Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Accountants for Dentists in Chigwell
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Accounting Support Built Around Dentistry, Not General Practice
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.
Specialist 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.
Financial and Accounting Considerations for Dental Practices
Dental finances tend to involve more moving parts than many other professions, and the right treatment often depends on how you are engaged, what you earn and how your business is set up. A few recurring areas are worth understanding.
- Separating NHS and private income so that each stream is recorded, reported and reviewed accurately
- Accounting for associate dentist arrangements, including self-employed status and percentage-based pay
- Recording professional expenses such as indemnity cover, GDC and professional body subscriptions, and continuing education
- Handling dental equipment, materials and capital expenditure, including how costs may be treated for tax purposes
- Running staff payroll, pensions and employment costs where the practice employs hygienists, nurses or reception staff
- Maintaining bookkeeping and financial records that stand up to scrutiny and support informed decisions
- Considering VAT where registration thresholds are met or likely to be met, and how mixed income is treated
- Managing practice cash flow, drawings and profit planning across the financial year
Practical Support, Clear Communication and a Dental-Focused Approach
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 Process
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 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
If you are a self-employed dentist, including most associate dentists working on a self-employed basis, you will usually need to register with HMRC and file a Self Assessment tax return each year. That return needs to reflect all your income sources, which for many dentists includes more than one practice, and any other taxable income you may have. Keeping accurate records of income and allowable expenses throughout the year makes the return far easier to prepare and reduces the risk of errors or queries from HMRC.
An associate dentist is often self-employed and paid a percentage of treatment income, so the focus tends to be on recording income across one or more practices, tracking allowable expenses such as indemnity cover and professional subscriptions, and filing an accurate Self Assessment return. A principal dentist or practice owner usually has additional layers, including staff payroll, practice overheads, equipment costs, and where the practice trades through a limited company, annual accounts and Corporation Tax. The two positions are quite different, and the accounting work should reflect that.
It helps to keep NHS and private income separately identifiable in the bookkeeping from the outset, because they can behave differently in terms of timing, contractual arrangements and reporting. Where a practice holds an NHS contract alongside private work, understanding how the two streams interact supports better profit analysis and more informed decisions about the practice. The exact treatment depends on whether you are an individual, a partnership or a limited company.
Yes. Bookkeeping for a dental practice typically involves recording treatment income, NHS contract payments, materials and laboratory costs, staff wages, practice premises costs and other overheads in a consistent way. Doing this properly throughout the year means annual accounts and tax returns are based on reliable figures rather than a last-minute scramble through receipts. It also gives you a clearer view of how the practice is performing month to month.
VAT registration depends on your taxable turnover and the nature of the services you provide, so whether a dental practice needs to register, and how mixed income is treated, varies from case to case. Some dental services may be exempt while others are standard-rated, which can make the position more nuanced than it first appears. If you are approaching a registration threshold or you are already VAT registered, it is worth reviewing how your income and costs are categorised.
Yes. Dentists operate through a range of structures, including sole trader, partnership and limited company, and each brings its own reporting and tax obligations. A limited company generally involves annual accounts and a Corporation Tax return, while a partnership requires a partnership return alongside the individual partners' Self Assessment returns. The right structure depends on your circumstances, and it is worth reviewing periodically as your income and practice arrangements change.
It helps to have a picture of how you practise, where your income comes from and what structure you operate under, along with any existing accounts, tax returns and bookkeeping records. Details of practice income, expenses such as indemnity cover and professional subscriptions, and any payroll or VAT information are also useful. If your records are incomplete, that is not a barrier — part of the process is often putting things in order before moving forward.
Switching accountants is generally more straightforward than people expect. Once you decide to move, your new accountant typically contacts your existing one to request professional clearance and the relevant records, so you do not have to manage that exchange yourself. The main thing is to make the change at a sensible point in the year and to hand over complete information, which helps keep your filing obligations on track during the transition.