Zaouk CPA Services PLLC and certain of its affiliates, as applicable (collectively referred to herein as “Zaouk CPAs) are committed to protecting your privacy. Please note that Zaouk CPA Services PLLC and its affiliates are separate legal entities, and each entity is solely responsible for its own acts and/or omissions.
This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) applies to activities related to your visit to the Zaouk CPAs website (referred to herein as the “Site”) and any information collected from you during the performance of any agreement for services with any Zaouk CPAs entity. This Policy describes our online and offline collection, use and disclosure of your personal information. This Policy does not apply to third-party websites linked through the Site, and Zaouk CPAs has no responsibility or liability for activities related to such third-party websites once you leave the Zaouk CPAs Site. We recommend that you read the applicable privacy policies of such third-party websites. If you are or become a client of Zaouk CPAs, activities related to our performance of services for you are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement for services, if applicable, our jurisdictional-specific privacy policies.
Please read this Policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, do not use our Site. By accessing or using this Site, you agree to this Policy. This Policy may change from time to time (see Changes to Our Privacy Policy), and we will notify you of any material changes. Your continued use of this Site after we make changes is deemed to be your acceptance of those changes, so please check the Policy periodically for updates.
Individuals with disabilities may access this Policy in an alternative format by contacting us at accessibility@zaouk.cpa. You can find our Accessibility Statement here.
SOURCES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
We may collect from the following sources:
- Directly from you when you provide it to us;
- From third parties, such as our service providers and business partners;
- Publicly available and accessible directories and sources, such as government agencies, departments, and other regulatory authorities;
- Fraud prevention and detection agencies and organizations, including law enforcement; and
- Automatically and indirectly from you, such as through logging and analytics tools, cookies, pixel tags, and other similar technologies on our website.
As discussed above, when you visit our Site, third parties with whom we work, such as Google, may use cookies and other technologies to collect personal information and other information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites or online services. The information generated by the cookies may include your IP address, your browser type, the date and time of your visit, the pages you visit and the amount of time spent on each, your device’s operating system, your mobile device identifier, your geographical area, referring URLs, and other information on your interaction with our site. For more information about how Google collects, uses, and discloses information, refer to the following page: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. You can modify your cookie settings or turn off all or certain types of cookies by adjusting your browser settings. Please note, however, that if you delete or turn off cookies, you may not have access to some of the features that make your experience on our site smoother, you may not be able to store your preferences, and some of our services may not function properly.
WHAT PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND HOW WE USE AND DISCLOSE IT
All the information outlined in this section that relates to an identified or identifiable individual, including information by our Site through automated means, is referred to as “personal information.” The following provides information about the types of information we collect, the purposes for that collection, and the parties to which it may be disclosed. We first discuss information that is collected automatically through our Site, followed by information collected about you in provision with our services and/or employment of individuals.
Site Information – Cookies, Pixels, Analytics, Remarketing and other technologies
What we collect: Zaouk CPAs may collect, use, store and transfer personal information about your visit to the Site by using certain technologies, including cookies, pixels and analytics. Such collection is done automatically when you navigate through the Site. Such information may include:
- Your IP address,
- Domain name,
- Browser type,
- Device ID and operating system,
- Specific webpages you view,
- Links you click,
- The length of time you visit the Site,
- The referring URL,
- Non-precise geolocation,
- The webpage that led you to the Site, and
- Other similar information.
How we use this information: The information collected through our Site is used to improve performance of the Site, understand visitor behavior and selections to better understand visitor interests, customize visitor experience, and provide visitors with relevant information and advertisements about services provided by Zaouk CPAs. This information may be used for:
- Analytics: The Site uses web analytics services provided by third-party vendors. Web analytics vendors use cookies to help Zaouk CPAs understand and analyze how visitors to the Site use the Site. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the Site (including your IP address) is transmitted to and stored by the web analytics vendors on their own servers or those of their sub-processors. The web analytics vendors use this information to evaluate your use of the Site, compile reports on website activity for website operators and provide other services relating to Site activity and usage. The web analytics vendors may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law or where such third parties process the information on their behalf.
- Targeted Advertising and Remarketing: The Site uses remarketing tools to trigger advertising across the Internet. The remarketing tool will display relevant advertisements based on what parts of the Site you have viewed by placing a cookie on your computer. The remarketing tool allows Zaouk CPAs to tailor our marketing to better suit your interests and display advertisements that are relevant to you, and our marketing partners may also use this information to present tailored advertising to you on different websites.
Zaouk CPAs may use, store and transfer personal information collected using cookies, pixels, and analytics services in aggregated form or we may associate it with other information that we collect about you to improve your experience during your visit to the Site, customize features of the Site to provide enhanced content, and tailor our advertisements to more specifically meet your interests.
You may disable cookies in your web browser and delete cookies from your computer at any time using the Cookie Settings feature, or by changing the settings on your internet browser to reject cookies. Please be aware that disabling cookies may limit the functionality of the Site, reduce Zaouk CPA’s ability to provide customized content and impact your overall experience when visiting the Site. Unless you have adjusted your settings so that it will refuse cookies, our system prompts you to accept cookies when you direct your browser to our Site.
