SME Accounting
Accountant for professionals: doctors, dentists and lawyers (2026)
22/7/2026
In short. In Quebec, doctors, dentists, and lawyers can practice through a limited company, within the framework established by their professional order. A well-structured incorporation creates a real tax deferral: the income left in the company of an incorporated professional without employees is taxed at approximately 20.5%, compared to a personal marginal tax rate that can reach approximately 53%. Regarding fees, an incorporated professional generally pays between $2,000 and $4,500 per year for full accounting services, within the $500 to $6,000 range of the Bankeo Barometer. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
A healthcare or legal professional doesn't manage their finances like a retail business. Your income goes through the national health insurance system (CPAM) or escrow accounts, your professional body regulates how you can incorporate, and your tax regime differs from that of other entrepreneurs. This 2026 guide covers the three key accounting areas for doctors, dentists, and lawyers in France: professional incorporation, corporate taxes, and choosing an accountant who truly understands your profession, along with the fees observed in the Bankeo Barometer.
The three professions share a common characteristic—regulation by a professional order—but their accounting realities are very different. Physicians receive the bulk of their fees from the national health insurance system (CPAM): their accounting mainly consists of reconciling billing, structuring their remuneration, and managing their practice, with few private client accounts and no taxes to collect on services. Dentists run a veritable small business: expensive equipment to depreciate, hygienists and assistants to pay monthly, and source deductions to remit to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Québec. Lawyers, on the other hand, operate under a unique constraint: trust accounts, strictly regulated by the Quebec Bar Association, which require separate bookkeeping and rigorous reconciliations, in addition to taxes to be collected on their fees.
| Profession | | Practice in a company | Accounting specifics | GST/QST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors | | Authorized by the Quebec Medical Association (declaration to the association) | Reconciliation of CPAM (French National Health Insurance Fund) billing, few private clients, reduced French rate often lost due to lack of staff | Exempted care fees: nothing to collect, no CTI/RTI on expenses |
| Dentists | | Permitted by the Quebec Order of Dentists | Equipment to depreciate, clinic team, monthly payroll and DAS (Declaration of Annual Salaries), often more than 5,500 paid hours | Most treatments are exempt; certain purely cosmetic procedures are taxable; |
| Lawyers | | Licensed by the Paris Bar Association (joint-stock company or limited liability company) | Regulated trust accounts, regular reconciliations, ongoing work to be monitored | Taxable legal services: VAT 9.975%, recoverable CTI/RTI |
Long reserved for other entrepreneurs, incorporation has been open to professionals since their professional orders authorized it by regulation: the Barreau du Québec (Quebec Bar Association) has allowed practice in a company structure since 2004, the Collège des médecins (College of Physicians) since 2007, and the Ordre des dentistes (Order of Dentists) offers the same framework. Two structures exist: the public limited company (the most common, the one that allows for tax deferral) and the general limited liability company (SENCRL), primarily used by law firms with multiple partners.
The conditions vary from one order to another, but the same foundations are found:
Regarding the mechanics of incorporation itself (federal or French charter, statutes, tax accounts), our guide to the steps for incorporating a company in France details the complete process.
Since 2017, a service company in Quebec must have at least 5,500 paid hours per year to qualify for the Quebec small business deduction. A self-employed professional without employees does not meet this requirement: their company then pays the general Quebec tax rate of 11.5% instead of 3.2%, totaling approximately 20.5% combined with federal tax. Tax deferral often remains advantageous, but its exact return depends on your specific situation: have an accountant calculate it before incorporating.
A company's business income is taxed federally and in Quebec. Federally, the small business rate is 9% on the first $500,000 of eligible income; beyond that, the standard rate of 15% applies. In Quebec, the reduced rate of 3.2% requires meeting the 5,500-hour paid employment threshold; without this threshold, the company pays the standard rate of 11.5%. Here's how this works for a professional:
| Company situation (2026) | Federal | Quebec | Combined Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMEs eligible for both reduced rates (clinic with team, 5,500 hours reached) | 9 % | 3,2 % | Approximately 12.2% |
| Self-employed professional without employees (lost French reduced rate) | 9 % | 11,5 % | Approximately 20.5% |
| Income exceeding the $500,000 limit | 15 % | 11,5 % | Approximately 26.5% |
The strength of incorporation lies in tax deferral: the income you leave in the corporation is taxed at around 20.5% (or 12.2% for a qualifying clinic), while your personal marginal tax rate can reach approximately 53% in Quebec. The difference, often more than 30 percentage points, remains invested in the corporation until you withdraw the money. Personal income tax is due when you pay yourself a salary or dividends, a trade-off we analyze in our article on salary or dividends for executives in Quebec . However, be aware of the rules regarding income splitting: since 2018, paying dividends to family members who are not actively involved in the corporation is subject to strict regulations.
