iTax Accounting & Business Services (ABN 26 064 004 824) ("iTax", "we", "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, hold and disclose personal information, and how you can access or correct it.

We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in that Act. As a registered tax agent with the Tax Practitioners Board, we are also subject to the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth) and the Tax Practitioners Board Code of Professional Conduct, which impose obligations regarding the confidentiality of client information.

1. What personal information we collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

  • Identity information — name, date of birth, ABN, ACN, TFN
  • Contact information — address, phone number, email address
  • Financial information — income, expenses, assets, liabilities, bank details
  • Business information — business structure, turnover, payroll details, financial statements
  • Employment information — where relevant to payroll or tax obligations
  • Government-issued identifiers — tax file numbers, Medicare numbers (where required by law)

We collect only the information necessary to provide our services and meet our legal obligations.

2. How we collect personal information

We collect personal information directly from you where reasonably practicable — in person, by phone, by email, or through this website's contact form. We may also collect information from third parties with your consent, including:

  • The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) via our tax agent access
  • Your accounting software (MYOB, Xero, QuickBooks, Reckon)
  • Other professional advisers you authorise us to liaise with
  • Government agencies and registries where required by law

3. Why we collect and use personal information

We use personal information to:

  • Provide accounting, taxation and software services
  • Prepare and lodge tax returns, BAS statements and other statutory documents
  • Communicate with the ATO and other agencies on your behalf
  • Meet our obligations under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 and other legislation
  • Send relevant updates, newsletters or firm communications (you may opt out at any time)
  • Manage our business operations and comply with our professional obligations

4. Tax file numbers

We are authorised to collect, use and disclose Tax File Numbers (TFNs) under the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015. TFNs are used solely to provide tax agent services and to interact with the ATO on your behalf. We do not use TFNs for any other purpose, and we do not disclose them except as required or authorised by law.

5. Disclosure of personal information

We do not sell, trade or rent your personal information to third parties. We may disclose personal information to:

  • The Australian Taxation Office and other government agencies, as required to deliver tax and accounting services
  • ASIC, the ABS or other regulatory bodies, where legally required
  • Our professional indemnity insurer, if a claim arises
  • Our IT service providers and cloud software platforms, strictly to support service delivery
  • Other professional advisers (e.g. solicitors, financial planners) where you have authorised us to do so

Where we disclose information to third-party service providers, we take reasonable steps to ensure those providers are bound by confidentiality obligations consistent with this policy.

6. Overseas disclosure

Some of the software platforms we use (such as Xero and QuickBooks Online) may store or process data on servers located outside Australia. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure the overseas recipient handles personal information in a manner consistent with the APPs.

7. How we hold and protect personal information

We hold personal information in both paper and electronic formats. Electronic records are secured by password protection, encryption and access controls. Paper records are stored securely on our premises. We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

When information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected, and we are not required by law to retain it, we will take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it. Note that tax records are generally required to be retained for five years.

8. Access and correction

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. To make a request, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable time and at no charge in most circumstances.

In some circumstances we may decline to provide access — for example, where doing so would be unlawful, or where the information relates to anticipated legal proceedings. We will explain the reasons for any refusal.

9. Complaints

If you believe we have handled your personal information in a way that breaches the Privacy Act or this policy, please contact us in the first instance. We will investigate your complaint and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may refer the matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

10. Contact us

For privacy enquiries, access requests or complaints, please contact:

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on this website. We encourage you to review it periodically.