Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice explains how Progress Tax Advisors Ltd collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal information when you visit our website, contact us, request a quotation or consultation, or use our tax, accounting, business support or welfare benefits assistance services.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information lawfully, fairly and transparently in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, as amended from time to time.

This Privacy Notice applies to clients, prospective clients, website visitors and other individuals whose personal information we process in connection with our services.

Progress Tax Advisors Ltd provides online tax, accounting, business support and related advisory and assistance services to individuals and businesses across the United Kingdom.

Our services include, among others:

The exact scope of assistance will depend on the service agreed with the client.

Our services are delivered primarily online, allowing clients throughout the United Kingdom to access our services remotely.

The personal information we collect depends on the services you request and your individual circumstances.

We may collect and process:

• Full name
• Residential or correspondence address
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number
• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
• HMRC references and other taxpayer identification details
• Identity documents, including passports and driving licences
• Company and business information
• Employment and self-employment information
• Income and expenditure information
• Bank account and financial information
• Pension information
• Investment information
• Property and rental income information
• Dividend, savings and other income information
• Accounting records
• Invoices and receipts
• Bank statements
• Payroll information
• VAT information
• Company records
• Tax returns and tax calculations
• Information contained in correspondence from HMRC, Companies House or other authorities
• Information provided when requesting a quotation or consultation
• Correspondence and communications between you and Progress Tax Advisors Ltd
• Technical information associated with use of our website, such as IP address, browser and device information where applicable

Where we provide assistance relating to welfare benefits or government support, we may also process:

• Details of benefits claimed or previously claimed
• Benefit entitlement and payment information
• DWP and local authority correspondence
• Benefit decisions, assessments and review documents
• Information concerning employment and ability to work
• Housing and living circumstances
• Relevant household information
• Caring responsibilities
• Financial circumstances
• Medical reports, letters, fit notes and other supporting evidence where relevant
• Information concerning physical or mental health
• Disability information
• Information concerning functional limitations and how a condition or disability affects everyday activities, mobility or ability to work
• Information concerning medication, treatment, hospital appointments or other healthcare where relevant
• Relevant information provided by authorised representatives, family members or carers

Where necessary for the provision of our services, we may process information relating to other individuals, including employees, directors, shareholders, business partners, spouses, partners, dependants, household members, carers or authorised representatives.

We seek to collect only information that is adequate, relevant and reasonably necessary for the particular service being provided.

We normally obtain personal information directly from you when you:

• Complete an online enquiry, quotation form or questionnaire
• Contact us by telephone or email
• Arrange a consultation
• Become a client
• Provide documents, accounting records or supporting evidence
• Provide information required for a tax return, application, review or appeal
• Correspond with us during our professional relationship

Where necessary and lawful, we may also receive information from:

• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• Companies House
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Local authorities
• Other government departments or public authorities
• Previous accountants or tax advisers
• Accounting, tax or payroll systems
• Employers or pension providers
• Financial institutions
• Authorised representatives
• Family members or carers where appropriately authorised or another lawful basis applies
• Other professional advisers or organisations relevant to the service provided

We may process personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries
• Prepare quotations and arrange consultations
• Establish and manage our professional relationship with you
• Provide tax, accounting, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll services
• Prepare tax returns, company accounts and Corporation Tax Returns
• Prepare VAT Returns and payroll submissions
• Communicate with HMRC and other authorities where appropriate
• Calculate tax liabilities and repayments
• Provide tax planning and tax advice
• Deal with HMRC correspondence, enquiries, penalties and appeals
• Verify identity and undertake required anti-money laundering checks
• Assist with welfare and state benefit applications
• Assist with benefit reviews and reassessments
• Prepare or assist with Mandatory Reconsiderations and appeals
• Assist with benefit-related forms and questionnaires
• Prepare supporting statements and organise supporting evidence
• Communicate with DWP, local authorities or other relevant public bodies where appropriately authorised
• Assist clients in presenting relevant information about how health conditions, disabilities or other circumstances affect their application or entitlement
• Maintain records required by law and applicable regulatory requirements
• Administer invoices and payments
• Prevent fraud and protect our business and systems
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims
• Respond to complaints
• Improve the administration, security and delivery of our services
• Send necessary service-related communications
• Send marketing communications where permitted by law

We only process personal information where we have an appropriate lawful basis under UK data protection law.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Administering our business
• Maintaining appropriate professional records
• Protecting our systems
• Preventing fraud
• Recovering unpaid fees
• Dealing with complaints
• Establishing, exercising or defending legal claims
• Improving our services

Some services, particularly assistance with disability-related benefits, welfare benefits, appeals or cases involving medical circumstances, may require us to process special category personal data.

This may include information concerning:

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Disability
• Medical diagnoses and symptoms
• Medication
• Treatment and hospitalisation
• Medical appointments
• Functional limitations
• Medical reports and other health-related evidence

We will only process special category personal data where:

it is necessary and proportionate for the service requested;

we have a lawful basis under Article 6 UK GDPR; and

an appropriate condition under Article 9 UK GDPR and, where applicable, the Data Protection Act 2018 is satisfied.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include your explicit consent.

