Privacy Policy

We are committed to handling personal information responsibly and transparently. This policy explains our usual practices for collecting, holding, using and disclosing personal information in connection with our website and tax, accounting, bookkeeping, BAS, payroll and related services.

Our privacy practices are intended to operate consistently with applicable Australian privacy requirements, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) where applicable, and the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015.

As a registered tax-agent practice, we also have professional confidentiality obligations. Under the Tax Practitioners Board Code of Professional Conduct, information relating to a client's affairs must not be disclosed to a third party without the client's permission unless there is a legal duty to disclose it.

The information we need depends on the service you request. We aim to collect information that is reasonably necessary for our functions, professional obligations and the agreed service.

Tax File Numbers are subject to special privacy rules. Where we lawfully receive or collect your TFN for tax-agent services, we handle TFN information in accordance with applicable taxation law, the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015.

We usually collect information directly from you, but authorised third-party and government sources may also be used when necessary to provide the service.

If you give us personal information about another person, you should only do so where you are authorised to provide it and where the information is relevant to the service.

You can browse general information on our website without identifying yourself. However, tax and accounting services usually cannot be provided anonymously or under a pseudonym because identity, authority and taxation information are often necessary to perform the work.

We treat information relating to a client's affairs as confidential. We do not disclose that information to a third party without the client's permission unless we have a legal duty to do so.

Depending on your service and authority, personal information may be disclosed to or exchanged with:

Like most modern accounting practices, we may use carefully selected third-party systems to operate our website and provide professional services. Our current engagement information identifies categories such as website hosting, WordPress services, Google services used for security and email, document storage, accounting systems and tax-preparation software.

We may also use online forms, including Microsoft Forms or similar services, where appropriate for a particular workflow. The collection notice shown with a form may provide additional information that applies to that form.

Where client information needs to be disclosed to a third-party provider in order to deliver tax or BAS agent services, we address the disclosure through the relevant permission, engagement terms and professional confidentiality obligations.

Some technology and cloud providers operate global infrastructure. As a result, information processed through a provider may in some circumstances be stored, backed up or processed outside Australia.

The countries involved can vary according to the provider, service configuration and infrastructure in use. Where a particular overseas disclosure is relevant to your engagement, we will address it in the engagement terms, collection notice or other consent process where required and take reasonable steps required by applicable privacy and professional obligations.

When you visit our website, our website platform or service providers may process technical information required to operate, secure and improve the site. This can include IP address, browser and device information, pages viewed, referral information and session data.

Cookies or similar technologies may be used for functions such as remembering preferences, maintaining website functionality, understanding traffic or measuring site performance. You can control many cookies through your browser settings, although disabling essential cookies may affect some site functions.

We take reasonable steps appropriate to the information and systems involved to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

No internet, email, website, software or cloud system can be guaranteed to eliminate every security risk. You should also protect your own devices, email account and passwords, and verify any unusual request for sensitive information or changed payment instructions.

We keep personal information and professional records for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which they were collected, to provide ongoing services, maintain appropriate working papers, deal with disputes or audits, and comply with taxation, professional, insurance and legal requirements.

Some records may need to be kept longer because they remain relevant to an unresolved tax matter, asset, capital gain, dispute or legal requirement. When personal information is no longer required to be retained, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it where required and appropriate.

You may ask us to provide access to personal information we hold about you or to correct information that is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.

We will respond within a reasonable period. In some circumstances the law may permit or require us to refuse access or correction. If that occurs, we will explain the position where legally permitted.

We may send service communications that are reasonably necessary to manage your enquiry or engagement, such as document requests, appointment information, lodgement updates, due-date reminders, billing information or important service notices.

Where permitted, we may also send information about our tax, accounting or related services. You may ask us to stop sending marketing communications. Opting out of marketing does not stop communications that are reasonably necessary to deliver an existing service or meet a legal or professional obligation.

If we become aware of a suspected data breach, we will take steps appropriate to the circumstances to contain the incident, assess the information involved, evaluate potential harm and reduce further risk.

Where the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme applies and a breach meets the legal threshold for an eligible data breach, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required.

If you believe we have mishandled your personal information, please contact us first and explain what happened. Include enough information for us to identify the relevant client record, communication, form or service, but do not send passwords or other unnecessary sensitive information.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may be able to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Client-confidentiality issues may also be subject to the professional rules administered by the Tax Practitioners Board.