Privacy Policy

The Accounting Office, Inc. (“The Accounting Office,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) places the highest value on protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal and financial information. We understand the sensitive nature of the Nonpublic Personal Information (NPI) and other personal data you entrust to us. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of your information, including when you use our services, visit our website, or communicate with us, including via SMS (text message).

This policy is intended to inform you of how we handle your information and to comply with applicable privacy laws, including requirements for text messaging services and principles of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act applicable to financial institutions like ours.

The Information We Collect

We collect NPI and other personal data needed to provide accounting, tax preparation, and related financial services. This may include information from applications, tax organizers, forms, communications, transactions, financial statements, tax documents, business ownership records, and other information relevant to our services.

We collect information through client intake forms, client portals, secure file exchange, email, telephone conversations, meetings, mail, and when you explicitly provide your mobile number for SMS communications.

How We Use Your Information

• Provide accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, and related services.
• File tax returns and other required documents with government agencies.
• Communicate about your account, services, requests, appointments, and important updates.
• Respond to inquiries and service requests and manage client relationships.
• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and legal processes.
• Protect against fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, and other liabilities.

SMS Communications and Consent

If you consent to receive SMS from The Accounting Office, you agree to receive messages regarding work updates, requests for information, appointment confirmations, or responses to inquiries. Frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time by contacting us. SMS consent is not required to receive services, and we do not use SMS for unsolicited marketing.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your NPI or personal data or share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes. We may share information with trusted service providers who help operate our business and provide services, including IT, secure cloud hosting, document management, tax software, communication platforms, or specialized subcontractors working under our direction. These providers are required to protect confidentiality and use information only for the services provided.

We may also disclose information when required or permitted by law, legal process, professional standards, regulatory inquiry, or to protect rights, property, or safety. Mobile numbers and SMS consent are not shared with affiliates or third parties for marketing.

Protecting Your Information

We maintain an information security program with administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of NPI and personal data. These safeguards include need-to-know access, encryption where appropriate, firewalls, secure networks, current anti-virus software, physical security, employee training, and secure destruction or anonymization when information is no longer needed.

No security system is absolutely impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee complete security of information transmitted to us or stored on our systems.

Data Retention

We retain NPI and personal data as long as necessary to provide services, fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements.

Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may request access to or correction or deletion of NPI, subject to legal and professional retention obligations. You may also opt out of SMS communications without affecting other service-related communications.

Former Clients and Children’s Data

After a client relationship ends, we continue to protect NPI in accordance with this policy and applicable law. Our services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information without verifiable parental consent.

Updates

We may update this policy to reflect changes in practices, services, or legal requirements. Material changes will be posted with an updated effective date.

Contact Us

Questions or requests regarding this policy may be sent to [email protected].