Privacy Policy, Personal Information

What is KB Fiscalité’s privacy policy?

In the course of delivering its services, KB Fiscalité inc. collects, uses, discloses and retains personal information about its clients. Protecting that information is a priority for the firm, which is committed to respecting the privacy of every client and business partner. This policy explains the firm’s practices for collecting, using, disclosing and retaining personal and confidential information, the options available to you, and how you can have your information corrected.

Your consent may be express, implied, or given by your authorized representative. By using the firm’s website or providing your personal information, you consent to this policy and to the handling of your information in accordance with it. The firm reserves the right to amend the policy from time to time. The current version is dated November 16, 2023.

Who is responsible for the protection of personal information?

KB Fiscalité has appointed a privacy officer to handle all questions relating to personal information. Thierry Bouchard, lawyer, who can be reached at 514-462-7273, extension 22. Access requests, correction requests and any questions about this policy should be directed to him.

Which laws govern this policy?

The policy is designed to comply with Quebec’s Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, as modernized by Law 25. Because the firm’s professionals are regulated, KB Fiscalité also follows the confidentiality rules of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec (CPA Order) and of the Barreau du Québec.

The policy applies to all information collected about you, whatever its source. You may, for instance, consent to your accountants or other professionals communicating your personal information to the firm. Personal information is used, disclosed and retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as the law permits or requires.

What counts as personal information?

Personal information means any information that identifies you personally. It can include, among other things, your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, Internet (IP) address, age, sex, marital status, health information, financial situation, credit card data and credit history. Personal information does not, however, include your name, professional title, business address or business telephone number in your capacity as an employee of an organization.

What information does the firm collect, and why?

KB Fiscalité collects only the personal information strictly necessary to carry out its mission and activities, and determines the purposes of processing before collecting anything. Information is always gathered through lawful and legitimate means, when you contact the firm for services, use its website or speak with a representative. It is obtained directly from you, or indirectly from your accountants, other professionals and financial institutions.

The information is collected in particular to.

establish and maintain the client relationship
provide legal advice
meet legal obligations and avoid conflicts of interest
share personal data with third parties in the context of legal proceedings
represent clients in commercial transactions involving the exchange or communication of personal data
manage business relationships with clients and third parties.

The firm stores this information electronically and takes measures to protect it.

Cookies, log files and web beacons

KB Fiscalité uses cookies, log files and web beacons to collect information about how visitors use its websites. This information is generally anonymous and is not considered personal data. Cookies are small text files stored on your computer’s hard drive that make browsing more convenient. Most browsers let you refuse them, and the sites remain usable after cookies are declined. Log files record information anonymously, such as the type of browser used, and are collected in aggregate form.

Web beacons are small electronic images used to compile visitor statistics and manage cookies. They allow third-party tools such as Google Analytics to collect data like your IP address, the time of your visit and your browser type. That data is stored on those tools’ servers, then aggregated and passed on to the site administrators. Blocking cookies in your browser will not prevent your IP address from being recorded. The firm also uses marketing automation tools, such as Google, to build targeted campaigns across platforms (web, email, mobile app) and to create client profiles based on usage behaviour and preferences.

What information should you never send through the forms?

Do not provide any confidential, proprietary or sensitive information through the website’s contact form or any chat feature, social insurance number, date of birth, driver’s licence number, credit card number, bank account number or any other financial information. The contact form may ask for details such as your email address, name, telephone number and province, but only the email address is required. If you do submit sensitive information, you do so at your own risk. The firm assumes no liability toward you and is not responsible for the consequences of that disclosure.

Where is your information stored?

Personal information held “in the cloud” may be stored on multiple servers in several locations around the world. KB Fiscalité has taken the necessary measures to protect personal information processed by its service providers. However, information transferred to other countries may be subject to the laws and legal disclosure requirements of the jurisdictions where it is stored. To the extent personal information is transferred outside Canada, it may be disclosed to public authorities, courts, law enforcement or regulatory bodies of the country in question, in accordance with that country’s laws.

KB Fiscalité obtains your consent for the collection, use and sharing of your personal data. Consent is presumed to be given when you voluntarily provide information to the firm. Personal data is collected, used and shared in accordance with the law, except in certain specific situations the law provides for.

What are your access and correction rights?

You may submit a written request to review the personal information the firm has collected, used or disclosed about you. It will be presented to the extent required by law, in a generally understandable form, with an explanation of any abbreviations or codes used. You may also challenge the accuracy or completeness of that information at any time. If you show that the information in the firm’s files is inaccurate or incomplete, the firm will correct it as appropriate and, where applicable, forward the corrections to third parties who have access to your information.

The firm keeps your information as accurate, complete and current as possible, but only updates it on a regular basis when necessary. Every written request receives a response within thirty (30) days. If that deadline cannot be met, you will be notified in writing. To exercise your rights or learn more, contact the privacy officer, Thierry Bouchard, at 514-462-7273, extension 22.

Which version of this policy is official?

The full text, “Politiques et pratiques de KB Fiscalité inc. en matière de protection des renseignements personnels et gouvernance en cette matière,” is available in PDF, read the official policy (PDF, in French). This page is provided for convenience. In the event of any discrepancy, the official French version prevails.