Privacy Policy
Table of Contents
Privacy Policy
Shastra Consultants Pty Ltd trading as Neon Tax (Neon Tax, we, us or our) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information through our website and professional services, and how you may request access, correction or make a complaint.
We handle personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015 and tax practitioner confidentiality obligations, where they apply.
Who this policy applies to
Shastra Consultants Pty Ltd trading as Neon Tax (Neon Tax, we, us or our) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information through our website and professional services, and how you may request access, correction or make a complaint.
We handle personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015 and tax practitioner confidentiality obligations, where they apply.
Personal information we may collect
Depending on the service or interaction, we may collect:
- Identity and contact details, including name, date of birth, address, email and phone number;
- Taxation and government information, including TFNs, ABNs, tax records, ATO correspondence and registration details;
- Financial information, including income, expenses, deductions, assets, liabilities, investments, bank details and transaction records;
- Employment, business, company, trust, partnership, superannuation and property information;
- Identity verification information and records of checks completed;
- Information about a spouse, dependant, related entity, employee or representative where relevant;
- Service, billing, payment, complaint and correspondence records;
- Information you provide in forms, uploads, emails, calls or meetings; and
- Website and device information such as IP address, browser, device type, referral source, pages viewed, cookies and form activity.
We collect sensitive information only where reasonably necessary for our services, required or authorised by law or with appropriate consent.
We handle personal information in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles, the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015 and tax practitioner confidentiality obligations, where they apply.
How we collect information
We usually collect information directly from you through the website, Tax Form, meetings, telephone, email, secure portals, documents and service interactions. With authority or where law permits, we may also collect information from the ATO and other government agencies, employers, financial institutions, prior advisers, software platforms, authorised representatives, related entities and publicly available sources.
If you provide personal information about another person, you should have authority to do so and, where appropriate, tell them that their information has been provided to Neon Tax and direct them to this policy.
Why we collect, use and disclose information
We may handle personal information to:
- Respond to enquiries and assess whether we can accept an engagement;
- Verify identity, authority, beneficial ownership and other required matters;
- Provide tax, accounting and business advisory services;
- Prepare, review and lodge documents and communicate with the ATO or other authorised bodies;
- Manage scope, appointments, client relationships, invoices, payments and debt recovery;
- Detect or prevent fraud, security incidents, unlawful conduct and professional conflicts;
- Meet legal, professional, regulatory, insurance and record-keeping obligations;
- Operate, secure, analyse and improve our website, systems and services;
- Deal with access requests, complaints, disputes or legal claims; and
- Send marketing where you have consented or where otherwise permitted by law.
If required information is not provided, we may be unable to verify your identity, accept instructions, provide a service, lodge a document or meet a deadline.
If you provide personal information about another person, you should have authority to do so and, where appropriate, tell them that their information has been provided to Neon Tax and direct them to this policy.
TFNs and government identifiers
We collect and handle TFNs only where authorised and reasonably necessary for taxation services or another lawful purpose. We do not use a TFN as our general client identifier. We restrict access, use and disclosure of TFN information and securely destroy or de-identify it when it is no longer legally required or reasonably necessary.
You should provide TFNs only through the Tax Form or another channel Neon Tax has approved for that purpose, not through a general contact form.
Website information, cookies and analytics
The website may use cookies, server logs and analytics or security tools to operate the site, remember preferences, understand usage, detect abuse and improve performance. These tools may collect device and browsing information. You may control cookies through your browser, although disabling them may affect website functionality.
Where third-party analytics, spam protection, booking, form, payment or embedded services are used, those providers may also collect information under their own privacy policies.
Direct marketing
We may send service updates that are reasonably necessary for an enquiry or client relationship. We will send promotional email or SMS messages only where we have consent or another lawful basis. Marketing consent should be optional and separate from acceptance of an engagement.
You may opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe method in the message or contacting us. We will action electronic marketing unsubscribe requests within the period required by law. Opting out of marketing does not prevent essential service, security, billing or regulatory communications.
Where third-party analytics, spam protection, booking, form, payment or embedded services are used, those providers may also collect information under their own privacy policies.
Who we may disclose information to
Where reasonably necessary, authorised or required by law, we may disclose personal information to:
- The ATO, ASIC, other government agencies, regulators, courts and law enforcement bodies;
- Banks, financial institutions, employers, prior advisers or other organisations where you have authorised contact and it is relevant to the service;
- Tax, accounting, document, identity verification, electronic signature, payment, CRM, cloud hosting, email, cybersecurity and IT service providers;
- Employees, contractors or other tax and accounting professionals assisting with the engagement;
- Professional advisers, insurers, auditors, investigators, mediators and debt recovery providers;
- A purchaser or successor in connection with a genuine sale or restructure of the practice, subject to appropriate confidentiality; and
- Another person or organisation where you have authorised disclosure or where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
As a registered tax agent, Neon Tax must not disclose information relating to a client’s affairs to a third party without the client’s permission unless there is a legal duty to disclose it. The Tax Services Engagement Agreement provides the applicable client authority for ordinary service-related disclosures. Additional consent will be sought where required.
Security
We take reasonable administrative, technical and physical steps to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Measures may include access controls, authentication, staff procedures, secure systems, backups, encryption where appropriate and service-provider controls.
No internet transmission or storage system is completely secure. You should follow any security instructions we provide, protect your accounts and promptly tell us if you suspect unauthorised access or have sent information to the wrong recipient.
You may contact Neon Tax to request current information about likely overseas data locations and the safeguards that apply.
Retention and destruction
We retain information for as long as required by taxation, tax practitioner, corporate, insurance and other applicable laws, and as reasonably necessary to provide services, manage disputes and protect legal interests. Tax practitioner records relating to services provided are generally retained for at least five years after the service is provided. Different periods may apply to particular records.
When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it, subject to legal and professional obligations and secure backup cycles.
No internet transmission or storage system is completely secure. You should follow any security instructions we provide, protect your accounts and promptly tell us if you suspect unauthorised access or have sent information to the wrong recipient.
You may contact Neon Tax to request current information about likely overseas data locations and the safeguards that apply.
Access and correction
You may request access to personal information we hold about you or ask us to correct inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading information. We may need to verify your identity before responding. Access may be refused or limited where the law permits, in which case we will generally explain the reason and available complaint options.
We do not charge to make a request. We may charge a reasonable amount for the cost of providing access where permitted, after telling you in advance.
Privacy enquiries and complaints
To make a privacy enquiry, access or correction request, or complaint, contact Neon Tax using the contact form or contact details published on the website, or call 0450 950 047. Please describe the issue and provide enough information for us to investigate.
We will acknowledge and investigate a complaint and aim to provide a response within 30 days. If you are not satisfied, you may be able to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Other professional or regulatory complaint rights may also apply.
Privacy enquiries and complaints
To make a privacy enquiry, access or correction request, or complaint, contact Neon Tax using the contact form or contact details published on the website, or call 0450 950 047. Please describe the issue and provide enough information for us to investigate.
We will acknowledge and investigate a complaint and aim to provide a response within 30 days. If you are not satisfied, you may be able to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Other professional or regulatory complaint rights may also apply.
Data breaches
We maintain processes to assess and respond to suspected data breaches. Where the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme applies and a breach is likely to result in serious harm, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required by law.
Third-party websites
Our website may link to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. You should review the privacy information of those providers before giving them personal information.
Updates to this policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in law, technology, providers or business practices. The current version will be published on the website with its last updated date. Material changes affecting an existing engagement will be communicated where required.