Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Accountants for Dentists in Cleadon: Specialist Tax and Accounting Support for Dental Professionals
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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 Built Around Dental Work
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 often involves a blend of income streams, working arrangements and business structures, which is why accounts prepared for one dentist can look very different from another's. The areas below are the ones that most commonly need attention, although which of them apply to you depends on how you work and how your practice is set up.
- NHS and private income: NHS contract payments, private treatment fees, plan payments and laboratory charges may need recording and reconciling separately, which can affect how turnover and profit are reported.
- Associate dentist arrangements: many associates are self-employed, and the way the associate agreement splits fees, materials, laboratory costs and practice-paid expenses can influence what belongs in your accounts and on your tax return.
- Professional expenses and indemnity costs: registration and indemnity cover, professional subscriptions, continuing professional development and clinical clothing may be allowable in certain situations, while other costs are not, so keeping receipts and records matters.
- Equipment, premises and capital expenditure: practice equipment, fit-outs and property costs may fall under capital allowances or repairs and renewals depending on the circumstances, and larger purchases often benefit from planning rather than being treated as routine expenses.
- Payroll, staff costs and VAT: dental nurses, reception teams, hygienists and associates paid through the practice bring PAYE and pension obligations, and whether VAT registration is required depends on taxable turnover and how services are structured.
- Structure and tax administration: partnerships, limited companies, multiple income sources and Self Assessment deadlines each carry different reporting requirements, and dividends, drawings or profit shares may need planning before the year end rather than after it.
Why Dentists Choose CruseBurke for Their Accounting
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 Simple Three-Step Process, From First Conversation to Ongoing Support
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.
Clear, Reliable Support From an Accountancy Team That Understands Dental Work
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
The work usually covers both the day-to-day and the year-end side of dental accounting. That can include bookkeeping, Self Assessment tax returns for self-employed dentists and partners, annual accounts, Corporation Tax for dental practice limited companies, payroll for practice staff and VAT returns where applicable. Support can also extend to tax planning around profit extraction, equipment purchases, taking on an associate or changing your business structure. What you need in practice depends on how you work and whether you operate as a sole trader, a partner, a limited company or an employee.
Many associates are treated as self-employed, so that income is usually reported through Self Assessment rather than PAYE. Fee splits, materials, laboratory charges and any expenses you personally cover can all affect the figures, so it helps to keep the associate agreement, monthly payment summaries and supporting receipts together. NHS and private income streams are often recorded separately and reconciled, which makes it easier to see what is genuinely yours once practice deductions have been taken into account.
Often they do. A principal dentist may be running a practice payroll, managing an NHS contract alongside private work, claiming capital allowances on equipment and dealing with VAT, which brings a broader set of obligations than those of a self-employed associate. Where the practice trades through a limited company, statutory accounts, Corporation Tax and director reporting come into play, and how profits are withdrawn may need planning. Partnerships bring their own profit allocation and reporting considerations.
Allowable expenses depend on your circumstances, but the areas that come up most often include professional registration and indemnity cover, professional subscriptions, continuing professional development that maintains existing skills, and clinical clothing where the relevant conditions are met. Equipment and larger purchases are frequently handled through capital allowances instead of straightforward expense claims. Everyday costs such as ordinary clothing, personal travel and entertaining are generally not allowable, and items with mixed personal and business use need to be looked at individually.
Payroll and VAT support can be built into the arrangement for practices that need it. Payroll typically covers dental nurses, reception and administrative staff, hygienists and any associates paid through the practice, along with the associated PAYE and pension administration. VAT registration depends on taxable turnover and how your services are structured, so whether it applies to your practice is something to confirm rather than assume.
It is usually worth speaking to an accountant before terms are agreed rather than after completion. The structure of the purchase or sale, how goodwill and equipment are treated, whether the practice is incorporated and how the transaction is financed can each affect the tax position. Early involvement can also help with due diligence, projections and deciding whether your existing structure still suits the way the practice will operate.
For a self-employed or associate dentist, that usually means details of your income sources, your associate agreement, bank statements, expense records and any previous tax returns or HMRC correspondence. Practice owners may also need payroll records, VAT returns, management information and the latest accounts. If you trade through a limited company, company registration details, existing statutory accounts and information on directors and shareholders are helpful. Where records are incomplete, that is often something that can be worked through as part of an initial review.
In most cases a change can be arranged at any point in the year, although the timing can affect what work is already in progress. The usual process involves confirming your position with your current accountant, obtaining any professional clearance required and gathering the records needed to continue. Bringing a new accountant in ahead of a filing deadline tends to make the handover smoother, but it can be managed at other times as well.