Industries

Accounting for health practitioners and clinic owners.

Tax and bookkeeping for health practitioners, clinic contractors and clinic owners across BC.

What we look at

What we look at in a practitioner's file.

Contractor at one or more clinics

Fee splits and contract income from each clinic, T4A slips, and the expenses that go with them, reported correctly on your return.

GST on your services

Many services by licensed practitioners are GST exempt, but some are not. Massage therapy, for example, is generally taxable once you pass the $30,000 small supplier threshold.

Whether you can incorporate

Physiotherapists, optometrists, chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopathic physicians can generally incorporate with a permit from their college. Some professions, such as psychologists, currently can't.

Owning a clinic

Contractor agreements, staff, rent, equipment and overhead tracked so you can see what the clinic actually earns.

Professional costs

College dues, insurance, continuing education, equipment and home office costs deducted properly.

Medical aesthetics

Cosmetic treatments are generally subject to GST and retail products to BC PST, with injectables and inventory tracked for clinics and injectors.

What we do for you

Whether you contract at one clinic, several, or own the clinic, your returns are prepared and reviewed by a CPA.

Personal T1 returns with self-employment income
Instalment and set-aside planning
GST/HST registration and returns
Corporate year-end and T2 return
Bookkeeping, monthly or quarterly
Payroll and contractor slips for clinic owners
Incorporation planning

Guide

Tax for health practitioners in BC: contractors and clinic owners.

Most practitioners start as contractors at one or more clinics. That means no tax withheld, your own expenses to track, and a few decisions that are easier to make early.

Working as a contractor

Fee-split or contract income from clinics is self-employment income, reported on your personal return. As a self-employed person you pay both halves of CPP, and no tax is withheld, so setting money aside from each payment is essential.

Set aside roughly 25 to 30% of what you earn until your first return is filed
Keep a record of income from each clinic, and match it to any slips you receive
Track expenses from day one in a simple app or spreadsheet

Expenses you can usually claim

College and association dues
Professional liability insurance
Continuing education and courses
Equipment, supplies and uniforms
A home office used regularly for charting or admin
Business portion of your phone and vehicle

GST: does it apply to you?

Many health services by licensed practitioners, including physiotherapy, chiropractic and psychology, are GST exempt. Massage therapy is generally taxable, so registered massage therapists must register once they pass $30,000 in taxable revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters. Cosmetic treatments without a medical purpose are also generally taxable.

Can you incorporate?

In BC, physiotherapists and optometrists can incorporate with a permit from the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC, and chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopathic physicians with a permit from the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Psychologists currently can't. Incorporating helps once you earn more than you need to live on.

For clinic owners

How you engage practitioners matters. Contractors set their own schedules, supply their own tools and can profit or lose; employees don't. The CRA reviews the whole relationship, and misclassifying staff can lead to reassessed payroll. We help you set up agreements and reporting that hold up.

Running a clinic

Track revenue by practitioner and service
Reconcile direct billing and insurer payments monthly
Issue slips to contractors where required
Review whether GST applies to each service and product you sell

Have a question about your situation?

Book a call

Working with us

In person in Vancouver, or by video from anywhere in BC.

Start with a short call

We learn what you need and give you a quote upfront.

Connect securely

You authorize us with the CRA and share documents through our secure client portal.

We do the work

Your file is prepared and reviewed by a CPA, with questions sent as they come up.

Review together

We walk you through the results by phone, video, at our office or wherever suits you.

Questions

Common questions.

I'm a new grad starting at a clinic as a contractor. What do I need to do?

Track your income and expenses from your first day, set money aside for tax because none is withheld, and check whether you'll pass the GST small supplier threshold. We can set this up with you.

Can I incorporate my practice?

It depends on your profession. Physiotherapists, optometrists, chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopathic physicians generally can with a permit from their college. Psychologists currently can't.

Do I have to charge GST?

Many health services are exempt, but massage therapy and cosmetic treatments are generally taxable.

I own a clinic. Can you also help my contractors?

Yes. Many clinic owners refer their practitioners to us so everyone's returns are handled consistently.

Do I need to make tax instalments?

Usually, once you owe more than $3,000 at filing in the current year and either of the two prior years.

Can I claim my car?

Yes, the business portion, such as driving between clinics, supported by a kilometre log.

How are fees set?

Fees depend on the size and complexity of your file. We give you a quote upfront after a short first call.

Talk to a CPA about your file.

Book a call