As a doctor in the UK, managing your taxes can feel overwhelming. Between NHS salaries, private practice income, and locum work, the complexities add up quickly. At Pearl Lemon Accountants, we’ve worked closely with medical professionals across the country to streamline tax planning for doctors, helping you keep more of what you earn while staying compliant with HMRC regulations.
Whether you’re a consultant, GP, or locum, our team understands the unique challenges you face. From managing NHS pension tax rules to maximising allowable deductions, we’re here to support you with practical, effective solutions customised to your circumstances.
Expert Tax Solutions for UK Doctors
At Pearl Lemon Accountants, we specialise in helping UK doctors navigate complex tax challenges. Here’s how we can support you:
Tackling High Tax Rates
If you earn over £100,000, you could be losing your personal allowance, resulting in a 60% effective tax rate. We’ll create a customised strategy to reduce your tax bill, such as optimising pension contributions to bring your taxable income below the threshold.
Managing Locum Work and Self-Employment
Locum shifts and private practice can complicate your taxes. We’ll handle your self-assessment returns, ensure accurate National Insurance contributions, and help you claim allowable expenses like mileage, equipment, and home office costs—saving you hundreds annually.
Managing NHS Pension Taxation
The NHS Pension Scheme is beneficial but comes with tax challenges like the Annual Allowance and tapered allowance. We’ll help you avoid unexpected tax bills and explore options like “scheme pays” to manage payments effectively.
Practical Tax Planning Strategies for Doctors
At Pearl Lemon Accountants, we specialise in helping doctors save on taxes with practical, actionable strategies. Here’s how we can help you:
Maximise Your Personal Allowances
If you earn between £100,000 and £125,140, you could be facing a 60% effective tax rate. We’ll help you reduce your taxable income through pension contributions or salary sacrifice arrangements, ensuring you keep more of your earnings.
Claim Every Professional Expense
We’ll ensure you claim all allowable expenses, including GMC fees, indemnity insurance, and CPD courses. For example, claiming £800 in professional subscriptions could save you £320 as a higher-rate taxpayer.
Example: If your professional subscriptions cost £800 annually, as a higher-rate taxpayer, you could save £320 in taxes
Optimise Gift Aid Contributions
We’ll help you claim additional tax relief on charitable donations through Gift Aid, reducing your tax bill while supporting causes you care about.
Smart Pension Contributions
Maximising your pension contributions isn’t just about retirement planning—it’s a powerful tax-saving tool. We’ll help you save up to 40% on contributions while addressing tapering allowances.
Let us handle the complexities of tax planning so you can focus on your practice. Book a call today to start saving on your taxes!
How We Help UK Doctors with Tax Planning
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we design our advice for your unique situation. Here’s what you can expect when working with us:
Specialist Tax Advice
We provide focused support for medical professionals, covering income tax, National Insurance, capital gains tax, and more.
NHS Pension Guidance
Our team specialises in managing the NHS Pension Scheme, helping you address Annual Allowance breaches or Lifetime Allowance concerns with confidence.
Self-Assessment Support
From locum doctors to those with additional private practice income, we simplify the self-assessment process, ensuring no deduction or relief is overlooked.
Legacy and Wealth Planning
We help you secure your family’s future with thoughtful estate planning, minimising inheritance tax while preserving wealth for generations.
Our Process: How We Work with Doctors
We simplify tax planning so you can focus on your medical career. Here’s how we work with doctors across the UK:
Understanding Your Needs
We start with a conversation to learn about your income, expenses, and financial goals. Whether you’re NHS-employed, self-employed, or in private practice, we design a tax strategy that fits your situation.
Creating a Strategy
Our team develops a personalised plan, including:
- Claiming professional expenses like GMC fees or CPD courses.
- Managing pension contributions to reduce taxable income.
- Ensuring adherence with HMRC while maximising allowances.
Filing and Compliance
We handle self-assessment filings, locum income documentation, and tax relief claims, ensuring accuracy and peace of mind.
Ongoing Support
Tax laws change, and so do your needs. We provide year-round advice and updates to keep your finances optimised, no matter where your career takes you.
frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you’re self-employed or working as a locum, you can claim travel expenses at HMRC-approved rates (45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles, then 25p thereafter).
Exceeding the Annual Allowance may result in a tax charge. However, unused allowances from the previous three years can often offset this, and “scheme pays” can help spread the cost.
Yes, memberships to organisations like the GMC and BMA are deductible. Report these on your self-assessment to reduce taxable income.
Salary sacrifice involves reducing your gross salary in exchange for benefits like pension contributions or childcare vouchers. This lowers your taxable income and saves on National Insurance contributions.
Take the Next Step Towards Financial Clarity
Managing your taxes shouldn’t be an added stress. Let Pearl Lemon Accountants handle the complexities while you focus on what matters—your patients and career.
Take control of your taxes with expert guidance. Schedule your consultation today!
