Privacy Policy
How we protect your information
Our Commitment to Privacy
At HK CPA Professional Corporation, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information entrusted to us by our clients. We adhere to the professional standards established by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) and comply with all applicable privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Professional Standards & Compliance
As members of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, we follow the CPA Code of Professional Conduct which includes specific provisions regarding confidentiality of information. This includes:
- Rule 208 – Confidentiality of information, which prohibits disclosure of any confidential information without proper and specific authority
- Adherence to the CPA Canada Privacy Resources and Guidelines for professional accounting practices
- Compliance with provincial CPA regulatory body requirements regarding information security
- Implementation of the CPA Canada's recommended safeguards for electronic and physical data protection
- Regular review and updates to our privacy practices in line with professional standards
What Information We Collect
We collect and maintain personal and financial information that is necessary for the provision of professional accounting and tax services. This may include:
- Contact information (name, address, phone number, email)
- Financial and tax information
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) and other government identification
- Employment and business information
- Banking information
- Other information relevant to providing our services
How We Use Your Information
In accordance with CPA Canada guidelines, we use the information collected only for legitimate professional purposes:
- Providing accounting, tax, and financial advisory services
- Complying with professional, legal, and regulatory obligations
- Processing payments and maintaining client accounts
- Communicating with you regarding our services
- Improving our services and client experience
- Fulfilling our professional obligations as CPAs
How We Protect Your Information
Following CPA Canada's guidance on digital presence and information security, we maintain robust safeguards to protect personal information:
- Secure and restricted access to physical files
- Encryption of electronic information
- Password protection on all electronic devices and files
- Secure cloud storage with industry-standard security measures
- Staff training on privacy and confidentiality protocols
- Confidentiality agreements with any third-party service providers
Disclosure of Information
We adhere to the CPA Canada Code of Professional Conduct's strict confidentiality requirements. We do not disclose personal information to third parties without consent, except where required by:
- Tax authorities such as the Canada Revenue Agency
- Court orders or legal processes
- Professional practice inspections by our regulatory body (provincial CPA organization)
- Situations where disclosure is permitted by professional standards to protect the public interest
Retention of Information
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law or professional standards. Our retention policies align with CPA Canada's guidelines and legal requirements for tax and accounting records. The CPA Canada's Practice Management resources provide specific guidance on document retention which we follow, including the requirement to maintain certain records for a minimum of seven years.
Your Rights
In accordance with Canadian privacy legislation and CPA professional standards, you have the right to:
- Access your personal information
- Request corrections to inaccurate information
- Withdraw consent for certain uses of your information
- Be informed about how your information is being used
- File a complaint about our privacy practices
- Request information about our privacy policies and procedures
Digital Presence & Website Privacy
Our website and digital presence follow CPA Canada's guidelines for professional accountants' online activities:
- We use secure technologies to protect information transmitted through our website
- Our website uses cookies only for essential functionality and analytics
- We do not use web tracking for marketing purposes without explicit consent
- We maintain appropriate security measures for all digital communications
- Our electronic client communications are secured using industry-standard encryption
- We follow CPA Canada's recommendations for secure client portals and file sharing
Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, professional standards, or legal requirements. The current version will always be available on our website. Significant changes to our privacy practices will be communicated to clients in accordance with CPA Canada's recommended transparency practices.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about our privacy practices or wish to access your personal information, please contact us by email at info@physicianscpa.ca or through our contact page.