Introduction
The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) governs how all private sector organizations in British Columbia handles the personal information of clients, employees, and others. Personal information is defined as information that can identify an individual and information about an identifiable individual.

My accounting firm has always protected the personal information received by me in the course of providing services to my clients and I have formalized my policies as a commitment to maintaining ymy privacy.

What Information I Collect and Why
I need my clients to provide me with all the relevant facts and information related to our
engagement. This information will include personal information about my clients and about other individuals with whom my clients conduct commercial transactions.

Consent for Collection, Use, and Disclosure
I will always try to collect personal information directly from the person to whom the
information pertains where practical and I will collect personal information from other sources when necessary. If I need to collect information about individuals other than my clients, I shall do so in accordance with the provisions of PIPA. I will make reasonable efforts to ensure that the personal information I collect, use, and distribute is accurate and complete.

By engaging my accounting firm to provide services, I consider an individual to have given my firm consent to the collection, use, and distribution of the individual’s personal information. Once this consent has been obtained by my firm, I will continue to collect, use, and disclose personal information for the purpose of providing the agreed-upon services without obtaining further written or verbal consent to do so.

I may also collect, use, or disclose personal information about an individual without that
individual’s consent as permitted under PIPA.

My firm will maintain the strictest confidence with respect to any client’s or former client’s information. Accordingly, confidential client information will not, without client consent, be disclosed to any individuals in my firm beyond those who are engaged in providing services to the client. This policy applies to anyone outside the firm, except as required by law or under the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia’s Code of Professional Conduct.

In accordance with professional regulations, my client files must periodically be reviewed by provincial practice inspectors and by other firm personnel to ensure that I have adhered to professional and firm standards. File reviewers are required to maintain the confidentiality of client information.

Security and Retention
In recognition of my professional and legal obligations to protect my confidential client
information, I have made arrangements to protect against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, disposal, or destruction of personal information.

I will retain client personal information for a reasonable time period as required by my Code of Professional Conduct and the terms of my professional liability insurance policy. When no longer required, client personal information will be disposed of in a secured manner.

Requests for Access and Correction
Individuals have the right to ask, in writing, for access to their own personal information in the custody or under the controls of my firm as permitted under PIPA. I will respond to requests
as accurately and completely as reasonably possible in the time allowed by PIPA. I are entitled to refuse access in certain situations such as when:

• The personal information is protected by solicitor-client privilege.
• Disclosure of the personal information would reveal confidential commercial information that could, in a reasonable person’s opinion, harm the competitive position of my firm.
• The personal information was collected for an investigation or legal proceeding that has not been concluded, including any appeals.
• The information was collected by a mediator or arbitrator in conducting a mediation or arbitration where the mediator or arbitrator was appointed under a collective agreement, a law, or by a court.
• Disclosure could reasonably be expected to threaten the safety or physical or mental health of another individual.
• Disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause immediate or grave harm to the safety or to the physical or mental health of the individual who made the request.
• Disclosure would reveal personal information about another individual.
• Disclosure would identify the individual who has provided personal information about another individual and that individual does not consent to the disclosure of his or her identity.

PIPA also allows individuals to request in writing for my firm to correct errors or omissions. I will correct any factual error or omissions and inform other organizations to whom I have disclosed the incorrect information. If I determine there is no factual error or omission, I will annotate the record with the record that a correction was requested but not made.

Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about my privacy policy, or how I have handled your personal information, please contact Mohammed at 604-612-8650 or info@alphataxca.com.