GoForma provides a complete accounting and tax service fordoctors. Here is what is included when you work with us.
Self Assessment Tax Returns for Doctors
Every doctor with income outside the PAYE employment needs to complete a Self Assessment tax return. We prepare and file yours accurately, on time, and in a way that minimises your tax liability. We understand the nuances of NHS income, private fees, locum payments through agencies, and additional earnings from medico-legal or research work, and report everything correctly to HMRC.
Locum Limited Company Accounting
Setting up a limited company as a locum doctor can be tax efficient, but only if you structure and run it correctly. We register your company, handle all filings with Companies House, prepare your annual accounts, file your Corporation Tax return with HMRC, run your payroll, and advise on the best salary and dividend split for your situation.
We also keep you fully informed about IR35, so you understand when your limited company setup is compliant and when it may be challenged.
NHS Pension Annual Allowance Planning
The NHS pension scheme is one of the most valuable benefits available to any UK doctor but it also creates significant tax complications. We calculate your pension input amount, assess whether you have a charge, identify whether you have carry-forward allowance from previous years, and advise on whether pension scheme pays is the right option for your situation.
IR35 Assessment and Compliance
IR35 is one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of tax law for locum doctors. If HMRC determines that your working arrangements through a limited company are equivalent to employment, you lose the tax benefits of operating through that company. We check your IR35 status based on your actual working arrangements and help you structure things correctly.
Medical Expense Claims
Doctors can claim tax relief on a wide range of work-related expenses, but many miss valid claims or make errors. We make sure your expense claims are accurate, complete, and fully supported, so they stand up to checks from HMRC.
Private Practice Accounts and VAT
Private practice creates additional accounting complexity. Most medical services in the UK are exempt from VAT, but if you provide services that fall outside the medical exemption, you may need to register for VAT and deal with partial exemption calculations. We advise on this from the outset so you never face unexpected VAT bills.
FreeAgent Cloud Accounting Software
All GoForma clients get access to FreeAgent, an award-winning cloud accounting platform, at no extra cost. You can connect your bank feeds, raise invoices to hospitals or insurers, track your professional expenses throughout the year, and see a live estimate of your tax position. As a FreeAgent Platinum Partner, we provide full setup and support.
Key Tax Issues Facing UK Doctors in 2025 and 2026
Tax law affecting doctors changes regularly. Here are the most significant issues you need to be aware of right now.
The NHS Pension Annual Allowance Charge
The standard annual allowance is £60,000. If you are a higher earner, the tapered annual allowance can reduce this, sometimes to as low as £10,000. The NHS pension scheme builds benefits using a formula set by HMRC, and many consultants and senior GPs only realise they have gone over their allowance after the year ends.
If you face an annual allowance charge, you can pay it through your Self Assessment tax return or ask the NHS pension scheme to pay it for you, known as ‘scheme pays’. We help you work out which option is more cost effective over time.
IR35 and the Off-Payroll Working Rules
Since April 2021, medium and large NHS trusts and private hospitals decide the IR35 status of locum doctors working through limited companies. If they place you inside IR35, you pay tax as an employee for that work and lose the tax benefits of using a company.
We help you understand your status for each engagement and advise on how to structure your working arrangements so they stay outside IR35 where possible.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge
If you earn over £60,000 and your household receives Child Benefit, you must pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge. You report this through Self Assessment to HMRC.
Many doctors on NHS salaries do not realise this applies to them, especially when locum work, private fees, or employer pension contributions increase their income. We identify this early and handle it as part of your tax return.
Tax on Private Practice Income
Private practice income, whether paid directly by patients, through insurers such as Bupa or AXA, or from medico-legal work, is subject to Income Tax and National Insurance. You must declare it on your Self Assessment return to HMRC.
If your income is significant, we assess whether using a limited company would be more tax efficient for your situation.
Claiming the Right Expenses
HMRC closely checks expense claims made by medical professionals. We make sure your claims are accurate, properly supported, and easy to justify. We also identify anything you may have missed, including reclaiming superannuation overpayments and claiming tax relief on eligible training costs.
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