Privacy & Data Security Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

At Freedom & Zeal, we understand that your financial and personal information is highly sensitive. As a professional tax and consulting firm, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of data security and confidentiality for our clients nationwide.

1. Information We Collect To provide professional tax preparation, ITIN services (as an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent), and business consulting, we collect non-public personal information (NPI) including: 

• Identity & Tax Identifiers:Passports, Social Security Numbers (SSN), and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN).
• Financial Records: Income statements, bank records, and tax history.
• Business Data:Organizational and payroll documents for small businesses and non-profits.

2. Data Security & Our "Zero-Email" Policy We employ a "Security First" approach to protect your information from unauthorized access:

• Encrypted Client Portal: All sensitive documents must be exchanged through our secure, password-protected portal using 256-bit SSL encryption—the same standard used by major financial institutions.
• Strict Email Protocol: Freedom & Zeal does not accept sensitive documents via standard email. This is a non-negotiable standard to ensure your protection from identity theft and to maintain federal compliance.
• Secure Storage: Digital files are stored on encrypted servers in compliance with the FTC Safeguards Rule.

3. Confidentiality & Disclosure We handle all information you provide with the utmost confidentiality. We will not disclose your personal information to anyone outside our firm without your express written permission, or unless we are legally required to do so (e.g., if a mortgage lender requests your records, we will require your written authorization before responding).

4. Notice Regarding Advisor-Client Privilege Under Internal Revenue Code Section 7525, a limited privilege exists for confidentiality between a taxpayer and their federally authorized tax practitioner. Please note:

• Limited Scope: This privilege applies only to non-criminal tax advice and matters before the IRS or federal courts.
• Tax Preparation: Standard tax return preparation engagements are generally not covered by advisor-client privilege.
• Legal Advice: If you believe your matter requires the protection of attorney-client privilege, we recommend you consult with a qualified attorney.

5. Professional Compliance As a Maryland Registered Tax Preparer and IRS Authorized Provider, we adhere to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and maintain a Written Information Security Plan (WISP) to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your data.