Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

At AL Accounting Inc. we are committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of our clients, employees, and other individuals we deal with.

This Privacy Policy is based on the principles outlined in British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the ethical guidelines of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC).

This policy explains how we collect, use, and disclose the personal information you provide to us to serve you better and in accordance with the law. By engaging our firm for services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as outlined in this policy.

2. What is Personal Information?

“Personal information” is any information about an identifiable individual. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Name, address, and contact information
• Date of birth, marital status
• Financial information, including income, assets, liabilities, and investments
• Tax information, including social insurance numbers and tax return details
• Employment information
• Spouse and dependent information
• Information required for “Know Your Client” (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance as required by the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA).

Personal information does not include the name, title, business address, or business telephone number of an employee of an organization.

3. Accountability

The CEO acts as the Privacy Officer and is responsible for ensuring our firm’s compliance with this policy and PIPA. The Privacy Officer’s contact information is provided at the end of this document.

We are responsible for all personal information under our custody and control. This includes information that may be transferred to a third party for processing. We have implemented policies and procedures to protect personal information, and all staff members are trained on the importance of privacy and confidentiality.

4. The Purpose for Collecting Your Personal Information

We collect personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide professional accounting, tax, and advisory services.
• To comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including those of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other government bodies.
• To comply with the ethical and professional standards of the CPABC.
• To meet our obligations under the PCMLTFA.
• To administer our client database and maintain accurate client records.
• To bill and collect fees for services rendered.
• To communicate with you about your account and our services.

5. How We Collect Your Personal Information

We will always try to collect personal information directly from the individual to whom it pertains. This is typically done through meetings, telephone calls, emails, and information provided in documents such as tax slips, financial statements, and other records.

In some cases, we may need to collect personal information from other sources with your consent, or as permitted by law, such as from financial institutions, legal advisors, or government agencies.

6. Consent

We will obtain your consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. Your consent may be express or implied.

• Express consent: This is when you explicitly agree, either in writing or verbally, to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information for a specific purpose. For example, signing an engagement letter with a privacy clause or providing your Social Insurance Number to prepare a tax return.
• Implied consent: This is when your consent is assumed based on your actions or the circumstances. For example, if you provide us with your financial records to complete a tax return, we can reasonably assume you consent to us using that information for that purpose.

In some limited circumstances, PIPA allows us to collect, use, or disclose your personal information without your consent. This includes situations where it is necessary for legal purposes or for our firm to establish, manage, or terminate a business relationship.

7. Limiting Use, Disclosure, and Retention

We will only use or disclose your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected, or for other purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances.

We will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent, unless required or permitted by law. Examples of disclosures permitted by law include:

• Disclosures to the CRA or other governmental bodies.
• Disclosures to our professional practice inspectors as part of their review of our practice standards.
• Disclosures to other professional advisors (e.g., lawyers, financial planners) with your explicit consent.

We will retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with legal and regulatory retention requirements. When we dispose of personal information, we will use secure methods to ensure it is not accessible.

8. Accuracy of Your Personal Information

We make reasonable efforts to ensure that the personal information we collect, use, and disclose is accurate and complete. If you believe there are errors or omissions in your personal information, please inform us in writing so we can correct it.

9. Security of Your Personal Information

We have implemented physical, technological, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, or disposal. These measures include:

• Secure storage of physical files.
• Password protection and encryption for electronic data.
• Restricted access to personal information on a “need-to-know” basis.

10. Your Right to Access and Correction

You have the right to request access to your personal information under our custody and control. You can make this request in writing to our Privacy Officer. We will respond to your request within the time frame prescribed by PIPA and will provide you with an estimate of any fees associated with the request.

We are entitled to refuse access in certain situations, such as when the information is protected by solicitor-client privilege or when disclosure would reveal personal information about another individual.

11. Questions and Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.