29/09/2026
Specialist Accountants for GPs, Consultants & Locum Doctors
Accountants for Doctors in Lyme Regis
Doctors in Lyme Regis often juggle more than one stream of income — NHS salary, private consultations, locum shifts or consultancy work — and each one carries its own tax and record-keeping obligations. As accountants for doctors in Lyme Regis, CruseBurke helps make sense of that complexity, from Self Assessment and allowable professional expenses through to bookkeeping, payroll and wider tax planning. Whether you are a salaried hospital doctor, a GP partner or building a private practice, the aim is straightforward: clean records, compliant filings and advice that fits the way you actually work.
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Which Doctors Do We Support?
Accounting support for doctors is rarely one-size-fits-all, because the tax position changes considerably depending on how you are paid and how your work is structured. We work with salaried doctors who simply want their side income and expenses handled properly, and with self-employed locum doctors who need to track income across multiple hospitals, trusts or agencies. Consultants with private practice income, GPs in partnerships or salaried GP roles, private practitioners running their own clinic, and doctors who combine NHS work with private or medico-legal work all tend to have different reporting needs. A doctor with a single employment may only require a Self Assessment return and some guidance on professional expenses, while a doctor running a limited company, holding a partnership share or operating across several income sources may need annual accounts, payroll, VAT registration considerations and more structured tax planning. Because treatment depends on your employment status, income sources, business structure and personal circumstances, we start by understanding your situation before recommending anything.
GPs
Accounting and tax support for GPs with NHS income, private work, practice interests or additional professional earnings.
Hospital Doctors
Support with Self Assessment, professional expenses and tax matters alongside employment income and other professional earnings.
Consultants
Accounting support for consultants managing NHS employment, private practice income, professional expenses and tax obligations.
Locum Doctors
Support with Self Assessment, locum income, allowable expenses, bookkeeping and relevant business structure considerations.
Salaried Doctors
Tax and accounting support for salaried doctors with additional professional income or expenses requiring reporting.
Private Practitioners
Accounting support for doctors providing private medical services through individual practices, partnerships or companies.
Accounting and Tax Services for Doctors
The services that matter most to doctors tend to sit around income that arrives from several directions at once. Self Assessment is often the starting point — preparing and filing returns that correctly report NHS salary, private medical income, locum fees, consultancy income and any other earnings, while making proper use of allowable professional expenses such as medical indemnity cover, professional subscriptions, revalidation and training costs, specialist equipment, and business travel or mileage where the rules permit. Where a doctor carries on a private practice, partnership or consultancy, we can prepare annual accounts and partnership accounts, maintain bookkeeping throughout the year, and handle Corporation Tax and statutory financial reporting if a limited company is involved. Payroll support is relevant where a practice employs staff or a company pays a director’s salary, and VAT advice is worth considering where private income, cosmetic or procedural work, or consultancy fees approach or exceed the registration threshold. Alongside compliance, we provide tax planning that looks at how income is structured, how profits are drawn, and how pension contributions and business structures interact with your overall tax position. Management accounts and periodic reporting can also help where a practice or company needs a clearer view of performance rather than just a year-end figure. Not every service will apply to every doctor — the right mix depends on how your work and income are arranged.
Self Assessment Tax Returns
Preparation and support for doctors with employment, locum, private practice or other taxable income.
NHS & Private Income
Help organising accounting records where income comes from NHS work, private services, locum assignments or other professional activities.
Accurate records built around the way GP practices, partnerships and locum doctors actually work, with cloud software set up for you.
Tax Planning for Doctors & Consultants
Incorporation reviews for private practice, profit extraction, capital allowances and timing of income to keep your effective tax rate down.
Locum Tax & IR35 Support
Contract and IR35 status reviews, limited company versus sole trader comparisons and expense claims for locums working across multiple trusts.
Accounting and Tax Challenges Doctors Commonly Face
Doctors tend to face a particular set of accounting pressures that come from combining clinical work with financial administration, often without much spare time to deal with it. The challenges below are the ones that most frequently come up.
- Multiple income sources landing in different places. NHS salary, locum payments, private fees and consultancy income can arrive through different payroll systems, agencies and bank accounts. Pulling that together accurately for a Self Assessment return is time-consuming, and it is easy for a payment to be missed or recorded twice.
- Understanding what counts as an allowable professional expense. Medical indemnity insurance, GMC and royal college subscriptions, mandatory training, revalidation costs, specialist equipment and professional books are commonly claimed, but the rules are specific. Claiming too little leaves money on the table; claiming the wrong things creates risk.
