Compass Accounts

Making Tax Digital is coming are dental associates ready?

From April 2026, many self-employed dental associates will need to move onto Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

This means the old way of “sorting everything once a year” is changing.

Instead, associates may need to:

✅ Keep digital records
✅ Use HMRC-recognised software
✅ Submit quarterly updates to HMRC
✅ Keep income and expenses organised throughout the year
✅ Still complete a final year-end tax submission

For many associates, this will be a big change — especially if your current system is based on spreadsheets, bank statements, WhatsApp receipts, or leaving everything until January.

At Compass Accounts, we specialise in helping dental associates stay organised, compliant, and tax-efficient.

We can help you with:

🦷 Registering and preparing for MTD
🦷 Setting up simple digital bookkeeping
🦷 Tracking your remittance advice properly
🦷 Recording GDC, indemnity, CPD, loupes, travel and other allowable expenses
🦷 Quarterly submissions to HMRC
🦷 Tax planning so you are not caught out by surprise bills
🦷 Understanding payments on account, student loans and superannuation

The key message is simple:

MTD is not just about submitting figures to HMRC. It is about building better financial habits, staying ahead of tax bills, and knowing exactly where you stand throughout the year.

If you are a self-employed dental associate and want to get ready before the rules come in, feel free to get in touch.

Compass Accounts
Specialist Accountancy for Dental Associates & Practice Owners
📧 [email protected]
🌐

Specialist Accountants for Dentists – Compass Accounts Helping dentists grow their practice with expert accounting, compliance support, and tailored tax-saving strategies.

One thing many dental students quickly realise is that dentistry is not just one fixed career path.

After graduation, different dentists can move in very different directions. Some may stay mainly NHS, some may move into private dentistry, some may work across multiple practices, some may specialise further, and others may eventually consider buying or starting a dental practice.

Some of the specialist routes students may explore include orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry, special care dentistry, oral medicine, dental public health, and dental radiology.

Each path can bring different financial decisions.
For example, a dentist moving towards private cosmetic work may need to think about training costs, equipment, pricing and tax planning. Someone pursuing oral surgery or orthodontics may invest heavily in postgraduate training before seeing the financial return.

A future practice owner will eventually need to understand business finance, staff costs, loans, cashflow and profitability. Even associates working across NHS and private dentistry need to understand how income, expenses, pensions and tax fit together.

This is where specialist dental accountancy becomes more than just preparing a tax return.

The earlier you understand the route you may want to take, the easier it becomes to plan for training, tax, income, pensions, business structure and long-term goals.

Dentistry gives you many possible paths the key is understanding not only the clinical route, but also the financial journey behind it.

At Compass Accounts, we help dental students, associates and future practice owners understand the financial side of their career choices early, so they can make confident decisions as their career develops.

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https://www.instagram.com/compassaccounts/

Are You Tracking Your Mileage Properly?

🚗💰 Dental students & new associates, don’t leave money on the table! Learn how HMRC mileage rules can save you thousands.

Keep a HMRC mileage log to claim your travel expenses easily. 📝

Claim 45p per mile for first 10,000 miles, then 25p per mile after that. 💸

Track business travel between clinics, temporary practices & CPD courses. ✔️

Avoid claiming home-to-work commuting or personal journeys. ❌

Record date, journey purpose, start & end locations, and miles travelled to ensure your claim is valid. 📊

Many dentists miss out on thousands in tax relief by not tracking mileage properly. ⏳

Compass Accounts helps dental professionals & practice owners claim what they’re entitled to confidently. 🤝🌐

💼 Specialist Dental Accountants – Compass Accounts
🌍 www.compassaccounts.co.uk

Are Dentists Overpaying Corporation Tax Before Year End?

• 🦷 Many dentists overpay tax without realising
• ⏰ After year end = too late to fix it
• ✅ Before year end, you can still:
– Claim capital allowances
– Adjust salary vs dividends
– Make pension contributions
– Bring forward expenses
• 💡 A quick review can save thousands — legally

👉 Plan early. Keep more of what your practice earns.

