At J. Hall & Associates, Inc. maintaining our clients’ trust and confidence is one of our highest priorities. Thank you in advance for reviewing the following paragraphs, which explain how we protect your privacy when we collect and use your personal information, and the measures we take to safeguard that information.

PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

As part of providing personal tax services, which could include income tax preparation and planning, estate tax planning and preparation of estate, gift and trust tax returns, and other financial planning or other services that we may provide to you, we obtain a myriad of nonpublic personal information (“Client Information”) about you including:

• Information we receive directly from you on tax planning questionnaires and surveys, and through meetings, telephone calls, and follow-up consultations with you (such as your name, address, social security number, family and marital status, and information about your income, assets, investments, and expenses);
  
• Information from federal, state and local tax forms and prior year tax return copies that we receive directly from you or from other financial service providers or tax preparation firms that you have authorized to provide us with this information; and
  
• Information from statements or records we may receive from investment firms or other professionals that you have retained and directed to provide information directly to us.

DATA SECURITY

As Certified Public Accountants (“CPAs”), we are bound by strict codes of professional conduct to protect the confidentiality of Client Information and to prevent unauthorized access to or disclosure of Client information. We use appropriate security measures to protect Client Information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Examples of such measures include appropriately passworded computer files and programs, and complete shredding of all unused and draft copies of tax returns or other confidential documents.

DISCLOSURES OF CLIENT INFORMATION

Client Information is only disclosed upon your direct request and express authorization, or to other professional service companies that perform services on our behalf, or as required by law or regulation. For example, we may provide Client Information pursuant to a subpoena or other legal mandate. Or, we may provide Client Information or tax returns or other reports that are based upon Client Information to other firms or professionals retained by you if you authorize and direct us to do so.

A NOTE TO FORMER CLIENTS

If you are no longer a client of our firm, we will continue to protect and safeguard your privacy and personal Client Information in accordance with the descriptions above. All of your client records and copies of tax returns will be maintained for a period of one year after disassociating with our firm. After one year, your records and tax return copies will be destroyed in accordance with our firm policy.

CONCLUSION

Thank you again for taking the time to review this very important privacy statement. As stated above, safeguarding our current and former clients’ personal and confidential information is an extremely high priority at J. Hall & Associates, Inc. Should you have any questions regarding this privacy statement, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.