Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 1, 2026

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly, including name, email address, phone number, financial data, tax identification numbers, and documents you upload through our portal. We also collect usage data through cookies and analytics tools.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to provide accounting and tax services, communicate with you about your account, process payments, comply with legal obligations, and improve our services. We never sell your personal information to third parties.

3. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including AES-256 encryption for data at rest, TLS 1.3 for data in transit, role-based access controls, and regular security audits. All sensitive financial data is encrypted at the field level.

4. Data Retention

We retain client financial records for a minimum of 7 years as required by IRS regulations. You may request deletion of non-essential data at any time. Upon termination of services, we archive records per regulatory requirements.

5. Third-Party Sharing

We may share data with: tax authorities as required by law, payment processors for billing, cloud service providers (encrypted), and professional partners with your explicit consent.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data, object to processing, request data portability, and withdraw consent. California residents have additional rights under the CCPA.

7. Cookies

We use essential cookies for site functionality, analytics cookies to improve our services, and marketing cookies with your consent. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

8. Contact Us

For privacy-related inquiries, contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@sterlingcpa.com or call (614) 555-0120.