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Privacy Policy

Brown Plumb Accounting Pty Ltd (ABN 68 694 283 504) ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals whose personal information we collect and handle. This Privacy Policy sets out how we manage personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ("Privacy Act") and the Australian Privacy Principles ("APPs").

By accessing our website at http://brownplumb.com.au or engaging our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

 

1. About Us

Brown Plumb Accounting Pty Ltd is a registered tax agent (Company Tax Agent Number: 26351977) providing accounting, taxation, bookkeeping, and financial advisory services. Our Managing Director is Darren Pawski (Individual Tax Agent Number: 26348245).

 

2. What Personal Information We Collect

We may collect and hold the following types of personal information:

  • Identity information: full name, date of birth, and government-issued identification details (e.g. Tax File Number, driver's licence);

  • Contact information: postal address, email address, and telephone numbers;

  • Financial information: income details, bank account information, assets, liabilities, and superannuation details;

  • Business information: ABN, ACN, business name, and business financial records;

  • Tax records: prior tax returns, assessments, notices, and correspondence with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO);

  • Employment information: payroll details, PAYG summaries, and employer information;

  • Website usage data: IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, and session data collected via cookies or analytics tools.

We collect only the information that is reasonably necessary for the provision of our services or as required by law.

 

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information:

  • directly from you when you complete engagement or onboarding forms, sign our Client Services Agreement, or communicate with us by telephone, email, or in person;

  • from authorised third parties such as your employer, financial institutions, or accountants acting on your behalf;

  • from the ATO, the Australian Business Register (ABR), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), or other government bodies as necessary to perform our services;

  • via our website when you submit an enquiry, subscribe to communications, or use contact forms.

 

4. Tax File Number Information

We are authorised to collect your Tax File Number (TFN) under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth) and related legislation. We collect your TFN solely for the purpose of providing taxation services and will handle it in accordance with the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015. Your TFN will not be disclosed to any party other than the ATO, state revenue authorities, or as otherwise required or authorised by law.

 

5. Purposes of Collection and Use

We use personal information for the following purposes:

  • to provide accounting, taxation, business advisory, and bookkeeping services;

  • to prepare and lodge tax returns, activity statements, and other documents with the ATO and relevant agencies;

  • to fulfil our obligations as a registered tax agent under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth);

  • to communicate with you regarding your engagement and our services;

  • to comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements;

  • to manage our business operations and improve our services;

  • to send relevant updates, newsletters, or alerts about legislative changes (where you have consented to receive such communications).

 

6. Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose your personal information to:

  • the ATO, ABR, ASIC, state and territory revenue offices, and other government bodies as required to provide our services;

  • our professional advisers, including lawyers and insurers, on a confidential basis;

  • cloud-based software providers and IT service providers who assist in the delivery of our services (subject to confidentiality obligations);

  • the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) if required in connection with our registration or obligations as a registered tax agent;

  • any party to whom you have authorised us to disclose information;

  • law enforcement or government agencies where required or authorised by law.

We do not sell or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

 

7. Overseas Disclosure

Where we use third-party cloud software, data may be stored or processed overseas (for example, in the United States or European Union). We take reasonable steps to ensure overseas recipients handle information in accordance with the APPs or a substantially similar standard of protection. Where we are unable to ensure such protections, we will seek your consent before any overseas disclosure.

 

8. Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include:

  • secure physical storage of paper records;

  • password-protected and encrypted digital systems;

  • restricted access to client files on a need-to-know basis;

  • use of reputable, industry-standard accounting and practice management software.

In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in serious harm, we will comply with the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme under Part IIIC of the Privacy Act and notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) as required.

 

9. Retention of Records

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and to comply with our legal obligations. Under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth) and related instruments, we are required to retain client records for a minimum of five (5) years from the date of the relevant tax return or document. After this period, records will be securely destroyed.

 

10. Access and Correction

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, and to request correction of information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. To make a request, please contact us using the details in Section 14. We will respond to access or correction requests within a reasonable time, generally within 30 days. We may decline access in limited circumstances permitted by the Privacy Act, and will provide reasons if we do so.

 

11. Complaints

If you believe we have breached the APPs or mishandled your personal information, please contact us in writing using the details in Section 14. We will acknowledge your complaint promptly and aim to resolve it within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the OAIC at:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001

Telephone: 1300 363 992

Website: www.oaic.gov.au

 

12. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to collect non-personal usage data to improve your browsing experience. You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, some features of our website may not function correctly as a result. We do not use cookies to identify you personally.

 

13. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, technology, or our practices. The current version will always be available on our website. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

 

14. Contact Us

For any privacy-related enquiries, requests, or complaints, please contact:

 

Darren Pawski

Managing Director — Brown Plumb Accounting Pty Ltd

Website: http://brownplumb.com.au

Email: darren@brownplumb.com.au

ABN: 68 694 283 504

Company Tax Agent Number: 26351977

Last updated: 24 May 2025

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