Specialist Accountants for Dentists & Dental Practices
Specialist Accountants for Dentists in Cramlington
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Accounting Support for Every Type of Dental Professional
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 Practice Life
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 in Dental Practice
Dental accounting carries a few quirks that are easy to overlook if your records are handled as though you were any other service business. Income often arrives from more than one direction, spending ranges from small consumables to significant equipment purchases, and the tax treatment can turn on how you are engaged and what structure you trade through. The areas below are the ones that most commonly need attention.
- Recording NHS dental income and private treatment fees separately and accurately
- Understanding how associate dentist arrangements and pay structures affect your tax position
- Tracking professional expenses such as indemnity cover, GDC registration and professional subscriptions
- Accounting for dental equipment, surgery fit-outs and other capital expenditure
- Running practice payroll and employment costs where staff are employed, including associate payments where relevant
- Reviewing VAT on mixed NHS and private services and whether your business structure still fits how the practice operates
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.
Our Simple 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 Accounting Support Designed Around Dentistry
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
Associate dentists are often treated as self-employed for tax purposes, which normally means registering with HMRC and filing a Self Assessment tax return each year, even where tax is deducted from some payments at source. If you work across more than one practice, receive a mix of NHS and private income, or have expenses such as indemnity cover and professional subscriptions, an accountant can help you work out what is taxable, what may be claimed and whether payments on account apply to you. Whether that level of support is worthwhile depends on how complex your affairs are, but many associates find it useful to have the figures checked and explained rather than filed on assumption.
Both NHS and private dental income are generally taxable, but how they are reported depends on whether you are employed, self-employed or operating through a limited company, and on the terms of your contract or associate agreement. NHS income may include contract payments, UDA-related amounts or other contractual elements, while private income comes from patient fees and treatment plans. Because the treatment can differ between arrangements, the right approach is usually determined by your specific circumstances rather than by a single rule that applies to everyone.
Yes. Bookkeeping and payroll are among the areas we support most often for dental practices. That can involve recording income from NHS and private sources, tracking surgery and equipment costs, processing staff wages, pensions and PAYE where you employ a team, and preparing figures in a format that feeds cleanly into your year-end accounts. How much help you need will depend on whether you keep records in-house, use accounting software yourself, or would prefer the work handled for you.
There is no single structure that suits every dentist. The right answer depends on your income level, how many dentists are involved, whether you own or lease practice premises, how profits are shared, and your longer-term plans for the practice. A limited company can work well for some practice owners, while sole trader or partnership arrangements may be more appropriate in other situations. We can talk through the tax and administrative implications of each option so you can decide based on your own position.
Costs that are commonly claimed include GDC registration, professional indemnity and insurance, professional body subscriptions, continuing professional development, clinical clothing, and equipment or consumables used for work, along with a proportion of premises or home office costs where relevant. Larger purchases such as equipment or surgery fit-outs may be treated differently from everyday running costs. What you can actually claim depends on your employment status and whether the expense is incurred wholly and exclusively for your work, so each case needs to be considered individually.
VAT registration depends on your taxable turnover and the nature of the services you provide. Some dental treatment is exempt from VAT, while other services and sales may be taxable, which means practices mixing NHS and private work can have more than one treatment to consider. HMRC sets the thresholds that determine when registration becomes compulsory and these can change, so it is sensible to review your position periodically rather than assuming registration is or is not required.
It helps to have your most recent tax return or set of accounts, details of your income sources such as NHS contract payments and private fees, records of business expenses, and any payroll or VAT information if those apply to you. If you are moving from another accountant, we can explain what authorisation is needed so your records can be transferred and we can pick up the filing history. The exact list depends on your circumstances, and we will set it out clearly once we understand your position.
Fees are generally based on the work involved, which can vary considerably depending on whether you are an associate dentist needing a tax return, a practice owner with payroll and VAT obligations, or a limited company requiring annual accounts and a Corporation Tax return. Rather than applying a single figure to everyone, we look at your circumstances, the services you need and how much of the record-keeping you want to handle yourself before agreeing an approach.