Privacy Policy

Our practice’s commitment to Privacy
Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd recognises that it is paramount for our clients to know how we treat personal information & so we have established a privacy policy to disclose this.

Collecting Information
Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd is a CPA Practice & performs tax & accounting functions. We are required to collect certain information to perform our services.

Our ability to provide quality service relies on us obtaining personal information in various forms.

The staff of Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd will be required to request information from clients that may be personal & confidential information such as (but not limited to):

• Taxation information eg Tax File Number
• Centrelink details such as Reference Number
• Professional Memberships to associations
• Personal information such as name, address, contact details, employment details, date of birth etc.
• Bank account numbers & balances
• Details re wills – beneficiaries, location of wills, executors etc
• Financial details such as income & expenses / assets & liabilities

Information is only collected on behalf of clients when clients have provided the information directly to our practice or have given authority to a third party to provide such information to us.

We only collect & use sensitive information if it is required by us in performing our services.
Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd does not trade, rent or sell personal information.

Information Use & Disclosure
Personal client information collected by us will be used in the following circumstances:

• To provide taxation & accounting services as required
• Completing compliance documentation
• To provide any other services as agreed with the client

Organisations that we may be required to disclose information to include (but are not limited to):

Banks & other financial institutions
Government departments eg. Australian Tax Office, Centrelink
Other parties re purchase/sale of businesses
External parties as requested by the client

We are not permitted to use/disclose information collected other than for reasons made known to the client unless the disclosure is:

• Authorised by law (to protect our interests or it is in the Public Interest to disclose).
• Required under Law (eg Aust Tax Office has the power to order us to disclose certain client information).
• Clients have consented to the information disclosure.

Security /Storage
Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd realises the importance of keeping client’s personal information private & secure.

We ensure that information we keep is maintained in client files kept in locked storage cabinets.
Computer files are protected by passwords & regularly backed up. Client files are kept for at least seven years to comply with legislative requirements. Any files that are destroyed after this date are shredded or removed by a secure document removal service.

Identifying data
Any identifying data such as tax file numbers are omitted where possible when providing information to external parties such as banks.

Website Policy
Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd’s website may have links to other websites that do not have a Privacy Policy. We will not collect any information provided to us by visitors unless the visitor becomes a client of our practice.

Updating personal information
Our Practice is committed to ensuring client information on file is accurate & up to date. We request that clients advise us if there are any changes to details provided to us or they believe the information we have is not accurate & we will take reasonable action to correct the information

Client’s Right to Accessing Information
Clients may request access to their personal information at any time. They may be asked to provide proof of identity before such disclosure. We will aim to respond to requests for file access within 7 days depending on the complexity & amount of information involved.

Providing Information Overseas
The main obligation in this principle is to make sure that personal information transferred overseas is protected, as far as possible, in the same way it is protected in Australia. Unless the country to which we are transferring the information has the same or similar personal information protection requirements as Australia, we obtain the individual’s express consent to the transfer of the relevant information to the relevant country.

Privacy Complaints
If a client wishes to complain about a breach of our Privacy Policy or the National Privacy Principles they should contact us:

Privacy Officer
Tax & Business Planning Pty Ltd
226 Ridge Road
Olinda VIC 3788

Ph: (03) 9751 2322

The complaint will be actioned within 14 days. Our aim is to resolve any complaint to satisfy the client. If a client is unhappy with our response they are entitled to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner who may investigate the complaint further.

More information about the Privacy Act, particularly in relation to client and other personal information can be found at the Federal Privacy Commissioner’s website at www.privacy.gov.au.

24 July 2007