- Travel and mileage records. Doctors who move between sites, work across several hospitals or visit private patients need a clear record of business journeys. Without contemporaneous mileage logs, a legitimate claim can become difficult to substantiate later.
- Pension considerations. NHS pension contributions and any private pension arrangements can affect tax relief and annual allowance positions, and the interaction with fluctuating income from private or locum work is not always straightforward. This is an area where personalised advice matters.
- Record keeping through a busy year. Receipts, invoices and bank transactions pile up quickly when clinical work takes priority. Reconstructing twelve months of activity just before a filing deadline is stressful and increases the chance of errors.
- Locum and consultancy income. Locum work is often treated as self-employment, which brings obligations around registration, record keeping and payments on account. Consultancy and medico-legal income can raise similar questions, particularly where it sits alongside employment.
- Choosing the right business structure. Whether to operate as a sole trader, within a partnership or through a limited company is a decision with tax, administrative and pension consequences. The right answer depends on income levels, how profits are drawn and long-term plans.
- Partnership and practice finances. GP partners and doctors in partnership arrangements deal with profit shares, drawings, practice overheads and joint liabilities. Getting the allocation and reporting right keeps both the practice and the individual doctor on solid ground.
- Keeping pace with filing deadlines. Self Assessment, PAYE, VAT and company filing dates fall at different points in the year, and missing one can trigger penalties. A structured calendar keeps this manageable.
Why Doctors Choose CruseBurke
Doctors come to us because they want an accountant who already understands the shape of medical income rather than one who needs it explained from scratch. That means recognising the difference between NHS employment income and private fees, knowing how locum work is typically taxed, and being comfortable with the professional expenses doctors routinely incur. It also means communicating in plain language. You should be able to ask a question about your tax position and get a clear, practical answer rather than a page of jargon. We focus on keeping your records organised and your filings on time, so that Self Assessment, payroll and company obligations are dealt with as routine rather than as an annual scramble. Just as importantly, the advice is tailored. A salaried doctor with a small private income and a GP partner running a practice with employees have very different requirements, and the support we provide reflects that. As your circumstances change — a new role, a move into private practice, a change in working pattern — the accounting approach can be adjusted to suit. Our role is to take the administrative weight off your shoulders so you can concentrate on clinical work, while knowing your financial affairs are being handled properly.
Healthcare Focus
We support GPs, locum doctors, consultants and other medical professionals with accounting and tax matters tailored to their individual circumstances.
Every Allowable Expense Claimed
GMC and indemnity fees, royal college subscriptions, exams, courses, equipment and mileage — nothing left on the table.
NHS Pension Specialists
We calculate your pension input amount, check tapering and advise on Scheme Pays before a charge becomes a problem.
IR35 & Locum Confidence
Status reviews on your engagements and a clear answer on limited company versus sole trader for your circumstances.
Deadlines Handled for You
Returns, accounts and payroll filed on time, with reminders well in advance so penalties never happen.
Fair, Fixed Fees
One agreed monthly fee, quoted up front, with no hourly billing and no surprise invoices.
Our Simple 3-Step Process
Getting your accounting in order should not be another source of stress, so we keep the process clear and structured. First, we take the time to understand your circumstances — how you are employed or self-employed, where your income comes from, whether that includes NHS salary, private fees, locum shifts, consultancy or a combination, and how any practice or company is set up. Second, we review your accounting and tax requirements, looking at what you are already doing well, what is missing, and where there may be opportunities or risks, including expenses you may not be claiming and deadlines you need to meet. Third, we put the right support in place, whether that is preparing and filing your Self Assessment return, setting up bookkeeping, running payroll, preparing annual or partnership accounts, or providing ongoing tax planning and advice as your situation develops. You will know what is being handled, what we need from you and when.
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.
What Makes CruseBurke Different for Doctors
What sets our approach apart is the willingness to look at the whole picture rather than just completing a form. Doctors frequently have income that does not fit neatly into a single category — employment alongside self-employment, NHS work alongside private practice, consultancy income alongside a partnership share — and that mix affects how expenses are treated, how profits are calculated and how tax is planned. We take the time to map out where each element belongs, then build the compliance work around it: bookkeeping that captures income and costs accurately, Self Assessment returns that reflect the full position, annual accounts and Corporation Tax where a company is involved, and payroll where staff or directors are paid. We also flag the decisions that matter beyond the current year, such as whether a limited company structure is appropriate, how drawings and salaries should be balanced, and how pension contributions interact with your tax position. The result is accounting support that is specific to medical careers rather than a generic service with a few clinical terms added in, delivered with clear communication and a practical focus on keeping your affairs in order.
