WILLIAMS & COMPANY P.C.
Privacy Policy
The privacy of our clients is critical to us.
The information we collect.
In the course of our business relationship with you, we collect certain personal information when it is provided to our firm by you or is obtained by us with your authorization. We use this information to provide services at your request such as tax return preparation, payroll services, financial planning services, etc. We do not share or sell any of your personal information (including phone numbers) to third parties.
This information is provided to us in various ways and if you do not consent to give us information via any of these methods you may opt out by replying with STOP.
We may collect information from:
- Interviews, phone calls, and text messages with you
- Letters, e-mails, or portal uploads from you
- Tax return or financial planning organizers
- Financial history questionnaires
The disclosure of your information.
In general, our firm does not disclose personal or confidential information about our clients or former clients. 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 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 of organization.
- 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.
- 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.
- To provide information to affiliates of the firm and nonaffiliated 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 which prohibits them from disclosing or using the information other than for the purposes for which it was disclosed.
The confidentiality and security of your 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 nondisclosure 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.
For purposes of our business relationships with our clients, all information acquired is disclosed only under the following conditions:
- Employees of the firm: Employees who need such information to conclude a transaction for which the client has engaged the firm.
- Service Providers: As with any business, we have our own accounting, insurance and other service firms that we may need to provide information that the regulations consider nonpublic personal information. An example might be your account activity for our accounting firm to prepare financial statements for our internal or external purposes.
- Others: Other than as state above, we do not disclose nonpublic personal information, or any other information, to any outside party without specific client authorization. An example would be other professionals who are assisting the firm in carrying out a client engagement. In such a case, we require the client’s approval for such a disclosure.
In addition to the privacy protection that the new FTC regulations provide you, the Internal Revenue Code prevents the disclosure of client information provided for tax planning or preparation services without the client’s written permission. Further, the ethics rules that govern the operation principles that our firm must follow prohibit disclosing client information.
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.
Please contact us if you have any questions or if we can be of further service.
