Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Accountants for Dentists in Caterham: Specialist Tax and Accounting Support for Dental Professionals
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Who We Support: Dentists and Dental Practices in Caterham
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 Arise in Dental Practices
Dental accounting can involve a mix of income streams, employment arrangements and business structures, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works well. The points below are common considerations, but not every dentist or practice will face all of them, and how they apply depends on your own circumstances.
- Separating NHS and private dental income so that each stream is recorded clearly and can be reviewed accurately
- Accounting for associate dentist arrangements, including self-employed income, UDA or fee-based work and any deductions applied by the practice
- Tracking professional expenses such as indemnity cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, and continuing professional development costs
- Managing equipment and capital expenditure, including how purchases, replacements and repairs are treated for tax purposes
- Running staff payroll for receptionists, dental nurses, hygienists and employed associates, including pension duties where applicable
- Keeping bookkeeping, financial records and VAT records organised where registration applies, and staying on top of Self Assessment or company filing obligations
Why Dentists in Caterham Choose 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 Dentists
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 Support Built Around Dental Practices
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
Many associate dentists are treated as self-employed for tax purposes, which means registering with HMRC, filing a Self Assessment tax return each year and keeping records of income and allowable expenses. An accountant can help you record NHS and private income correctly, claim the expenses you are entitled to, and make sure payments on account are understood so a tax bill does not come as a surprise. If your arrangements are unusual, or you also hold an employed position, the position can differ, so it is worth checking how your own engagement is treated.
Both streams usually need to be recorded, but they are often best kept separate so you can see how each part of the practice or your working week performs. NHS income may arrive through a contract or an associate arrangement, while private income may come from treatment fees, plans or referrals, and the record keeping for each can differ. Separating them properly also helps when reviewing profitability, planning for tax and answering queries from HMRC or a lender.
Yes. Practice payroll can include receptionists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, practice managers and employed associates, each of which may fall under PAYE with Real Time Information reporting. Where automatic enrolment duties apply, pension administration can form part of the service too, along with the treatment of employer costs in the practice accounts. If your associates are self-employed rather than employed, that distinction matters and should be reviewed carefully.
Common claims include indemnity or professional liability cover, GDC registration and professional body subscriptions, continuing professional development, clinical clothing and laundry, some travel and equipment costs, and a proportion of home costs where you work from home. What is allowable depends on whether the expense is wholly and exclusively for your work and on your business structure, so a claim that suits one dentist may not be appropriate for another. Good records make this far easier to establish.
Whether registration is required depends on the level and nature of your taxable turnover, and certain dental services, including some NHS treatment, may be exempt from VAT. That means the position is not always straightforward, particularly where a practice mixes NHS work, private treatment and the sale of goods such as whitening products or oral care items. We can review your turnover and supplies and explain what applies to your practice before any decision is made.
There is no single answer that suits every dentist. A sole trader structure is straightforward but leaves profits taxed through Self Assessment, a partnership spreads ownership and reporting across partners, and a limited company introduces Corporation Tax, formal accounts and different rules on taking money out of the business. The right choice can depend on your income level, whether you own the practice premises or goodwill, and your longer-term plans, so it is worth reviewing before you commit.
Usually we would look at your previous accounts or tax returns, details of your income sources including NHS and private work, records of expenses, bank statements and any payroll or VAT information if applicable. For a practice, information on equipment, premises costs, staff and any finance agreements is also useful. If you are moving across from another accountant, we can discuss what needs to be requested on your behalf so the handover is as smooth as possible.
In most cases, yes. A change of accountant is a routine process and normally involves letting your existing adviser know and arranging for records and professional clearance to be passed across. Once everything is in place, we review the previous filings and records to make sure we understand your position before taking the work forward. It is also a good opportunity to review whether anything in your current structure or record keeping could be improved.