Should my private practice be a limited company?

Often it helps at higher profits, but it changes how you take income and affects pension planning. We compare both for your actual numbers.

Can I claim indemnity costs?

Yes, indemnity for your private practice is normally an allowable cost.

Consultant specialties

Accountants for cosmetic surgeons

Cosmetic surgery sits on the line between exempt medical care and VATable cosmetic work, often alongside NHS sessions and a private limited company. We bring VAT, private practice accounts and NHS pension planning together under one fixed fee.

Do cosmetic surgeons have to charge VAT?

It depends on the main purpose of each procedure. Reconstructive or medically needed surgery is usually exempt; procedures that are purely cosmetic are standard-rated once you are VAT registered. We review your procedures before you register or change your fees.

Fixed fees, specialist healthcare accountants, and every HMRC and NHS Pensions deadline handled.

Fixed monthly fee — no surprises
Specialist in NHS pension and healthcare tax
Onboarding within 48 hours

Get my fixed-fee quote Book a free 15-min tax review

ICAEW & ACCA regulated
5,000+ clients served by ACCOTAX
Specialist healthcare accountants

Reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Founder of ACCOTAX, 18+ years' experience · Last reviewed: 8 October 2026 · Updated for the 2026/27 tax year

Medical.Accountants by ACCOTAX, ICAEW/ACCA-regulated chartered accountants, London, serving clients across the UK. Over 5,000 clients served.

Key takeaways

The VAT treatment depends on each procedure's main purpose, not your job title.
The NHS pension standard annual allowance is £60,000 for 2026/27, tapered for high incomes.
Private practice income through a company needs planning around dividends and pension.

Which accountancy support fits your income?

Start with how you are paid. Different income sources can need different accounts, returns and expense checks.

How you work	What we check	Support to explore
Employed or umbrella (PAYE)	Tax codes, eligible employment expenses and whether a tax return is needed.	Healthcare tax refund support
Genuinely self-employed	Business income and expenses, Self Assessment and MTD eligibility.	Healthcare Self Assessment service
Your own limited company	Company accounts, Corporation Tax, director income and off-payroll status where relevant.	Healthcare limited company accounts
Partnership	Practice accounts, allocated profit and each partner’s personal tax position.	Healthcare partnership accounts

Sound familiar?

Problems we fix for aesthetics practitioners and clinics

"I may be charging VAT wrongly on cosmetic treatments."
"I think I've gone over the VAT threshold without registering."
"The new licensing scheme in England worries me."
"I sell products and training as well as treatments."
"I'm setting up a clinic and hiring staff."

What it's costing you

Leaving it unfixed is rarely free

Overpaid tax: Unclaimed expenses and wrong tax codes mean paying more than you owe, year after year.
HMRC penalties and interest: Late returns attract automatic penalties, plus interest on tax paid late.
Lost evenings: Hours spent on forms, invoices and spreadsheets after a long shift.

General examples — your position depends on your own figures.

How we solve it

What we actually do for you

VAT review and registration

We separate medical and cosmetic income and register you if needed.

Clinic structure

The right set-up for treatments, products and training.

Bookkeeping

Clean records that make VAT returns simple.

Licensing readiness

A finance checklist to prepare for licensing.

How we help

VAT review of procedures

We split medical and purely cosmetic work and set up registration, invoicing and returns to match.

Private practice accounts

Sole trader or limited company accounts, payroll and dividends for your private work.

NHS pension planning

Annual allowance and taper checks across NHS and private income, before the bill lands.

Tax planning

Drawings, dividends and pension contributions planned around the £100,000 personal allowance taper.

What to know before you decide

When cosmetic work is VATable

Medical care by a registered health professional is exempt from VAT only where its main purpose is to protect, maintain or restore health. Following Illuminate Skin Clinics v HMRC (Upper Tribunal, 2025), treatments that are purely cosmetic are standard-rated. Each treatment is judged on its facts, so we review your menu treatment by treatment before you register or price.

VAT Registration & Returns for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals

NHS pension and private income

The standard annual allowance is £60,000 for 2026/27. It tapers by £1 for every £2 of adjusted income over £260,000 (where threshold income is over £200,000), down to £10,000. Private profits count, so we model both together.

NHS Pension Tax & Annual Allowance for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals

The VAT registration threshold

You must register for VAT when your VATable turnover goes over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months — not just at your year end. We check that figure every month so registration never takes you by surprise.

VAT Registration & Returns for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals

Your questions answered

Are my services exempt or standard-rated?

Medical care provided by registered health professionals is generally VAT exempt if the primary purpose is protecting health. Purely cosmetic procedures and medicolegal reports are typically standard-rated at the prevailing rate. You must monitor your taxable turnover against the £90,000 registration threshold. Determining the correct liability requires a detailed review of your specific services.

Check the official guidance · www.gov.uk Want us to check this for you? Get a free review →

What is partial exemption?

Partial exemption applies when a healthcare business makes both VAT-exempt and taxable supplies. You cannot usually reclaim all input VAT if you have exempt income. A specific calculation determines how much VAT on overheads is recoverable. This is a common requirement for GPs and consultants with mixed income streams.

