The Tax Avenue is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is managed in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (including amendments from 2012 and 2016 regarding Mandatory Data Breach Notification), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants. This policy outlines our responsibilities in handling the personal information of our clients, potential clients, contractors, and other individuals.
Personal Information Collected by Us
As a provider of accounting and tax services, we may need to collect, and store detailed personal information. The types of personal information we collect, and hold include, but are not limited to, your name, email address, identification number, and any other information that can directly or indirectly identify you.
We will only collect personal information when you have knowingly provided it to us or authorized a third party to provide it on your behalf. We may collect your personal information in the following ways:
- Directly from you during consultations, or through communications via our website, email, or phone.
- From third-party sources such as employers, financial institutions, or other organizations (with your consent) when assisting with tax-related matters.
Disclosure and Protection of Your Information
Your personal information will only be disclosed to third parties in the following circumstances:
- With your consent or at your request.
- To the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and other relevant regulatory bodies to fulfill our responsibilities as your tax agent.
- To external service providers or contractors who assist with tax preparation or related services, provided they adhere to privacy and confidentiality standards.
- When required by law or court order.
The Tax Avenue takes your privacy seriously and has implemented appropriate security measures to protect your personal information, including:
- Secure storage of both electronic and physical records.
- Encryption and secure transmission of sensitive data.
- Access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to your information.
Unsolicited Personal Information
Occasionally, we may receive personal information that was not specifically requested. If this occurs, we will determine whether you consented to the collection of this information, whether it is necessary for the services we provide, or if it is required or authorized by Australian law or a court order. If the information is deemed necessary and lawful, it will be handled in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles as if it were solicited.
If it is determined that you did not consent to the disclosure of this information and there is no legal requirement for us to collect it, we will destroy it as soon as practicable, provided it is lawful and reasonable to do so.
Retention of Personal Information
We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law and the Australian Privacy Principles. We also adhere to our internal documentation retention policies.
Hosting & International Data Transfers
In some cases, we may transfer your personal information to overseas entities to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected. The Tax Avenue operates from an office in Australia and has an offshore team based in India. Our website’s hosting facilities are in Australia, and we may store, process, or back up your personal information on overseas servers, including through third-party service providers.
Any international transfers of your data will be protected by appropriate safeguards, and we will seek your consent where necessary. There may be situations where disclosure is required or authorized by Australian law, a court or tribunal order, or the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants in the context of a quality review program, or where you have given direct consent for disclosure.
Access to Your Personal Information
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
We will need you to verify your identity and specify the information you require. We reserve the right to refuse to provide information in certain circumstances outlined in the Privacy Act or other applicable laws. If access is denied, we will explain the reason.
We strive to respond to your request for personal information promptly, but please note it may take some time to process, especially if the information needs to be retrieved from our archives.
This policy is designed to provide transparency regarding how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, ensuring compliance with privacy laws and the highest standards of confidentiality.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about how we handle your personal information, or if you would like to exercise any of your rights as outlined in this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
The Tax Avenue
Phone: 02 8608 5002
Email: info@thetaxavenue.com.au
Address: 103/01 Burbank Place, Ground Floor, The Solent Centre A, Norwest NSW 2153
By using our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as outlined above.
