PRIVACY POLICY
I, Edward Babitzke (Babitzke and Associates) value the confidentiality and security of your private personal information and adheres to the highest standard of professional ethical responsibility and legal obligation to protect all client information. This Privacy Policy is to help you understand what information I may collect about you, the limited circumstances where I may share it with others, and what measures I take to protect the privacy of your personal information.
Personal Information I May Collect:
To meet your needs during tax representation, tax return preparation, and tax compliance engagements for you, I may collect various types of personal information about you from the following sources:
- Information I receive from you directly (either by phone, mail, e-mail, fax, or otherwise), through our website, on internal worksheets, and/or on other documents or forms I use in preparing your tax return(s) or providing other services for you.
- Information I receive from others about your transactions or relationships with them. Such information includes, for instance, investment, loan or banking activity, balances or account numbers, legal agreements and documents, and other information I gather in the course of providing services to you.
- Information I receive from you when your browser interacts with my website. This could include information transmitted on internet “cookies,” such as your password to the site, your preferences on the site, and your internet service provider’s address.
My office is virtual and paperless. Your important original documents and receipts will be scanned into computer memory and then returned to you when received by mail. The information you and I need to share will be completed using a client portal, mail, or fax. No client information papers of any kind are retained except when required by law. Documents no longer required will be shredded.
When I May Share Personal Information with Others:
I do not share any personal information about you with anyone without your express consent, except as permitted or required by law and as described below:
- The law permits or requires disclosure in certain instances, such as if I must share information to protect against fraud, in response to a court subpoena, or as part of actual or threatened legal proceedings or alternate dispute resolution.
- I may share any information I collect (except for consumer reporting agency information, which I do not disclose) to nonaffiliated companies which perform support services on my behalf (such as tax or data processing, transmission of electronic returns or data, records retention, and mailing services). I do not sell or otherwise disclose client list or any of your information to outside companies for their marketing or solicitation use.
- I may also share your information with other parties who help assure compliance with professional accounting standards (such as peer review), or who conduct due diligence procedures, such as if I consider a sale or merger of the practice.
How I Protect the Confidentiality and Security of Your Personal Information:
As an Enrolled Agent, my professional ethical obligations and responsibilities demand no less than the highest regard and duties for the confidentiality of your personal information and the security of your privacy. Keeping your information confidential and secure is of utmost importance to me. I take the following measures to protect the confidentiality and security of your personal information:
- I will protect your personal information, use it only as necessary, and perform our engagements to always maintain the confidentiality and security of your personal information.
- I follow standard industry practices to actively protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of your personal information.
- I maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information secure.
- I am bound by internal confidentiality policies and subject to disciplinary action for any policy violations.
My office is virtual and paperless. Your important original documents and receipts will be scanned into computer memory and then returned to you when received by mail. The information you and I need to share will be completed using a client portal, mail, or fax. No client information papers of any kind are retained except when required by law. Documents no longer required will be returned to you or shredded.
I value your business but more importantly I value the trust and confidence you place in me by choosing me as your tax professional and/or representative. Should you become an inactive client or should our relationship end, I will continue to protect the confidentiality and security of your personal information in accordance with this privacy policy.
I want to thank you for the opportunity to assist and serve you and/or your business with your tax situation. Your satisfaction with my services is extremely important. Please call me anytime you have questions or if I can be of further service.
Edward Babitzke, Enrolled Agent (00137614-EA)
Owner, Babitzke and Associates