Privacy Policy
of R.J. Augustine and Associates, Ltd., CPA's
Your
privacy is important to us, and maintaining your trust and confidence
is one of our highest priorities. We respect your right to keep your
personal information confidential and understand your desire to avoid
unwanted solicitations. A recent law requires us (along with banks,
brokerage houses, and other financial institutions) to advise you of
our Privacy Policy. We hope that by taking a few moments to read our
policy, you will have a better understanding of what we do with the
information you provide us and how we keep it private and secure.
Types
of Information We Collect
We collect certain personal information about you, but only when that
information is provided by you or is obtained by us with your authorization.
We use that information to prepare your personal income tax returns
and may also use it to provide various tax and financial planning services
to you at your request.
As
a general rule, we do not disclose personal information about our 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:
1.
To comply with a validity issue and enforceable subpoena or summons.
2.
In the course of a review of our 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 or organization.
3.
In conjunction with a prospective purchase, sale, or merger of all or
part of our practice, provided that we 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.
4. As a part of any actual or threatened legal proceedings or alternative
dispute resolution proceedings either initiated by or against us, provided
we 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.
5.
To provide information to affiliates of the firm and non-affiliated
third parties who perform services or functions for us in conjunction
with our services to you, but only if we have a contractual agreement
with the other party that prohibits it 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.)
Confidentiality
and Security of Nonpublic Personal Information
Except as otherwise described in this notice, we 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 our firm, applicable law, our Code of Professional Conduct,
and non-disclosure agreements where appropriate. We 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 us to serve your accounting, tax, and financial planning
needs. We value your business and are committed to protecting your privacy.
We hope you view our firm as your most trusted advisor, and we will
work to continue earning your trust. Please call us if you have any
questions or if we can be of further service.