Technology Driven
We use Xero, Quickbooks, Sage & many other online software.
Dedicated Medical Accountant
Meet, call or email the same qualified accountant who knows your practice and your pension position.
Unlimited Support
Free telephone & email support
throughout the year.
Experienced Team
Our team have over 100 years of combined experienced.
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 Doctor Accountants
Take a back seat and let our specialist healthcare accountants handle everything. Switching part way through the year is straightforward and you never need to speak to your old accountant:
Get in touch
Reach out to us, and we’ll discuss your needs and how we can help your healthcare practice thrive.
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
Not every doctor does, but many benefit from one. If your only income is a single NHS salary taxed through PAYE and you have no significant expenses or investments, your tax affairs may be straightforward. The picture changes once you take on locum shifts, private consultations, consultancy or medico-legal work, hold a partnership share, or run a practice through a limited company. At that point you are typically dealing with Self Assessment, allowable expenses, possibly VAT and payroll, and deadlines that carry penalties if missed. An accountant can handle the compliance and make sure you are claiming what you are entitled to without overstating anything.
Your NHS salary is usually taxed through PAYE, and private or locum income is reported through Self Assessment. Both need to appear on the return, and tax already paid through PAYE is credited against your overall liability. The complications tend to arise around expenses — working out which costs relate to private or self-employed work rather than employment — and around payments on account, where HMRC asks for advance payments towards the following year. The rules depend on your individual circumstances, so it is worth having the position reviewed rather than assuming a standard approach applies.
Medical indemnity cover, GMC registration and royal college or specialist society subscriptions are commonly claimed, but the correct treatment depends on whether the cost relates to employment, self-employment, or both, and on the specific rules for each category. Where a cost is used for both private and NHS work, it may need to be apportioned. This is one of the areas where doctors most often under-claim, so it is worth checking that everything relevant is being included and correctly allocated.
Locum work is often treated as self-employment, which means registering with HMRC, keeping records of income and expenses, and filing a Self Assessment return. Some locum arrangements are structured differently, for example where an agency operates PAYE, so the first step is confirming how your particular engagements are set up. If you work through a limited company, different rules apply again. Once the structure is clear, the accounting work involves recording income accurately, claiming allowable expenses such as travel between sites and professional costs, and planning for payments on account.
It depends on a range of factors, including the level and regularity of your income, how you want to draw profits, your pension position and your long-term plans. A limited company can offer flexibility over how income is taken and may be appropriate for some doctors, but it also brings additional obligations such as annual accounts, Corporation Tax returns, confirmation statements and payroll for directors. Operating as a sole trader or through a partnership is simpler administratively. We look at your specific circumstances before recommending a structure rather than applying a general rule.
VAT treatment for medical services is not straightforward, because certain healthcare services are exempt while others are standard-rated or outside the scope. Whether you need to register depends on the nature of your services, your turnover and how your work is structured, and the position can differ between NHS work, private practice and consultancy or medico-legal activity. Because the rules are specific, it is worth reviewing your activities rather than assuming that all medical income is treated the same way.
Yes. Much of the accounting process can be handled remotely, with documents and records shared securely and meetings held by phone or video. That said, doctors often prefer to talk through their circumstances in person at least once, particularly when there are multiple income sources or a change in structure to consider. The practical arrangements can be shaped around what works best for you.
In most cases the transition is simpler than people expect. We would ask for your authority to contact your current accountant, request your records and any professional clearance they hold, and review your existing position so we understand how returns have been prepared previously. Any outstanding filings can be brought up to date as part of the process. You do not need to wait for a particular point in the year to make the change, though aligning it with the end of an accounting period can make things tidier.
Speak to an Expert
Take the Pressure Off Your Tax Affairs with Accountants for Doctors in Lyme Regis
If your income arrives from several directions — NHS salary, locum shifts, private consultations or consultancy fees — keeping track of it alongside clinical commitments can quickly become overwhelming, and Self Assessment deadlines have a habit of arriving sooner than expected. CruseBurke can take that on, with bookkeeping that keeps your records accurate through the year and Self Assessment support that reports your full income and expenses correctly. Whether you are a salaried doctor with a modest side income or a consultant building a private practice, it is worth a conversation about where you stand and what could be handled better.