🧾 3 Bookkeeping Mistakes Chiropractors Often Overlook

(And How to Avoid Tax-Time Stress)

"Pacific Overseas LLC highlights key bookkeeping mistakes for chiropractors, featuring a licensed professional in action—essential financial guidance for healthcare practices in North America."

As a chiropractor, your focus is on helping patients feel better — not reconciling bank accounts or chasing receipts. But if your books aren’t in order, it can cost your clinic more than just late fees or stress at tax time.

At Pacific Overseas LLC, we work with several chiropractic clinics across Canada and the U.S. — and we’ve noticed a pattern: the same 3 bookkeeping mistakes show up again and again.

Here’s how to spot and fix them before they hurt your financial health.

1. Delayed Invoicing or Missed Patient Payments

Chiropractors are often so focused on patient care that payments go untracked or invoices are sent too late. This leads to cash flow gaps, especially for recurring appointments or insurance claims.

Why it matters:

• Revenue leakage from unbilled sessions

• Lost visibility into what's been paid vs. pending

• Harder to plan expenses or pay staff on time

What to do:

• Use clinic software with built-in invoicing

• Reconcile collections weekly

• Set reminders to follow up on insurance reimbursements

  
  

2. Not Separating Personal & Clinic Expenses

Buying office supplies, paying for continuing education, or fueling up — if these go through the same personal account, it becomes a mess during tax season.

Why it matters:

• You lose valid tax deductions

• Your accountant may misclassify expenses

• It increases audit risk with the CRA or IRS

What to do:

• Open a dedicated clinic bank account

• Use a clinic-only debit or credit card

• Record expenses in categories (supplies, software, advertising, etc.)

  
  

3. Filing GST/HST or Sales Tax Late

In Canada, many chiropractors are required to collect and remit GST/HST. In the U.S., state sales tax obligations vary, especially if you sell wellness products or supplements.

Why it matters:

• Late filing leads to interest and penalties

• Missed filings can lead to audits

• Inconsistent reporting affects credibility with tax agencies

What to do:

• Know your filing frequency (monthly, quarterly, annually)

• Set automated reminders or outsource it

• Keep product sales separate from service revenue in your books

  
  

🧠 Bonus Tip: Don’t Wait Until Year-End

If you only check your books when it’s time to file taxes, you’re playing catch-up

and likely missing deductions or filing errors.

Consider reviewing your finances monthly or quarterly, even if you outsource your accounting.

👩‍⚕️ Final Thoughts for Chiropractic Clinics

You don’t have to be a bookkeeper to run a financially healthy clinic — but you do need systems.

At Pacific Overseas LLC, we help chiropractors across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and U.S. states like New York, Texas, and California streamline their:✅ Bookkeeping✅ GST/HST or Sales Tax Filing✅ Payroll & Compliance✅ Year-End Tax Reporting

Even if you’re not ready to outsource, avoiding these 3 mistakes can protect your income and reduce stress.

📩 Want a free bookkeeping checklist for clinics?

👉 Contact us here or message us on WhatsApp at +91 9958508900

—

CA Megha Kalra (Pursuing CPA) QuickBooks Pro Advisor | Global Tax Advisor

Founder,

Pacific Overseas LLC🌐 www.pacificoverseasllc.com