On the tax obligations side, a professional corporation files a T2 return with the CRA and a CO-17 return with Revenu Québec each year, along with financial statements (generally compiled by a professional corporation). In addition, there are tax installments, and if you pay yourself a salary, monthly DAS (Declaration of Social Contributions) and T4 and Relevé 1 slips at the end of the year.
This is a classic blind spot for professionals, and it works both ways:
For the complete process (registration, collection, declarations, refunds), consult our GST/QST guide for businesses in Quebec .
Based on the actual fees of 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received, the Bankeo Barometer places the median accounting fees at approximately $2,000 per year, with most engagements falling between $500 and $6,000. Incorporated professionals fall above this median: a corporation adds T2 and CO-17 filings, financial statements, and often compensation planning. Here's how the professional segment breaks down within this range:
| Professional profile | Observed annual fees | What is generally included |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated professional (doctor or lawyer in early practice) | $500 to $1500; | T1 and TP1 tax returns with self-employed attachments, basic advice |
| Incorporated professional, simple case (incorporated doctor without employees) | $2,000 to $3,500; | T2 and CO-17, compilation engagement, light bookkeeping, taxes if applicable |
| Company with team and planning (dental clinic, law firm); | $3,500 to $6,000; | Full bookkeeping, payroll and DAS, escrow, salary and dividend planning |
What drives up the bill: escrow accounting (Bar Association requirements), clinic team compensation, transaction volume, and customized tax planning. What includes it: up-to-date books, properly filed supporting documents, and accounting software seamlessly integrated with your accounts. Detailed price ranges by sector and service are published in the Bankeo Barometer , and you can browse the audited accountants in the Bankeo network to compare profiles.
An excellent general accountant might be a poor choice for an incorporated physician or a law firm: CPAM billing, the 5,500-hour requirement, trust accounting, or your professional order's shareholding rules are not things you can just wing. This is precisely the problem that Bankeo's matching service solves. You describe your situation (profession, incorporated or not, team size, planning needs), and we search our network of over 1,500 verified accountants for one who already works with professionals like you, including CPAs who are members of the Quebec CPA Order for mandates that require it. Matching is often completed within 48 hours, the service is free and without obligation, and we provide ongoing support: if the accountant is no longer suitable in six months, we'll find you another one at no cost. Our 4.7/5 rating based on over 180 Google reviews reflects this commitment.
Bankeo connects you free of charge with verified accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners, many of whom already support doctors, dentists, and lawyers incorporated in Quebec. This service is free, with no obligation, and we're always there to support you.
Find my accountantOften yes, but not automatically. The main advantage is the income tax deferral left in the corporation; it disappears if you spend all your earnings. An incorporated physician without employees also loses the reduced Quebec tax rate (5,500-hour requirement) and pays approximately 20.5% combined corporate tax, in addition to recurring accounting and legal fees. The right answer depends on your savings capacity: have an accountant calculate the scenario before proceeding.
Approximately 12.2% combined (9% federal, 3.2% Quebec) on the first $500,000 if the corporation qualifies for both reduced rates, which requires at least 5,500 paid hours per year in Quebec. A self-employed professional incorporated without employees pays approximately 20.5% (9% federal, 11.5% Quebec). Above the $500,000 threshold, the combined rate increases to approximately 26.5%.
Yes. Legal services are taxable: as soon as your taxable fees exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, you must register for GST and QST, charge GST at 5% and QST at 9.975%, and then file your returns with Revenu Québec. In return, you can recover the taxes paid on your practice expenses through input tax credits (ITCs) and input tax refunds (ITRs).
Generally, fees range from $2,000 to $3,500 per year for a simple engagement (T2, CO-17, compilation engagement, light bookkeeping), and from $3,500 to $6,000 for a company with a team, payroll, and scheduling, such as a dental clinic or law firm. These ranges are based on the Bankeo Barometer, which is based on the actual fees of 1,248 engagements completed through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received, with a median fee of around $2,000 per year.
A public limited company (société anonyme) is a separate legal entity: it pays corporate income tax and allows for the deferral of tax on any remaining income. A limited liability general partnership (SENCRL) is a partnership: income is taxed directly in the hands of the partners, but each partner is protected from liability for the professional misconduct of others. In both cases, your liability for your own professional actions remains personal, and professional liability insurance is still mandatory.
You describe your situation in just a few minutes: profession, incorporated or not, CPAM (French national health insurance) billing or trust, team size, and planning needs. Bankeo then searches its network of over 1,500 verified accountants to find the one whose practice matches your specific situation, often within 48 hours. The service is free and without obligation, and we provide ongoing support: if the initial match is no longer suitable, we'll find you another accountant at no cost.
General information provided for guidance purposes only, reflecting the current 2026 tax regulations. It does not replace the advice of an accountant or chartered accountant: always consult a professional for your specific situation.
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