🦷 Are you treating patients — or struggling to control your practice finances?

This post shows two paths for dentists:

• 😓 Just doing the clinical work → surprise tax bills & unclear profits
• 📊 Running your practice like a business → predictable income & clarity

💡 Real result:
One dental practice saved £18k in tax by restructuring.

📩 DM “DENTIST” to get our Free Dental Finance Review Checklist
and spot gaps in your practice finances.

🦷 Locum dentist working across multiple practices?
You may be missing out on legitimate UK tax deductions 👀

✅ You could potentially claim:
• 🚗 Travel between practices
• ⛽ Mileage & fuel
• 🏨 Temporary accommodation
• 📚 CPD courses
• 🖥️ Dental equipment & software
• 🍽️ Meals while travelling

📌 If you meet HMRC temporary workplace rules, these expenses may be deductible.

⚠️ Many locum dentists overpay tax simply because they don’t know what they can claim.

📩 DM “LOCUM” for a free tax check & expense review
Keep more of what you earn.

🦷 You Studied Teeth… Not Taxes 😅

Your dental degree teaches dentistry — not how to manage your first big income 💷
Many new associates reach close to £100,000 quickly, but without planning, tax surprises follow 😬

Before you start earning, understand how your income works, what expenses to claim, and when HMRC expects payment. Early planning helps you keep more of what you earn 📊

Specialist support for UK dental students & associates.
🤝 Proud sponsor: www.compassaccounts.co.uk

dentist

Are You Ready To Start Your Dental Career? 🦷

Final-year dental students 🦷, are you prepared for your first associate role? Avoid costly mistakes and start your career stress-free with expert guidance!

💡 Here’s how I can help:

Understand self-employment vs PAYE 💼

Navigate NHS vs private income and tax implications 💰

Know what expenses you can actually claim 📝

Avoid common first-year tax mistakes ❌

Plan ahead to prevent surprises from HMRC 📊

Starting early can save thousands of pounds and give you peace of mind. Ready to get clarity before you earn? Reach out today!

🌐 www.compassaccounts.co.uk

Are You Making These First Year Associates Make? 😱💸

Starting your first year as an associate can be tricky! Avoid financial pitfalls and set yourself up for success. 🚀 Here’s what to watch out for:

💰 Not setting money aside for tax – Don’t confuse gross income with take-home pay. Always set aside a percentage from the start!

📄 Missing allowable expenses – Claim GDC fees, indemnity insurance, CPD courses, professional subscriptions & travel between clinics to save big on taxes.

🗂️ Poor record keeping – Keep consistent records of every expense. HMRC needs evidence, not estimates!

⏳ Not understanding payments on account – Know how tax timing works to avoid surprises.

⏰ Leaving tax planning too late – Plan early to avoid stress when bills arrive.

🏛️ NHS superannuation misunderstandings – Understand contributions to prevent confusion in your second tax year.

Start smart, avoid mistakes, and take control of your finances from day one! 💪

What my dentist clients are saying:

“I used to dread talking about money. Now I actually understand my tax position each month and what to set aside for my tax dues.” – Dr A. Hussain

“Bilal helped me tidy up my accounts and get organised. It’s such a relief not worrying about missing anything.” – Dr K. Patel

“He found small savings I’d never have spotted myself nothing huge, but it all adds up.” – Dr L. Green

“Whenever I message, I get a straight answer within a day. That alone makes a big difference.” – Dr R. Thompson

Notice the pattern?
Every one of them came to me feeling unsure, disorganised, or left waiting weeks for replies from their old accountant.

Unlike general accountants who only show up at year-end, I work closely with dentists all year explaining what’s happening, helping you plan ahead, and keeping things simple.

That’s why my clients see:
→ No last-minute tax panic
→ Steadier cashflow and fewer surprises
→ A clearer picture of how their practice is performing

I’m only taking on a few more dentists that i helped this year.

If you’re still chasing your accountant for answers or guessing how much tax to save it’s probably time for a change.

👉 Book your free consultation at compassaccounts.co.uk