Privacy Policy for Schmutte CPA

 

To My Clients:

 

Your privacy is important to me, and maintaining your trust and confidence is one of my highest priorities. I respect your right to keep your personal information confidential and understand your desire to avoid unwanted solicitations. A recent law change requires me (along with banks, brokerage houses, and other financial institutions) to disclose my Privacy Policy to you – which I am more than happy to do. I hope that by taking a few minutes to read it, you will have a better understanding of what I do with the information you provide me and how I keep it private and secure.

 

  1. Types of Information I Collect

 

I collect certain personal information about you – but only when that information is provided by you or is obtained by us with your authorization. I use that information to prepare your personal income tax returns and may also provide various tax and financial planning services to you at your request.

Examples of sources from which I collect information include:

 

    • interviews and phone calls with you,
    • letters or e-mails from you,
    • tax returns or financial planning organizers, and
    • financial history questionnaires.

 

  1. Parties to Whom I Disclose Information

 

None of the information that I collect will be shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

 

Neither the SMS consent nor the phone numbers will be shared with third parties numbers for purposes of SMS messaging.

 

As a general rule, I do not disclose personal information about my clients or former clients to anyone. However, to the extent permitted by law and any applicable state Code of Professional Conduct, certain nonpublic information about you may be disclosed in the following situations:

 

    • To comply with a validly issued and enforceable subpoena or summons.
    • In the course of a review of my firm’s practices under the authorization of a state or national licensing board, or as necessary to properly respond to an inquiry or complaint from such a licensing board of organization.
    • In conjunction with a prospective purchase, sale, or merger of all or part of my practice, provided that I take appropriate precautions (for example, through a written confidentiality agreement) so the prospective purchaser or merger partner does not disclose information obtained in the course of the review.
    • As a part of any actual or threatened legal proceedings or alternative dispute resolution proceedings either initiated by or against us, provided I disclose only the information necessary to file, pursue, or defend against the lawsuit and take reasonable precautions to ensure that the information disclosed does not become a matter of public record.
    • To provide information to affiliates of the firm and nonaffiliated third parties who perform services or functions for us in conjunction with my services to you, but only if I have a contractual agreement with the other party which prohibits them from disclosing or using the information other than for the purposes for which it was disclosed. (Examples of such disclosures include using an outside service bureau to process tax returns or engaging a records-retention agency to store prior year records.)

 

  1. Confidentiality and Security of Nonpublic Personal Information

 

Except as otherwise described in this notice, I restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to employees of our firm and other parties who must use that information to provide services to you. Their right to further disclose and use the information is limited by the policies of my firm, applicable law, my Code of Professional Conduct, and nondisclosure agreements where appropriate. I also maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards in compliance with applicable laws and regulations to guard your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or premature destruction.

 

Thank you for allowing me to serve your payroll, accounting, tax, and financial planning needs. I value your business and am committed to protecting your privacy. I hope you view my firm as your most trusted advisor and I will work to continue earning your trust. Please call me if you have any questions or if I can be of further service.

 

Best regards,

 

Lara C Schmutte CPA