Check the official guidance · www.gov.uk

Help with this question: VAT Registration & Returns for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals

Help with this question: Payroll & Pensions for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals

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What happens if I registered late?

Failure to register for VAT when your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 may result in financial penalties. HMRC may also charge interest on the VAT that should have been paid from the effective date of registration. You will be liable for the VAT on past sales regardless of whether you charged it. Early disclosure often helps in mitigating these penalties.

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Quick quote

See what you could save — get a fixed fee in one working day

Three fields. No obligation. A specialist replies, not a sales team.

Packages for your working life

Accountancy packages for surgeons

Self-employed income, a limited company, PAYE or a mixture: start with the support that matches how you actually work. We check your status and agree the scope and fee before starting.

Self-employed accountants for surgeons packages

For genuine sole-trader income. We prepare your business accounts and Self Assessment, review allowable expenses and explain payments on account.

Sole-trader accounts and personal tax return
Allowable business expenses reviewed
Tax reserve and payment deadline guidance
MTD support scoped separately where required

Fixed fee quoted after a review

Discuss this package

Limited company accountants for surgeons packages

For clinicians working through their own company. Choose Essential/Compliance, Core/Complete or Growth according to your accounts, bookkeeping and payroll needs.

Statutory accounts and Corporation Tax return
One director return for salary and dividends from the same company
Confirmation statement support; filing fee extra
Bookkeeping, VAT and payroll according to your chosen plan

Company packages from £45.83 + VAT / month

Compare company packages

Personal tax return packages for surgeons

For employed clinicians, partners and people with mixed income who need a return. We check whether Self Assessment is required and reconcile the relevant income, expenses and pension tax information.

Self Assessment requirement checked
PAYE and other income reconciled
Eligible employment expenses reviewed
Pension tax work agreed separately where needed

Fixed fee quoted after a review

Discuss this package

Employment status is determined by the facts, not the package you choose. PAYE, umbrella and partnership arrangements may also apply. A limited company does not override IR35 or off-payroll rules, and not every employed clinician needs a tax return.

Overpaid tax?

Tax refund support for surgeons

We review tax codes, eligible professional expenses and overpaid tax, then prepare a claim where you qualify. A refund is not guaranteed; HMRC decides the claim.

£249 + VAT

For refunds up to £5,000, our fee is £249 plus VAT. For refunds above £5,000, add 5% of only the amount above £5,000 to the £249 fee. VAT applies to the total professional fee.

Example: a £6,000 refund means £249 + £50 = £299 plus VAT.

Illustrative refund amount (£)

Professional fee, excluding VAT

£249

Ask about a tax refund

This illustrates the fee only, not whether you qualify or how much HMRC will refund. We agree the claim scope and payment terms before work starts.

What's included

Limited company packages — compare what's included

Essential/Compliance

For locums, salaried GPs and dentists with a limited company

from £45.83 + VAT /month

FRS 105 or FRS 102 1A statutory accounts
Corporation tax return (CT600) and tax computation
Confirmation statement preparation and filing support
One director Self Assessment return
Deadline reminders ahead of every filing date

Core/Complete

For private practice, consultants and associate dentists

from £62.50 + VAT /month

Everything in Essential/Compliance
Monthly bookkeeping and bank reconciliation
Quarterly Making Tax Digital VAT returns
Director payroll with RTI filing and pension submissions
Quarterly review call on numbers and tax position

Growth

For clinics, dental practices and growing medical teams

from £75.00 + VAT /month

Everything in Core/Complete
Payroll for up to five employees

Prices exclude VAT. Making Tax Digital quarterly updates available as an add-on. Compare fees

Why clinicians trust us

Chartered accountants who know the NHS

ACCOTAX has served over 5,000 clients.
Regulated chartered accountants (ICAEW and ACCA).
Founded by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, with 18+ years' experience.

Reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT

Chartered accountant and founder of ACCOTAX. Last reviewed October 2026.

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How it works

01
Free call
A 15-minute chat about your income, structure and deadlines.
02
Onboarding in 48 hours
We set up your records, software and HMRC agent access.
03
We handle the rest
HMRC, NHS Pensions and every deadline, with reminders before each one.

Free resource

Get the aesthetics VAT checklist free

Tell us where to send it and we'll email it to you.

Your questions, answered

Should my private practice be a limited company?: Often it helps at higher profits, but it changes how you take income and affects pension planning. We compare both for your actual numbers.
Can I claim indemnity costs?: Yes, indemnity for your private practice is normally an allowable cost.

Speak to a specialist today

Leave your details and we'll call you back, or book a free review straight away.

Book a free 15-min tax review

Related healthcare expertise

NHS Pension Tax & Annual Allowance for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals VAT Registration & Returns for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals Payroll & Pensions for Doctors & Healthcare Professionals Accountants for Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeons Medical Accountants in Harley Street Private Doctor Accountants

Accountants for healthcare professionals Healthcare tax questions answered

General information for the 2026/27 tax year, prepared from the official guidance linked below. It is not personalised tax or regulated financial advice. Rules and circumstances can change; confirm your position before acting.

Official sources referred to on this page: GOV.UK: VAT registration; HMRC VAT Notice 701/57 (health professionals); GOV.UK: MTD sign-up.

Official guidance

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