Accountants for dental practices
Dentistry is one of the sectors where generic accounting genuinely falls short. The mix of NHS and private income, the way associates are engaged, and the scale of equipment spending all change how the numbers work.
AccountsHelp provides accounting and tax services to dental practices, practice owners and associate dentists throughout the United Kingdom, covering mixed NHS and private income, associate self-employment, equipment capital allowances and the interaction with the NHS Pension Scheme.
Where dental practices need more than generic accounting
Mixed NHS and private income
NHS contract income and private fee income behave differently, and the split affects both the practice accounts and how a sale would be valued. Getting the split reported clearly matters well before you ever come to sell.
Associates and employment status
Associate dentists are usually engaged as self-employed, but that treatment depends on the substance of the agreement, not the label on it. It is worth reviewing the agreements rather than assuming the position holds.
Equipment and capital allowances
Chairs, imaging and surgery fit-outs are substantial. Claiming the right capital allowances in the right period makes a real difference to the tax bill, and the timing of a purchase can matter as much as the amount.
The NHS pension interaction
For practitioners in the NHS Pension Scheme, pensionable pay and the annual allowance interact with how you draw income. This is an area where the tax cost of getting it wrong is high and specialist advice pays for itself.
Practice incorporation
Many practices trade through a company. Whether that suits you depends on drawings, goodwill and the pension position, not on a rule of thumb.
The service that usually fits
Every package is an all-inclusive fixed monthly fee, agreed before we start, with no hidden charges at the year end. We work online with clients right across the UK.
Small limited companies and start-ups →
Starting a new business or running an existing one brings a filing calendar that does not forgive late entries.
From £60 per monthSole traders and partnerships →
A dental practice, a car mechanic, a repair shop, an off licence, a plumber or a freelance writer. Whatever the trade, the books are your responsibility.
From £20 per monthSelf Assessment and landlord accounts →
HMRC requires a Self Assessment return if you are a director, shareholder, sole trader, receive untaxed income, or pay tax at the higher rate.
From £125 per yearQuestions from dental practices
Do you work with associate dentists as well as practice owners?
Yes. Associates are typically self-employed and need annual accounts and a Self Assessment return, which falls under our sole trader service from £20 a month. Practice owners trading through a company are covered by our limited company packages.
Can you handle a practice with both NHS and private income?
Yes. Mixed income is normal in dentistry. The important part is reporting the NHS and private streams clearly and consistently, because that split matters for management information and for any future valuation or sale.
Are associate dentists definitely self-employed?
Not automatically. Self-employment is the usual treatment, but it depends on the substance of the associate agreement and how the working relationship operates in practice, rather than on what the contract is called. It is worth having the agreement reviewed.
Should a dental practice be a limited company?
It depends on your profits, how much you draw personally, the treatment of goodwill and your NHS pension position. It is not a decision to take on a general rule of thumb. Our guide on sole trader versus limited company sets out how the comparison works.
General information about how we work with this sector, not advice for your circumstances. Any tax figures mentioned were checked against gov.uk and are set out with their sources on our tax dates and rates page.
Talk to someone who already knows the sector
Tell us about the business and we will tell you what you actually need, and what you do not. The first consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Other sectors we work with
Restaurants and hospitality →
Hospitality has thin margins and awkward tax rules, which is a difficult combination. Most of the problems we are asked to fix come from the same handful of areas.
Contractors and freelancers →
We have worked with contractors online for more than ten years. The questions are consistent, and getting them right early is worth far more than getting them right at the year end.
Landlords and property →
Property is the area where the rules have changed most, and where we most often find relief that has been missed in earlier years. Two significant changes are landing now.