Privacy Policy

Last updated: 28 May 2025

By using the Vince Fayad and Associates website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy, and you consent to the collection, use, disclosure, and storage of your personal information as described herein.

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

At Vince Fayad and Associates, your privacy is important to us. We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of your personal information and complying with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (Cth) (“TASA”), and other applicable Australian privacy and tax laws. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal and sensitive information.

2. Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information that is necessary to provide our tax, accounting, and business advisory services and to meet our legal and professional obligations. This includes information about:

• Clients and their representatives
• Business contacts
• Third parties relevant to client matters

We are authorised to collect certain information under the following legislation:

• Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth)
• Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)
• Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth)
• New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth)
• New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 (Cth)
• Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 (Cth)
• Other related Acts and Regulations

Types of Information We May Collect

• Name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email address
• Tax File Number (TFN) and Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Financial and business information
• Sensitive information (e.g. health, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation) where relevant and permitted
• Credit or banking details (for agreed billing purposes)

We may collect this information:

• Directly from you (via email, telephone, in-person meetings, or online forms)
• From third parties with your consent (e.g. legal or financial representatives, banks, regulators)
• From publicly available sources, where appropriate

We will always aim to notify you, where practicable, when personal information is collected from third parties.

3. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

We use personal information for purposes including:

• Providing tax and accounting services
• Managing client relationships
• Meeting our legal and regulatory obligations
• Communicating updates and relevant information about our services

We may disclose your personal information to:

• The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• Other government agencies and regulators
• Third-party service providers engaged by us (e.g. IT, audit, legal)
• Overseas institutions only with your consent or as required by law

Where disclosure is required, we ensure that such third parties comply with privacy obligations equivalent to those imposed under Australian law.

4. Overseas Disclosure

We do not routinely disclose personal information overseas. However, encrypted data backups may be stored or mirrored in offshore servers managed by third-party IT providers. We will not disclose personal information to foreign recipients unless:

• You have expressly consented; or
• It is required or authorised by law.

5. Cookies and Website Analytics

We may use cookies and anonymous identifiers to enhance your user experience and analyse website usage. You may refuse cookies via your browser settings, although some features of our website may not function properly as a result.

6. Data Security and Retention

We are committed to protecting the security of personal information. We implement appropriate technical, physical, and administrative measures to safeguard against loss, unauthorised access, or misuse.

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfil our obligations or as required by law. When information is no longer needed, we will securely destroy or de-identify it.

You are encouraged to use up-to-date antivirus software and maintain secure access to your systems when interacting with us electronically.

7. Access and Correction

You may request access to or correction of your personal information at any time, subject to limited exceptions. Requests should be made in writing to our Privacy Officer (contact details below). We may charge a reasonable fee for access.

If we deny access, we will provide reasons in writing.

8. Government Identifiers and Sensitive Information

We may collect government identifiers (e.g. TFNs, Medicare numbers) when required for lawful purposes, such as lodging returns with the ATO. We will not use these for any other purpose without your consent.

We only collect sensitive information with your consent or as required by law (e.g. for legal claims, tax compliance, or when providing specialised services).

9. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legislative changes or enhancements to our practices. All changes will be published on our website and are effective immediately upon posting.

10. Complaints and Further Information

If you believe we have breached your privacy or wish to make a complaint, please contact our Privacy Officer. We will respond within 14 business days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

Contact Us

Vince Fayad and Associates
Suite 6, Level 5, 189 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 0403 838 915
Email: kurt.laney@vfassociates.com.au
Web: https://www.vfaassociates.com.au