Introduction
At SWBA, we understand the importance of protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients’ personal information, particularly in the context of tax services. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of your personal data. By engaging with our services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
The information on this website is for general purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. SWBA is not responsible for any actions taken based on the content provided. Always consult a professional for specific advice. Links to external sites are for convenience and do not imply endorsement.
Information We Collect
We collect various types of personal information that are essential for delivering our services. This may include:
- Personal Identification Information: Such as your name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and social security number. This information is necessary to establish your identity and facilitate communication.
- Financial Information: Including bank account details, tax return information, income details, investment information, and credit scores. This information is essential for accurately preparing your tax returns and providing comprehensive financial advice.
- Employment Information: Such as your employer’s details, job title, salary, and other employment-related data. This information helps us understand your financial situation and prepare accurate tax filings.
- Tax Information: Including your tax filings, deductions, credits, and other tax-related data. This information is used to ensure compliance with tax laws and optimize your tax obligations.
- Communication Data: Such as email correspondence, phone call recordings, and other communication records. This data helps us keep track of your inquiries and provide timely responses.
- Usage Data: Information about how you use our website and services, including IP address, browser type, device information, and browsing history. This information helps us improve our services and enhance your online experience.
- Third-Party Information: Information obtained from third parties with your consent, such as financial institutions, employers, and previous tax preparers. This helps us verify and supplement the information you provide, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
How We Collect Information
We collect personal information through various methods to ensure accuracy and efficiency in our services:
- Direct Interactions: Information you provide directly to us during consultations, via forms, emails, or phone calls.
- Third Parties: Information provided by third parties with your consent, such as financial institutions, employers, and previous tax preparers.
- Automated Technologies: Data collected automatically through our website using cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies. These technologies help us understand how you interact with our website and services, enabling us to enhance your user experience.
Our Use of Your Information
Your personal information is used to provide and enhance our services in several ways:
- Tax Preparation: To prepare and file your tax returns accurately and efficiently, ensuring compliance with applicable tax laws and regulations.
- Tax Planning: To offer tax planning and advisory services tailored to your specific needs and circumstances, helping you achieve your financial goals.
- Communication: To communicate with you regarding your account and our services, ensuring you are informed and up to date with the status of your tax filings and any other services we provide.
- Service Improvement: To improve and personalize our services, conducting research and analysis to enhance our offerings continuously.
- Legal Compliance: To comply with legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring the integrity and security of our services.
- Fraud Prevention: To detect and prevent fraud and other illegal activities, protecting your personal information and our services.
Disclosure of Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may disclose your information under specific circumstances:
- Service Providers: We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us in delivering our services, such as payroll processing, tax preparation software, and data storage solutions. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it solely for the purpose of assisting us.
- Government Agencies: We may disclose information to government agencies or regulatory bodies as required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, audit, or investigation.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of our business, your information may be transferred to the new owner, subject to confidentiality agreements.
- With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties when you have provided explicit consent, giving you control over who has access to your information.
Data Security
The security of your personal information is of utmost importance to us. We implement robust security measures to protect your data, including:
- Physical Security: Secure storage of physical records and restricted access to our offices, ensuring only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information.
- Electronic Security: Encryption of electronic data, secure servers, firewall protection, and multi-factor authentication, safeguarding your information from unauthorized access and breaches.
- Procedural Security: Regular security audits, employee training on data protection, and policies for safe handling of information, ensuring all employees adhere to best practices for data protection.
- Incident Response: Procedures to respond promptly to data breaches or security incidents, including notifying affected individuals and authorities as required by law.
Our Data Retention Policy
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and resolve disputes. When the information is no longer needed, we securely dispose of it. Secure disposal methods ensure that your data cannot be accessed or used by unauthorized individuals. We have specific retention periods for different types of information, ensuring that we only keep your data for as long as necessary.
Your Rights
You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- Access: You have the right to access your personal information held by us and receive copies of the data we possess.
- Correction: You have the right to request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information to ensure our records are up to date.
- Deletion: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring that any non-essential data is removed from our systems.
- Opt-Out: You have the right to opt-out of certain data collection and use practices, particularly concerning marketing communications and data sharing with third parties.
- Data Portability: You have the right to request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format, facilitating the transfer of your data to another service provider if necessary.
- Restriction of Processing: You have the right to request the restriction of processing your data under certain circumstances, such as disputing the accuracy of your information or objecting to the processing of your data for specific purposes.
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided at the end of this policy.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyse website traffic, and personalize content. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us understand how you interact with our website. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings, although disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our site. We use cookies to remember your preferences, track your usage patterns, and gather information about your interactions with our services. This information helps us to improve our website and tailor our services to better meet your needs.
International Data Transfers
If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that your personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located, and our central database is operated. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States. We take measures to ensure that your data is protected in accordance with this Privacy
Policy and applicable data protection laws, regardless of where it is processed. These measures include contractual obligations for recipients of your data to protect it in accordance with our standards.
Children’s Privacy
Our services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 13, we will delete such information from our records. We encourage parents and guardians to monitor their children’s use of the internet and to help enforce our Privacy Policy by instructing their children never to provide personal information without their permission.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins, and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any changes will be posted on our website with the updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Significant changes to this policy will be communicated to you directly, either through email or a prominent notice on our website.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
SWBA provides comprehensive tax and consulting services designed to meet your business needs. We offer such services both within the United States and internationally, leveraging our local expertise and global standards.