Where we rely on explicit consent, it will be specific and clearly obtained and you may withdraw it at any time.

We apply particular care to special category information and seek to collect and retain only information that is reasonably necessary for the relevant service.

As a provider of tax and accounting services, Progress Tax Advisors Ltd may be required to verify your identity and undertake anti-money laundering and other compliance checks.

We may request:

• Passport or driving licence
• Proof of address
• Date of birth
• Information concerning source of funds or source of wealth
• Company ownership and control information
• Other information required for customer due diligence

Where appropriate, electronic identity verification or other checks may be carried out using third-party providers.

Information collected for anti-money laundering purposes will be retained in accordance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

We do not sell or trade your personal information.

Where necessary and lawful, information may be shared with:

• HM Revenue & Customs
• Companies House
• Department for Work and Pensions
• Local authorities
• The Pensions Regulator and pension providers
• Other government departments and public authorities
• Accounting, tax, bookkeeping and payroll software providers
• IT, hosting and cloud service providers
• Identity verification and anti-money laundering providers
• Payment service providers
• Professional advisers
• Insurers
• Legal advisers
• Contractors and other service providers acting on our behalf

We disclose only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

Where health or other special category information is involved, particular care will be taken to limit disclosure to information that is necessary and lawful to share.

Where another organisation processes personal information on our behalf, appropriate contractual and security safeguards will be used where required.

Information may also be disclosed where required or permitted by law.

Where you appoint or authorise Progress Tax Advisors Ltd to assist or act on your behalf, we may communicate with relevant public authorities, including:

• HM Revenue & Customs
• Companies House
• Department for Work and Pensions
• Local authorities
• The Pensions Regulator
• Other relevant government departments or public bodies

Depending on the agreed service, this may involve preparing, submitting or assisting with:

• Tax returns
• Corporation Tax Returns
• VAT Returns
• Payroll information
• Accounts and accounting information
• Claims and applications
• Benefit forms and questionnaires
• Mandatory Reconsiderations
• Appeals
• Supporting statements
• Supporting evidence
• Correspondence and representations

Public authorities receiving personal information are responsible for processing it in accordance with their own statutory obligations and privacy arrangements.

Some technology, hosting, cloud, communication or professional service providers used by us may process personal information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will ensure that the transfer is made in accordance with applicable UK data protection law and that appropriate safeguards are used where required.

These may include UK adequacy regulations or appropriate contractual safeguards.

Further information about relevant safeguards may be requested from our Data Protection & Privacy Officer.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to satisfy applicable legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, anti-money laundering, professional, insurance and legitimate business requirements.

Different categories of information may therefore be retained for different periods.

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:

• Unauthorised access
• Accidental loss
• Unlawful disclosure
• Alteration
• Destruction
• Misuse

Access to personal information is limited to persons and service providers who reasonably require access for authorised purposes.

Additional consideration is given to the protection of sensitive information, including medical and other special category data.

Although reasonable precautions are taken, no method of transmitting information over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the following rights:

To exercise your rights, contact:

Paulina Miszczuk, Data Protection & Privacy Officer, Progress Tax Advisors Ltd

Email: office@progresstax.net | Telephone: 07902 950764

We may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.

We may send information about our services where permitted by applicable law.

Where consent is required, marketing communications will only be sent after appropriate consent has been obtained.

You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by contacting office@progresstax.net or by using an unsubscribe facility provided in the communication.

Opting out of marketing does not prevent us from sending communications necessary to provide services, administer your account, comply with legal requirements or deal with an ongoing matter.

When you use our website or submit an online enquiry, quotation form or questionnaire, we may use the information provided to:

• Respond to your enquiry
• Prepare a quotation
• Arrange a consultation
• Understand the service you require
• Determine whether we can assist you
• Take steps at your request before entering into a professional relationship

Where an online form requests sensitive or health-related information, you should provide only information relevant to the service requested.

Our website may also process technical information necessary for its operation, security and administration.

Where cookies or similar technologies require consent under applicable law, they should not be activated until the required consent has been obtained.

Further information about cookies used by the website should be provided through an appropriate Cookie Notice or cookie consent mechanism.

Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.

Progress Tax Advisors Ltd is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of independent third-party websites.

You should review the privacy information provided by the relevant third party before submitting personal information to it.

Our services are primarily intended for adults and businesses.

However, information relating to a child may be processed where it is relevant to a tax, welfare benefit or other service being provided to a parent, guardian or appropriately authorised representative.

We will only process information relating to children where it is reasonably necessary and where an appropriate lawful basis applies.

We do not knowingly collect children's information through our website for direct marketing purposes.

If you have concerns about how we process your personal information, please contact:

We will consider your concerns and seek to resolve the matter appropriately.

You also have the right to make a complaint to the UK's data protection supervisory authority:

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — Telephone: 0303 123 1113. Further information is available from the ICO website.

You do not have to contact us before making a complaint to the ICO.

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect changes in:

• Our services
• The way we process personal information
• Technology and service providers
• Applicable legislation
• Regulatory requirements or guidance

The current version of the Privacy Notice will be made available through our website.

For questions about this Privacy Notice, how we process your personal information or your data protection rights, please contact: