounting Support for Dentists and Dental Practices in Burgess Hill
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 and Tax Services for Dentists
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 Arise in Dental Practice
Dental accounting often involves more moving parts than a single salary, and the practical issues that come up tend to reflect how a dentist works rather than the profession as a whole. The points below are common considerations rather than universal rules, and only some may apply to you depending on your role, income sources and business structure.
- Reconciling NHS and private dental income, including associate pay arrangements and the timing of payments
- Recording professional expenses such as indemnity cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, and continuing education costs
- Accounting for dental equipment, surgery fit-outs and other capital expenditure, and whether relief is available
- Running payroll for practice staff, associates, hygienists and reception teams, along with the associated employment costs
- Maintaining bookkeeping and financial records that stand up to scrutiny and make tax reporting straightforward
- VAT considerations where a practice supplies mixed services, and whether registration is required or advantageous
- Managing practice cash flow, drawings and profit extraction across partnerships or limited company structures
- Meeting Self Assessment and filing obligations when income comes from several sources at once
Why Dentists and Practice Owners 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 Way to Get Started
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, Practical Support and a Tailored 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
NHS and private income usually need to be recorded separately so that each can be reported correctly and reconciled against the payments actually received. Where you work as an associate, this may also involve matching your agreed percentage or sessional arrangement to the amounts showing on practice statements. Where you own a practice, the accounting needs to reflect contract income, private treatment fees and any other revenue the practice generates. Getting the recording structure right at the start makes tax reporting, VAT considerations and performance reporting far more reliable later on, particularly if your income mix changes during the year.
Associate dentists are often self-employed for tax purposes, which means registering with HMRC, filing a Self Assessment tax return and keeping records of income and allowable expenses. Relevant expenses can include indemnity cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, professional development and travel between practices, depending on the circumstances. If you also hold an employed role, or receive income from other sources, more than one part of the return may apply to you. Many associates also want help understanding payments on account, so the tax bill does not arrive as a surprise.
There is no single answer, because it depends on how the practice is owned, how profits are shared, how many principals are involved and what the owners want to achieve. Partnerships are common where two or more dentists run a practice together, while a limited company structure may suit certain practices and profit extraction preferences. Each route carries different filing, reporting and tax considerations, and the position can change as a practice grows or as owners' circumstances shift. It is usually worth reviewing the structure periodically rather than treating an early decision as permanent.
Broadly, you should keep records of all income received and all costs incurred in carrying on your profession, along with supporting documentation such as invoices, bank statements, contracts and practice statements. Typical dental-related costs can include indemnity or professional insurance, registration and subscription fees, clinical equipment, laboratory work and certain training costs, though whether an item is allowable depends on the specific facts. Some expenditure is treated as capital rather than revenue, which affects how and when relief may be available. Keeping records organised through the year makes both the tax return and any future enquiry far easier to deal with.
Yes, practice payroll is a common requirement, covering dentists, hygienists, nurses, reception and administrative teams, and it involves calculating pay, deductions and employer costs while meeting reporting obligations to HMRC. VAT is a separate question and depends on the services a practice supplies and its taxable turnover, so registration is not automatic and not always beneficial. Where a practice provides a mix of NHS and private treatment, the VAT position can be more involved than it first appears, and the treatment should be reviewed against the specific facts rather than assumed.
Switching usually involves giving authority for your previous accountant to release information, then transferring records, prior filings and accounting software access across. There is often a catch-up element, particularly if bookkeeping has fallen behind, so bringing historical information up to date is generally part of the process. Once records are in order, the focus moves to current filings and deadlines. If you are unsure what has already been submitted to HMRC, that can be checked as part of the handover so nothing is overlooked.
Fees are normally based on the scope of work involved rather than a flat rate applied to every dentist, because an associate with straightforward self-employment income has a very different workload from a practice with staff, premises and VAT. Relevant factors can include the number of income sources, whether annual accounts and Corporation Tax are required, payroll headcount, VAT status and how well records are maintained. We set out the basis of our fees before work begins so there are no unexpected costs, and the arrangement can be adjusted if your circumstances change.
A good starting point is a clear picture of how you work, including your contracts or associate agreements, your practice structure if you are an owner, and details of all income sources such as NHS contract payments, private fees, employment or partnership income. It also helps to have recent bank statements, records of professional expenses, and copies of previous tax returns or accounts if available. If you use accounting software or practice management systems, access to those speeds things up considerably. From there we can identify what needs doing first and set out a sensible order for getting everything up to date.