Privacy Policy

    Important Information about Privacy, Our Obligations to You and Your Obligations as a Taxpayer

    1. Introduction

    At BusinessSpark, we are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA). We also uphold the professional and ethical standards required by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).

    This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect your personal information.

    2. What Personal Information We Collect

    We only collect information that is necessary to deliver our professional services. This may include:

    • Your full name, address, email, phone number
    • Tax File Number (TFN), ABN and Director IDs
    • Financial and accounting records including previous tax returns & bank statements
    • Employment and business details
    • Bank account and payment information
    • ATO correspondence
    • Information about family members, where necessary for the services we provide
    • Information about health and relationship status where necessary
    • Copies of identification documents (as part of onboarding and engagement)

    We may collect this information directly from you via phone, Microsoft Teams, email and through tools such as Xero Ask forms and Xero Workpapers. We may also receive information from authorised third parties, including the ATO, Centrelink, banks, or your employer with your consent. 

    3. How We Use Your Personal Information

    We use your personal information to:

    • Provide accounting, tax, and advisory services
    • Communicate with you and respond to your enquiries
    • Comply with legal and professional obligations, including under TASA and the TPB Code
    • Manage our relationship with you
    • Maintain and improve our services and client experience

    We will never sell your information or use it for unrelated marketing purposes.

    We only disclose information to third parties (e.g. bookkeepers, legal or financial professionals) with your written consent. We act under your signed authority when dealing with the ATO and other government agencies. 

    4. Disclosure of Personal Information

    We may disclose your information to:

    • The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and other government agencies
    • External auditors or regulators (e.g. TPB, CA ANZ)
    • Third-party providers (e.g. cloud storage, software providers) under strict confidentiality
    • Other professionals (e.g. lawyers, financial planners) with your express consent

    We ensure all third-party providers have suitable privacy and security protections in place, including where data is stored offshore.

    5. Data Security & Retention

    We take reasonable steps to secure your personal information from misuse, interference, or unauthorised access, including:

    • Multi-factor authentication for cloud platforms
    • Regular cybersecurity reviews and staff training
    • Encrypted storage and secure backups

    We retain your personal information for a minimum of 5 years in compliance with TPB Practice Note TPB(PN) 3/2022 and CA ANZ quality management requirements.

    Data is stored securely using platforms including Xero, MYOB, FYI Docs, Microsoft Office, NowInfinity, Class and BGL. We apply two-factor authentication on all relevant apps and use Practice Protect & Lastpass for password and access control. 

    Outsourced staff may temporarily download documents to their local computers (owned and monitored by us). These documents are permanently deleted on completion of the task or as a minimum, every week. No paper files are stored outside Australia. 

    6. Access & Correction

     You may request access to your personal information by contacting us at hello@businesssparkca.com.au. We will verify your identity before processing any request and respond within a reasonable time. If access is denied due to legal or regulatory reasons, we will explain why. If you believe your information held has inaccuracies, we will correct it upon verification. 

    7. Complaints & Dispute Resolution

    If you have a complaint about our handling of your personal information, please contact us on hello@businesssparkca.com.au. We will investigate and respond promptly. If not satisfied, you may lodge a complaint with:

    Tax Practitioners Board
    www.tpb.gov.au/complaints
    Phone: 1300 362 829

    You may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

    8. TPB Information for Clients

    As a registered tax agent, we are bound by the Code of Professional Conduct. You can learn more about your obligations as a Client and Taxpayer. Also covered in the information sheet are our obligations to you as a Tax Agent and to the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and the ATO.

    More information on your rights as a client & taxpayer, is available from the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) here: 

    TPB Client Information Sheet 

    9. Updates to This Policy

    We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect legal or business changes. The latest version will always be available on our website. This policy was last updated in July 2025.

    10. Contact Us

    If you have questions, please contact us at:

    BusinessSpark
    PO Box 6283, Upper Mt Gravatt Qld 4122
    Email: hello@businesssparkca.com.au