Privacy Policy

Verity Chartered Accountants (Verity, we, us or our) respects your privacy and handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles where they apply.

This policy covers our website, enquiries and professional services. An engagement letter may contain additional privacy terms relevant to a particular service.

Depending on your dealings with us, we may collect:

• identity and contact details;
• tax, accounting, employment, business, property and financial information needed for the requested service;
• government identifiers, including tax file numbers, only where collection is authorised and reasonably necessary;
• correspondence, instructions, records and documents you give us; and
• basic technical information associated with website security and operation, such as IP address, browser type and request logs.

We generally collect information directly from you. With your authority, or where permitted by law, we may also receive it from representatives, prior advisers, employers, financial institutions, software providers or government agencies.

We use personal information to:

• respond to enquiries and arrange consultations;
• verify identity and understand the requested service;
• provide agreed tax, accounting and advisory services;
• communicate with you, keep records and administer our practice; and
• meet taxation, professional, insurance, security and other legal obligations.

The website enquiry form opens a pre-addressed email in your own email application. The website does not save the form contents in a website database.

We may disclose information to people working with us, secure technology and cloud providers, professional advisers, insurers, regulators and government agencies where necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, with your consent, or as authorised or required by law.

Some technology providers may process or store data outside Australia. Where an overseas disclosure occurs, we take reasonable steps required by the Australian Privacy Principles and will provide more specific information where practicable.

Client confidentiality obligations under the Tax Agent Services regime and applicable professional standards also apply to our handling of client information.

We use reasonable administrative, physical and technical safeguards appropriate to the information we hold. No internet or email transmission is completely secure, so please do not send original records or highly sensitive documents until we have confirmed a suitable transfer method.

We retain records for the periods required by taxation, professional and other applicable laws, and securely delete or de-identify information when it is no longer required, subject to those obligations.

If an eligible data breach occurs, we will assess and notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner where required.

You may request access to personal information we hold about you or ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. Legal exceptions may apply, and we will explain any refusal where required.

To make a privacy request or complaint, email info@veritytax.org. We will acknowledge the matter and respond within a reasonable period. If you are not satisfied, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

We review this policy as our services, systems and legal obligations change. The current version and its update date will remain available on this page.