Privacy Policy

1. Scope and Who We Are

Simply Smart Tax Advisors ("Simply Smart Tax Advisors," "we," "us," or "our") is a tax advisory firm based in Temecula, California. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, retain, protect, and disclose personal information through this website, our contact and callback forms, appointment scheduling, email, telephone and text communications, and related interactions before and during a professional engagement.

This policy applies to information we control. A third-party website, scheduling platform, payment processor, tax software provider, client portal, or communication carrier may process information under its own privacy policy. An engagement letter, consent under Internal Revenue Code Section 7216, or another client notice may supplement this policy. If a service-specific document conflicts with this general website policy, the more specific document controls for that service and information.

The website and our services are directed primarily to people and businesses in the United States. By interacting with us, you acknowledge the practices described here. This policy is not itself a tax-services engagement and does not create a professional or fiduciary relationship.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Identifiers and contact details: name, email address, telephone number, mailing or business address, and similar details.
• Inquiry and appointment information: the topic selected, message content, preferred appointment details, referral information, and communications with us.
• Consent records: acceptance of our Terms and Conditions, acknowledgment of this Privacy Policy, SMS opt-in or opt-out choice, disclosure version, source page, and submission date and time.
• Professional and business information: occupation, entity details, state activity, property ownership, business operations, and information needed to evaluate or perform requested services.
• Financial and tax information: tax returns, tax forms, income, deductions, account information, government identifiers, and supporting records, but only when needed after an appropriate secure exchange or formal engagement.
• Payment and transaction information: billing contact details, invoices, payment status, and limited transaction information. A payment processor may collect full card or bank details directly; we may not receive or retain the complete payment credential.
• Information about another person: information you are authorized to provide about a spouse, dependent, employee, owner, representative, or other relevant person.

Do not place sensitive tax or financial data in the public form. The callback form is intended for a short description only. Do not submit Social Security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, full account numbers, passwords, tax returns, IRS transcripts, identification documents, health information, or payment-card data. We will provide an appropriate secure method if those records are needed.

Information Collected Automatically

When you use the website, our hosting and security systems may automatically receive an IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, requested URLs, approximate region derived from an IP address, date and time, error data, and security or performance events. We use this information to operate, secure, troubleshoot, and understand the website. We do not intentionally collect biometric information or precise GPS location through this website.

Information From Other Sources

We may receive information from a person who refers you, your authorized representatives, government agencies and transcripts you authorize us to access, tax and accounting software, client portals, scheduling and communication providers, payment providers, public business records, and professional partners involved in your matter. We use information from these sources only as permitted by law, authorization, and the applicable engagement.

3. How and Why We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

• respond to an inquiry, return a requested call, and schedule or conduct a consultation;
• authenticate a person, maintain records, and manage an engagement;
• prepare, review, file, or advise on tax returns, elections, notices, planning, and representation matters when engaged;
• communicate about appointments, document requests, deadlines, account or service updates, invoices, and requested follow-up;
• send text messages only when the recipient has provided the applicable consent or another lawful basis applies;
• process payments, prevent fraud, maintain security, and troubleshoot technical issues;
• improve content, accessibility, navigation, and service operations;
• comply with tax-administration, recordkeeping, professional, court, regulatory, and other legal obligations;
• establish, exercise, or defend legal claims and enforce agreements; and
• carry out another purpose disclosed when information is collected or authorized by you.

Where a law requires a legal basis, we generally process information to take steps you request before a contract, perform a contract, comply with law, protect legitimate operational and security interests, or act with consent. You may withdraw consent prospectively, but withdrawal does not make earlier lawful processing invalid and may not require deletion when retention is legally permitted or required.

4. Tax Return Information and Client Confidentiality

Tax return information receives protections beyond ordinary website data. When applicable, we handle tax return information under Internal Revenue Code Sections 7216 and 6713 and related regulations, professional obligations applicable to Enrolled Agents, engagement terms, and applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements. We use or disclose tax return information to prepare or provide the requested tax service, as authorized by the client, or as otherwise permitted or required by law.

We do not use tax return information for an unrelated purpose merely because it was provided to us. Certain uses or disclosures can require a separate written consent with prescribed content. This Privacy Policy does not replace any consent required by tax law. We may also maintain a written information-security program and use tax software, secure portals, contractors, or other service providers that are subject to contractual, professional, or legal confidentiality safeguards.

An inquiry does not make you a client. A professional relationship begins only when we accept an engagement under a written engagement letter or other express written confirmation. Until then, do not send confidential documents, assume we are monitoring a deadline, or rely on an inquiry as notice that action has been taken.

5. SMS and Mobile Information Privacy

If you voluntarily select the SMS consent checkbox and submit a mobile number, you authorize the communications described in the SMS Terms. We may use the number for conversational replies, inquiry follow-up, appointment confirmations and reminders, service or account communications, document and deadline reminders, and occasional promotional messages within the scope of the consent shown when you opt in.

We do not sell or rent mobile numbers. We do not share mobile numbers, SMS opt-in data, or SMS consent with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes. We may disclose limited mobile information to vendors that help us transmit, route, support, or secure messages, and to wireless carriers and platform providers as necessary to deliver communications. Those parties may use the information only to provide services to us or as required by law.

• Consent is optional and is not a condition of purchasing services.
• Message frequency varies based on your requests and relationship with us.
• Message and data rates may apply under your wireless plan.
• Reply STOP to opt out of text messages or HELP for help.
• You may also opt out by contacting hello@simplysmarttax.com or (619) 678-1689.
• We may send one confirmation after an opt-out request and retain suppression records so we can honor it.

Opting out of texts does not prevent non-SMS communications that are independently permitted, such as an email you requested or a telephone call responding to a callback request. Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Avoid sending sensitive tax or financial information by SMS.

6. Cookies, Hosting Logs, Analytics, and Preference Signals

The website may use essential storage, cookies, or similar technologies required for security, traffic management, accessibility, form operation, and preferences. Hosting infrastructure may create server logs. If an external scheduling page or embedded service is enabled, that provider may set its own cookies or collect usage information under its policy.

We may use limited analytics to understand aggregate usage and improve the website. At the effective date, we do not use personal information from this website for cross-context behavioral advertising, and we do not sell personal information. Browser settings can block or delete cookies, but doing so may affect website functionality.

Some browsers send Do Not Track or Global Privacy Control signals. Because industry treatment of Do Not Track is not uniform, the website may not respond to every DNT signal. Where applicable law requires recognition of a Global Privacy Control or another universal opt-out mechanism, we will treat a valid signal as an opt-out for the browser or device from which it is sent.

7. How We Disclose Personal Information

We may disclose personal information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: hosting, cybersecurity, email delivery, telecommunications, scheduling, secure portals, tax and accounting software, document management, payment processing, customer support, and professional operations.
• Professional participants: attorneys, accountants, qualified intermediaries, payroll providers, financial professionals, contractors, or other participants when you direct or authorize coordination or when reasonably necessary for an engagement.
• Government and legal process: the IRS, state or local agencies, courts, regulators, law enforcement, or other parties when authorized, permitted, or required by law.
• Protection and enforcement: to investigate fraud or security events, protect rights and safety, collect amounts owed, or enforce agreements.
• Business transactions: in connection with a proposed or completed reorganization, financing, merger, sale, or transfer, subject to appropriate confidentiality and legal restrictions.
• At your direction: when you request, authorize, or consent to a disclosure.

Service providers receive only information reasonably needed for their function and are expected to protect it. We do not disclose tax return information merely because a general disclosure category appears here; tax-specific restrictions and required consents continue to apply.

No sale or sharing for advertising. We do not sell personal information for money, and we do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined under California law. We do not offer a financial incentive for personal information.

8. External Scheduling, Links, and Third-Party Services

The site may link to or embed services operated by others, including a scheduling provider, government agencies, mapping services, social networks, review platforms, and payment or client-portal providers. Information you provide directly to a third party is governed by that party's policy and terms. We do not control third-party security, cookies, retention, or privacy practices and encourage you to review their notices before submitting information.

If an embedded scheduler is displayed, merely visiting the page may cause technical data to be sent to the scheduler. You can instead contact us directly by telephone or email if you do not want to use an external scheduling service.

9. Retention and Security

How Long We Retain Information

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose collected, the engagement and client relationship, legal and professional recordkeeping, consent and opt-out evidence, dispute resolution, security, backup cycles, and enforcement. Retention depends on the information type, sensitivity, applicable limitation periods, tax and professional requirements, and whether deletion is technically and legally feasible. We may retain deidentified or aggregated information that no longer reasonably identifies a person.

How We Protect Information

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed for the nature of the information, which may include HTTPS transmission, access controls, authentication, secure portals, vendor review, backups, monitoring, and workforce or contractor confidentiality obligations. No system, email, text, or transmission method is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you are responsible for using secure devices, protecting passwords, and promptly notifying us of suspected unauthorized access.

If a security incident affects information, we will investigate and provide notices when required by applicable law. Email and SMS should not be used to transmit highly sensitive records unless an appropriate secure method has been arranged.

10. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

You may update contact information, withdraw optional marketing consent, opt out of SMS, or ask a privacy question by contacting us. Depending on where you live and whether a privacy law applies to us and the information, you may have rights to request access, confirmation, correction, deletion, portability, restriction, or an appeal; to opt out of sale, sharing, targeted advertising, or certain profiling; or to withdraw consent.

Privacy rights are not absolute. We may deny or limit a request when an exemption applies, including obligations involving tax return information, legal claims, security, fraud prevention, professional records, an ongoing transaction, or information we must retain. We will not unlawfully discriminate against a person for exercising an applicable privacy right.

California Notice and Rights

During the preceding 12 months, we may have collected the categories described above: identifiers; customer-record information; commercial, professional, internet/network, and communications information; approximate geolocation; inferences based on an inquiry; and sensitive personal information received during a tax engagement. We collect and disclose these categories for the business and professional purposes stated in this policy. We do not use sensitive personal information to infer characteristics or for purposes that would trigger a right to limit under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

If the CCPA/CPRA applies, a California resident may have rights to know, access, correct, or delete covered personal information; receive information about categories, sources, purposes, and recipients; opt out of sale or sharing; limit certain uses of sensitive personal information; and receive equal service. We do not sell or share covered personal information and therefore do not provide a separate "Do Not Sell or Share" link.

Other U.S. State Rights

Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws may have similar rights where those laws apply. If a request is denied, you may appeal by replying to our decision with "Privacy Appeal" in the subject line. Nevada residents may submit a verified request concerning a covered sale, although we do not sell covered information as defined by Nevada law.

Submitting and Verifying a Request

Submit a request by emailing hello@simplysmarttax.com with the subject "Privacy Request" or calling (619) 678-1689. Describe the right you want to exercise and the state where you reside. We may request information reasonably necessary to verify identity and authority. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted, but we may require proof of authorization and direct identity verification. We will respond within the period required by applicable law and explain any permitted extension or denial.

11. International Users and Data Transfers

Our operations and service providers are primarily located in the United States. If you access the website from another country, information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where laws may differ. Where the GDPR, UK GDPR, or another international law applies, potential rights may include access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability, withdrawal of consent, and a complaint to a supervisory authority. Our legal bases are described in the use section above. Contact us before transmitting information if you require a particular cross-border safeguard.

12. Children's Privacy

The website and services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information through the public form. A parent, guardian, or authorized taxpayer may provide dependent information when required for a tax engagement. If you believe a child submitted information without appropriate authorization, contact us so we can review and take appropriate action.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy to reflect legal, operational, vendor, or service changes. The effective date at the top shows the latest revision. Material changes may be communicated through the website or another reasonable method. Your continued interaction after an update is subject to the revised policy, but a change will not retroactively expand an SMS consent or tax-information authorization when new consent is legally required.

14. Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, contact:

For the contractual rules governing this website and communications, review our Terms and Conditions.