Sims & Company CPAs LLP (“Sims & Company” or “the Firm”) recognizes the significance of privacy and the sensitivity of personal information. As a provider of financial services, we are committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information we collect, use, and disclose. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices concerning the management of personal information and how we safeguard your privacy.
Privacy Policy
Last Revision Date: March 21, 2024
Your Privacy Rights
Sims & Company complies with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) and other relevant privacy legislation. These laws give individuals rights concerning the privacy of their personal information. Sims & Company is responsible for the personal information we collect, use, and disclose.
Why Does Sims & Company Need Personal Information?
We collect personal information to perform the services within the scope of our engagement and to provide relevant information through various channels. This includes notifications about new services, professional development opportunities, changes in laws or practices, and other relevant business developments. If you prefer not to receive such information, you may opt out by contacting us at or advising your Sims & Company contact.
Types of Information We Collect
Sims & Company collects personal information provided by you or obtained with your authorization. This information is used to prepare personal income tax returns and provide tax and financial planning services. Sources of information may include interviews, correspondence, questionnaires, and information from government agencies or other professionals.
Consent
In most cases, we will obtain your explicit consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information. Your consent may be obtained in writing or orally, depending on the circumstances. We may also imply consent through your conduct with us. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions.
Use of Your Information
Sims & Company generally does not disclose personal information about clients or former clients to third parties. However, there are circumstances where disclosure may be necessary, such as legal obligations, professional practice reviews, or in the event of a merger or sale of the firm. We may also disclose information to affiliates or third parties who provide services on our behalf, subject to confidentiality agreements.
Security of Personal Information
We take reasonable measures to safeguard personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. Access to personal information is restricted to employees and authorized third parties who require it to perform their duties.
Access to Your Personal Information
You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. Upon request, we will provide summary information free of charge. More detailed requests may be subject to reasonable fees. We may deny access to personal information in certain circumstances, and if so, we will provide an explanation.
Correcting Errors
If you believe that your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated, you may request corrections. We will take reasonable steps to correct the information if necessary.
Credit Bureaus
We may request information from credit bureaus to assist in making credit decisions about clients.
Communicating With Us
While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted online. We encourage caution when disclosing sensitive information online.
Contact Information
If you have questions about our Privacy Policy, wish to access your personal information, or have concerns about privacy issues, please contact our Chief Privacy Officer: Alexandra Finkel at
hCaptcha
We use the hCaptcha anti-bot service (hereinafter “hCaptcha”) on our website. This service is provided by Intuition Machines, Inc., a Delaware US Corporation (“IMI”). hCaptcha is used to check whether the data entered on our website (such as on a login page or contact form) has been entered by a human or by an automated program. To do this, hCaptcha analyzes the behavior of the website or mobile app visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis starts automatically as soon as the website or mobile app visitor enters a part of the website or app with hCaptcha enabled. For the analysis, hCaptcha evaluates various information (e.g. IP address, how long the visitor has been on the website or app, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis will be forwarded to IMI. hCaptcha analysis in the “invisible mode” may take place completely in the background. Website or app visitors are not advised that such an analysis is taking place if the user is not shown a challenge. Data processing is based on Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR (DSGVO): the website or mobile app operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its site from abusive automated crawling and spam. IMI acts as a “data processor” acting on behalf of its customers as defined under the GDPR, and a “service provider” for the purposes of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). For more information about hCaptcha and IMI’s privacy policy and terms of use, please visit the following links: https://www.hcaptcha.com/privacy and https://www.hcaptcha.com/terms.