We take your privacy seriously, plain and simple
Last Updated: November 18, 2025
Look, we get it - nobody actually enjoys reading privacy policies. But when you're dealing with sensitive financial information, you deserve to know exactly what happens with your data. So we've tried to keep this straightforward and honest.
At Halrion Tavos Accounting, we work with tech startups and handle some pretty confidential stuff - your financial statements, tax documents, payroll info, and business plans. Given the nature of what we do, protecting your information isn't just good practice, it's literally our job.
This policy explains what information we collect, why we need it, how we use it, and what rights you have. We're based in Vancouver, BC, so we follow Canadian privacy laws, including PIPEDA (the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) and British Columbia's privacy legislation.
Here's what we typically collect when you work with us:
We only collect what's necessary to provide our services and meet legal obligations. We're not gonna ask for stuff we don't need.
We use your information for pretty straightforward reasons:
We won't use your information for random marketing campaigns or sell it to third parties. That's not our style.
We're pretty protective of your data, but there are some situations where we need to share information:
We file your tax returns with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and sometimes deal with provincial tax authorities. That's literally what you hire us for, so yeah, they're gonna see your financial info.
We use trusted third-party tools to do our job effectively - cloud accounting software, secure file sharing platforms, payroll processors, and similar services. These providers are bound by their own privacy policies and contracts that require them to protect your data.
Sometimes we'll work alongside your lawyers, auditors, or financial advisors. We'll only share what's necessary and with your knowledge.
If we're legally required to disclose information (court order, subpoena, regulatory investigation), we'll comply but we'll also let you know unless we're prohibited from doing so.
If our firm gets acquired or merges with another practice, your information would transfer to the new entity. We'd give you advance notice and ensure they maintain the same privacy standards.
What we DON'T do: We don't sell your data. We don't share it with marketing companies. We don't use it for purposes unrelated to our accounting services. Period.
Security isn't optional when you're handling financial data. Here's what we do to keep your information safe:
Despite all these measures, no system is 100% bulletproof. If we ever experience a data breach that affects you, we'll notify you promptly and tell you exactly what happened and what we're doing about it.
We can't just delete your financial records whenever - there are legal requirements we gotta follow.
The CRA requires us to keep tax returns and supporting documentation for at least 7 years from the end of the tax year. This isn't our rule - it's federal law. Even if you stop working with us, we need to maintain these records.
Payroll information must be retained for 7 years as well, per CRA regulations.
We typically keep these for 7 years too, matching the tax retention period since they're often interconnected.
Emails and meeting notes related to tax advice or financial decisions are kept for our professional liability purposes, usually 7 years as well.
If you're just browsing our site or signed up for newsletters, we'll keep that info for 2 years unless you ask us to delete it sooner.
After the retention period expires, we securely delete or destroy the information. If you want copies of your records before we dispose of them, just reach out and we'll get them to you.
Under Canadian privacy law, you've got some important rights when it comes to your personal information:
You can request a copy of the personal information we have about you. We'll provide it within 30 days, though there might be a small fee if the request is extensive.
If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it. This is actually important for tax purposes, so please do tell us if you spot an error.
You can withdraw consent for certain uses of your information, though this might affect our ability to provide services. For example, you can't withdraw consent for us to file your taxes with the CRA - that's kinda the whole point.
You can ask us to delete your information, but we might not be able to comply if we're legally required to keep it (like those 7-year retention rules). We'll explain what we can and can't delete.
You can object to certain processing of your data. For instance, if you don't want to receive our tax tip newsletters, just unsubscribe or let us know.
Want to take your financial records to another accountant? No hard feelings - we'll provide your data in a usable format.
To exercise any of these rights, just email us at info@halriontavos.info or call (604) 788-5420. We'll respond within 30 days.
Our website uses cookies - those small files that websites store on your device. Here's the breakdown:
These are necessary for the website to function properly. They handle things like keeping you logged into the client portal and remembering your preferences. You can't really opt out of these if you want to use the site.
We use basic analytics to understand how people use our site - which pages get visited, where people drop off, that sort of thing. This helps us improve the user experience. These don't identify you personally.
These remember your settings and choices to make your experience smoother next time you visit.
You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features of our site might not work properly. Most browsers let you block third-party cookies while keeping first-party ones enabled.
We don't use cookies for targeted advertising or tracking you across other websites. We're accountants, not ad tech companies.
We work with several third-party services to provide our accounting services effectively. Here are the main ones:
We use platforms like QuickBooks Online or Xero for bookkeeping and financial management. These providers have their own privacy policies and security measures, which we've vetted to ensure they meet professional standards.
For secure document exchange, we use encrypted file sharing services. All files are encrypted both in transit and at rest.
If we handle your payroll, we work with certified payroll service providers who comply with Canadian privacy and employment laws.
We use CRA-approved tax software for electronic filing. These are regulated and monitored by the government.
Our website might link to external resources like CRA websites, tax guides, or industry publications. Once you click those links, you're subject to their privacy policies, not ours. We try to only link to reputable sources, but we can't control their practices.
All our third-party providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we've engaged them for. We don't just hand your info to random services - we vet them first.
Laws change, technology evolves, and our practices might need updating. When we make changes to this privacy policy, here's what'll happen:
We'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. For minor changes (like fixing typos or clarifying existing practices), that might be all we do.
If we make significant changes to how we handle your data, we'll notify you directly via email. We'll give you at least 30 days notice before the changes take effect, so you'll have time to review them and ask questions.
If you're not cool with the changes, you can let us know. Depending on the nature of the change, we'll work with you to find a solution, though some changes might be necessary due to legal requirements.
We recommend checking this page occasionally, especially if you haven't looked at it in a while. We're not gonna change fundamental principles (like not selling your data), but details might evolve.
Got questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information? We're here to help.
If you believe we've mishandled your personal information, please contact us first so we can try to resolve it. If you're not satisfied with our response, you have the right to file a complaint with:
We take privacy concerns seriously and will work with you to address any issues. Don't hesitate to reach out if something doesn't seem right or if you just need clarification on anything in this policy.
We're committed to protecting your financial information with the same care and precision we bring to your accounting needs. If you ever have concerns or questions, we're just a phone call away.