Privacy Policy

Legal review required before launch. This is a standard template drafted for an Australian accounting firm complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. It must be reviewed by a qualified solicitor before the site goes live.

1. About this policy

Harvard Associates ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information.

By using our website at harvardassociates.com.au or engaging our services, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.

2. What personal information we collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

- Contact details: name, postal address, email address, telephone number - Tax file number (TFN) and other tax identifiers, where required to provide our services - Financial information: income, assets, liabilities, and transaction records provided to us for tax and accounting purposes - Business information: ABN, company registration details, financial statements - Identity documents: copies of photo ID, where required for client verification

We only collect personal information that is necessary to provide our services.

3. How we collect personal information

We collect personal information:

- Directly from you, when you contact us by phone or email, or engage our services - From third parties with your consent, such as the ATO, your employers, financial institutions, or other advisers - Through the use of our website — see the "Cookies and website data" section below

4. How we use your personal information

We use your personal information to:

- Provide accounting, tax, and advisory services to you - Correspond with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and other government agencies on your behalf - Communicate with you about your engagement and our services - Comply with our legal and professional obligations, including those imposed by the Tax Practitioners Board - Improve our website and services

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

5. Disclosure of personal information

We may disclose your personal information to:

- The ATO and other government bodies, as required to provide our services or comply with the law - ASIC, APRA, and other regulators where applicable - Third-party service providers who assist us in providing our services (e.g., cloud storage, software providers), subject to confidentiality obligations - Professional advisers (solicitors, auditors) under a duty of confidentiality

We do not disclose your personal information overseas unless we are required to do so by law, or you have given your consent.

6. Security of personal information

We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. This includes secure file storage, access controls, and appropriate physical security at our premises.

While we take care to protect your information, no data transmission over the internet is completely secure. You transmit information to us at your own risk.

7. Tax File Numbers

We are authorised to collect your Tax File Number (TFN) under tax laws to prepare and lodge tax returns and other documents with the ATO on your behalf. Your TFN is stored securely and will only be disclosed to the ATO or as required by law. You are not obliged to provide your TFN, but failure to do so may affect our ability to provide certain services.

8. Cookies and website data

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience and for analytics purposes. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies.

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. Google Analytics collects information anonymously and does not identify individual users. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

9. Access and correction

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and to request corrections if it is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, or misleading. To make a request, contact us at enquiries@harvardassociates.com.au or (02) 9673 1055.

We will respond to access and correction requests within 30 days.

10. Complaints

If you have a complaint about how we handle your personal information, please contact us at enquiries@harvardassociates.com.au. We will investigate and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The current version is always available on our website. Material changes will be notified to clients by email.

12. Contact us

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact:

Harvard Associates Suite 309, 2-8 Brookhollow Avenue, Norwest NSW 2153 (02) 9673 1055 enquiries@harvardassociates.com.au