Client Information and Employment Information
What we collect: You may provide us with your personal information when you choose to contact us by, including but not limited to, entering into an agreement with or obtaining services from Zaouk CPAs, subscribing to Zaouk CPAs newsletters or mailing lists, registering for events that we may sponsor or co-sponsor, requesting information about Zaouk CPAs and its services, and/or completing a survey (collectively “Client Information”). You may also provide us with personal information when applying for employment or an internship, or in the course of employment with us (“Employment Information”). You may also choose to provide us with personal information of a third person, such as your colleague, spouse, or friend. In such case, you are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions of such person to provide personal information to Zaouk CPAs for informing them of the contents of this Policy.
The types of Client Information or Employment Information that you may provide, and that we may collect, use, store and transfer include, but are not limited to:
- Name and other personal identifiers, such as full legal name, address, email, phone number, date of birth, and identification numbers (e.g., social security number, tax ID);
- Education, employment, and/or professional history, such as education history, job qualifications, work experience, and professional licenses;
- Company information, such as corporate financial statements, contracts, and other documents necessary for financial and accounting services that may contain personal information;
- Financial information, such as bank account details, credit card information, transaction records, and tax returns; and
- Any other information you provide to us.
How we use Client Information: Zaouk CPAs may collect, use, process, and store Client Information to make contacts with you by telephone, email or ground mail, provide you with information and advertisements about Zaouk CPAs and our services, establish and maintain a well-managed customer or prospective customer relationship, and evaluate, develop and improve our services, such as:
- Service Delivery: We use your information to provide financial and accounting services tailored to your needs, including tax preparation, auditing, and financial consulting. This ensures that we deliver accurate and effective advice based on your unique financial situation. We may also use your personal information for billing and collection activities.
- Compliance and Legal Obligations: Your information helps us comply with applicable laws and regulations, such as tax laws, anti-money laundering requirements, and other legal mandates. This includes fulfilling our reporting obligations to regulatory authorities.
- Communication: We use your contact details to keep you informed about your account, provide updates on services, and share any changes to our policies or procedures. This helps maintain transparency and supports effective client communication.
- Customized Financial Planning and Business Advisory: Information like your professional history or business details enables us to offer personalized financial strategies, tax advice, business advisory services, and investment planning. This way, we can provide guidance aligned with your business or professional goals.
- Marketing Additional Services: We may use your Client Information to determine additional services that may be of interest to you by Zaouk CPAs. We will never disclose Client Information to third parties unless they are contractually restricted to only use such information for Zaouk CPAs’ purposes.
How we use Employment Information: Any information that you submit to Zaouk CPAs through the Site to apply for a position or internship will be handled in the manner described in this Policy. By submitting your information to apply for a job or internship, which includes any resume information, contact information, references, and other application information requested in the job posting or otherwise provided by you, you agree to such information being collected, used, processed, transferred and stored by Zaouk CPAs for the purposes of recruitment and evaluation of qualifications for employment or internship in furtherance of our need to process such information in the pre-employment phase of a possible employment relationship. If selected for a position or internship, such information may also be used for onboarding activities (which may include a background check) and to administer employment relationships, conduct performance reviews, and provide training and development opportunities. Our application webpage is provided by a third-party service provider, who may have access to your data to provide the services to Zaouk CPAs. Employment information is used to comply with workplace regulations, health and safety standards, and reporting requirements. This includes maintaining records required for compliance with employment, labor, and tax laws.
DISCLOSURES TO THIRD PARTIES
Client Information and Employment Information
Except as otherwise required by law or legal process, Client Information and Employment Information are only disclosed to third-party service providers who are contractually obligated to use the information solely for the purpose of performing specific services on our behalf. They are not permitted to use or disclose this information for any other purpose without your consent. In addition, Client Information and Employment Information may be disclosed to other third parties, such as:
- Zaouk CPAs affiliates and subsidiaries;
- Service providers who are contractually obligated to use the information solely for the purpose of performing specific services on our behalf, such as IT operating system and platform vendors, security vendors, monitoring and data analytics providers, payment service providers, accounting and professional services firms, cloud hosting providers, technology providers, website and marketing consultants, website developers, marketing automation software providers, relationship management software providers, employee benefits providers, and other similar business service providers necessary to provide and market the services and to manage our employees;
- Third parties in response to legal process or other legal reporting requirements, such as pursuant to a statutory provision, a court or arbitral order, or a subpoena, or to governmental authorities, such as law enforcement or government officials and government agencies and regulators;
- To potential buyers (and their agents and advisors) in connection with any proposed merger, acquisition, or any form of sale or transfer of some or all of our stock or assets (including in the event of a reorganization, dissolution or liquidation); and
- To other similar third parties where disclosure is required for an ordinary business purpose in connection with our provision of services or employment.
This information will be disclosed for the purposes listed above for ordinary business- and employment-related purposes, including as may be required for regulatory reporting or as otherwise required by law.
