LEGAL

Privacy Policy

Last updated:

1. Responsibility

This Privacy Policy explains how Tax IQ Enterprise Pty Ltd, ABN 77 691 414 945, known as Tax IQ, collects, uses, stores and shares personal information.

In this policy, “Tax IQ”, “we”, “us” and “our” means Tax IQ Enterprise Pty Ltd. “You” means a person who uses our website, app, platform or services.

We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles where they apply to us. By using Tax IQ, you acknowledge that we handle personal information as described in this policy.

2. What information we collect

The information we collect depends on how you use Tax IQ. We only aim to collect what is reasonably needed for our service, business operations and legal or professional obligations.

  • Account and contact details, such as your name, date of birth, email, phone number, address and login details.

  • Tax information, such as your Tax File Number, income, deductions, employment details, ATO prefill information, Medicare and private health insurance details, HELP/HECS information, spouse or family information where relevant, and tax return information.

  • Payment information, such as transaction details and payment status. Card payments are processed by third-party payment providers and Tax IQ does not need to store full card details.

  • Documents you upload, such as receipts, invoices, statements, deduction evidence or other supporting records.

  • Identity verification information, such as details from government-issued identity documents used for a one-time identity check.

  • Technical and usage information, such as IP address, device details, browser type, pages viewed, cookies, session data and analytics information.

  • Communications, such as support messages, emails, chat messages, phone enquiries, feedback and survey responses.

Some information we collect may be sensitive information or a government related identifier under privacy law. We only collect this where it is reasonably necessary for our services, where you consent, or where required or authorised by law.

3. How we collect information

We usually collect information directly from you when you create an account, answer questions, upload documents, approve a return, contact us, make a payment or use our website or app.

We may also collect information from the ATO, identity verification providers, payment providers, analytics and technology providers, professional advisers or other third parties where you authorise it or the law allows it.

4. Why we use your information

We use personal information to run Tax IQ and provide the services you ask us for. This may include using your information to:

  • create and manage your Tax IQ account;

  • verify your identity and help prevent fraud;

  • check whether your tax return is within Tax IQ’s supported service scope;

  • prepare, check, review and lodge your tax return;

  • access and use ATO prefill information where you authorise us to do so;

  • communicate with you and with the ATO where authorised;

  • process payments and manage refunds or chargebacks;

  • provide customer support and service updates;

  • assist with eligible amendments, ATO questions, reviews or audits where Tax IQ agrees or where required;

  • operate, secure, test and improve our website, app and systems;

  • send marketing messages where permitted by law;

  • manage records, disputes, insurance, risk and compliance; and

  • meet legal, tax, accounting, regulatory and professional obligations.

We may use aggregated or de-identified information for analytics, reporting, product improvement and business planning.

5. ATO prefill and authority to act

If you authorise Tax IQ to act for you, we may access ATO systems and ATO prefill information to help prepare your tax return. ATO prefill information may include income statements, government payments, interest, dividends, health insurance information, HELP/HECS information and prior-year tax details.

ATO prefill information can be helpful, but it may not always be complete, current or correct. You remain responsible for checking your tax return before approving lodgement.

6. Identity verification and DVS

Before we provide tax agent services or lodge a tax return, we may need to verify your identity. This helps protect you, Tax IQ and the tax system from fraud.

Tax IQ may use an approved identity verification provider to perform a one-time identity check. This may involve checking details from a government-issued identity document, such as a driver licence or passport, against the Australian Government Document Verification Service (DVS) or other approved verification sources.

  • Your identity document details are used for the verification step and securely transmitted to the verification provider or DVS gateway for checking.

  • Tax IQ does not store a copy of your identity document or retain your identity document details after the DVS check, unless the law requires or permits otherwise.

  • Our verification provider is expected to return a verification outcome, such as pass, fail or unable to verify, rather than your full identity document record.

  • We may keep a record that identity verification was completed, the outcome, time, method and related audit information for security, tax agent, compliance and fraud-prevention purposes.

  • If verification fails or cannot be completed, we may ask you for more information or decline to provide some or all services.

By completing the identity verification step, you consent to Tax IQ and its verification provider using your identity information for identity verification, fraud prevention, security and compliance purposes.

7. Sharing information with others

We do not rent or sell your personal information. We may share personal information where reasonably needed to provide Tax IQ, operate our business, comply with law, or protect our rights and systems.

  • the Australian Taxation Office and other government agencies where required or authorised;

  • identity verification providers or DVS gateway providers;

  • payment processors, banks and transaction providers;

  • cloud hosting, software, IT, security, analytics and communications providers;

  • customer support, email, SMS and marketing platforms;

  • employees, contractors and professional advisers who need access for authorised purposes;

  • insurers, auditors, lawyers, accountants and other advisers;

  • regulators, courts, tribunals, law enforcement or government bodies where required or authorised by law;

  • another person or organisation with your consent; and

  • a buyer, investor or adviser in connection with a business sale, merger, restructure, investment or corporate transaction.

Where we use service providers, we take reasonable steps to require them to handle personal information securely and only for authorised purposes.

8. Storage, security and retention

We may store personal information electronically, including through secure cloud-based systems. We take reasonable steps to protect information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

These steps may include access controls, authentication, encryption or secure transmission where appropriate, system monitoring, backups, limited access on a need-to-know basis, staff confidentiality obligations and security policies.

No online service is completely risk-free. You are responsible for keeping your login details secure and telling us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

We keep personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including to provide services, keep tax and business records, comply with legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, manage risk and protect our business. When we no longer need information, we may destroy, delete or de-identify it, unless we are required or permitted to keep it.

9. Documents and receipts you upload

If you upload receipts, invoices or other documents to Tax IQ, we may store them to help prepare your return, support your claims, provide customer support and comply with record-keeping obligations.

You should keep your own backup copies of important records. If your account or service ends, Tax IQ may stop providing document storage, platform access or access to uploaded documents, except where required by law or agreed by Tax IQ in writing.

10. Overseas disclosure

Some service providers may store or process personal information outside Australia. The countries may change depending on the systems and providers we use. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to protect your information in accordance with Australian privacy law.

11. Cookies and web technologies

We may use cookies, pixels and similar technologies to operate Tax IQ, support secure login, remember preferences, improve performance, analyse usage, prevent fraud and support marketing.

You can usually manage cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

12. Marketing communications

We may send you marketing messages, tax time reminders, product updates or promotions where permitted by law. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link or contacting us.

Even if you unsubscribe from marketing, we may still send important service, account, tax, payment, security or legal messages.

13. Accessing and correcting your information

You can ask us to access or correct personal information we hold about you. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

We will respond within a reasonable time. In some cases, we may refuse or limit access where permitted by law, including where access would affect someone else’s privacy, reveal commercially sensitive information or be unlawful.

You should keep your Tax IQ account details up to date and tell us promptly if information relevant to your tax return is wrong or has changed.

14. Unsolicited information

If you send us personal information we did not ask for, we may keep it if it is reasonably necessary for our services, business operations or legal obligations. Otherwise, we may destroy, delete or de-identify it where lawful and reasonable to do so.

15. Third-party websites and services

Our website, app or messages may link to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, security or content. You should read their privacy policies before providing information to them.

16. Questions and complaints

If you have a privacy question or complaint, please contact us first so we can try to resolve it.

Email: support@taxiq.au

Please include your name, contact details and a clear description of your question or concern. We will respond within a reasonable time.

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

17. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will be available on our website. If we make material changes, we will take reasonable steps to notify you.

18. Contact us

Tax IQ Enterprise Pty Ltd (Tax IQ)

ABN 77 691 414 945

Email: support@taxiq.au