Site Information
As discussed above, we use tracking technologies, such as cookies, web beacons, and pixels, to collect information about your interactions with our website. In addition to disclosing this information to the categories of recipients listed above, we may also share this Site information with our marketing partners, including social media and networking companies, which who may use it for their own purposes, such as tailoring advertisements and improving their services.
RETENTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to carry out the processing activities described in this Policy, including but not limited to providing and administering the Site, providing you with customer service, answering your queries, complying with applicable laws, regulations, rules, and requests of relevant law enforcement and/or other governmental agencies, and protecting our, our employees’, and our business partners’ and clients’ rights, property, or safety and the rights, property and safety of others. We may retain personal information for a longer period of time if a longer retention period is required or permitted by applicable law. In specific circumstances, we may also retain your personal information for longer periods of time so that we have an accurate record of your dealings with us in the event of any complaints or challenges.
CHILDREN’S PERSONAL INFORMATION
The Zaouk CPAs Site is not targeted to children and is not intended to collect personal information from children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are under 16, do not use or provide any information on this Site. If we learn we have collected or received personal information from a child under 16 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under 16, please contact us at privacy@zaouk.cpa or through one of other methods outlined below.
SECURITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Zaouk CPAs uses commercially reasonable organizational, administrative and technical measures designed to protect your privacy and avoid unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal information. However, you should note that no transfer of information over the Internet is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially reasonable efforts to protect your personal information on our systems, when the information is transferred over the Internet, it may be accessed and used by unauthorized third parties. Zaouk CPAs has no control over the performance, reliability, availability or security of the Internet and does not warrant that any information transfer via the Internet or any communication through the Internet is secure. Zaouk CPAs shall not be liable for any disclosure, unauthorized use, loss, damage, expense, harm or inconvenience resulting from the loss, delay, interception, corruption, intervention, misuse or alteration of information due to any reason beyond Zaouk CPA’s reasonable control.
THIRD-PARTY LINKS
The Site may contain links to other websites or access to applications, including social media platforms, including but not limited to, Facebook, X (previously Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn, which are operated by third parties. Please be aware that Zaouk CPAs is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third party site, application or platform, including any third party with whom it has an affiliation or business relationship. We do not control, and shall have no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, those websites and this Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites. Please consult the terms and conditions and privacy policies of those third party websites to find out how they collect and use your information and to determine whether they use cookies and how they use cookies. We may receive some information that you submit to or through a third party website.
YOUR RIGHTS
Zaouk CPAs is committed to protecting your privacy and will help ensure that you are able to exercise your rights in relation to your personal information. If you wish to obtain a copy of your Client Information file or request deletion of your Client Information file, please contact us using the information set forth in “Requests, Questions or Complaints” below. Please note that, in some circumstances, we may be required to retain your Client Information file for an additional period of time as required by law, or in order to defend or assert or rights relating to the services we provide. If we are unable to honor any request to delete your Client Information file, we will let you know the reason and the duration for which it must be retained.
In case you choose to be on a mailing list for periodic email updates regarding Zaouk CPA’s services and events, you may unsubscribe through the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email correspondence. You may withdraw your consent(s) and change your selection(s) at any time.
DO NOT TRACK
As stated earlier in this policy, we may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites or other online services. Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a concept promoted by certain regulatory authorities and industry groups for development and implementation of a mechanism that would allow internet users to control the tracking of their online activities across websites. Currently, various browsers (including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari) offer a DNT option that allows a user to set a preference in the browser to not have his/her activities on the internet tracked. You can usually access your browser’s DNT option in your browser’s preferences. When a user’s browser is set to DNT, some cookies and other tracking technologies may become inactive, depending on how the website visited responds to DNT browser settings. If that occurs, the website visited will not recognize you upon return to that website, save your passwords or usernames, and some other features of a website may become unavailable or not function properly.
No uniform technology standard for recognizing and implementing DNT signals has been finalized. As such, we do not currently respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanism that automatically communicates your choice not to be tracked online. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we must follow in the future, we will inform you about that practice in a revised version of this Privacy Policy.
CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY
You are advised to review this policy periodically for any changes. We may update our Policy from time to time as it may be revised due to legislative changes, changes in technology or our privacy practices or new uses of personal information not previously disclosed in this Privacy Policy. We will notify you of any material changes and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of the Policy. Changes to this Policy are effective when they are posted on our website. If you have any comments, concerns or questions about this Policy, please contact us.
REQUESTS, QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS
You acknowledge and consent to your personal information being collected, processed, stored, analyzed and disclosed as set forth in this Policy. If you have any requests, questions or complaints regarding the privacy of your personal information or to exercise your rights under the applicable laws governing your personal information, you may contact Zaouk CPAs using the following methods:
- By email to: privacy@zaouk.cpa
- By telephone at: 1-865-236-5405
- By written notice mailed to:
Zaouk CPA Services PLLC
Attn: Legal Department
11 E 36th Street, Unit 1006
New York, NY 10016
You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with applicable governmental, regulatory or supervisory authorities under some circumstances.
Last Updated: November 7th 2024