Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Data Controller Information

American International Tax Advisers (“AIT,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) provides U.S. tax preparation, international tax planning, and cross-border advisory services to individuals and businesses globally.

Depending on your location and engagement status:

• Data Controller: American International Tax Advisers (Head Office: 15/F Skyway Centre, 23 Queen's Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong) is the primary data controller for personal data collected through this website (aitaxadvisors.com) and preliminary consultation inquiries.
• Scope: This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected via our website, consultation booking tools, email communications, and digital interactions. Client data collected during formal engagements is further governed by our Engagement Letter and applicable tax confidentiality laws.

2. Information We Collect and How We Collect It

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Inquiry and Consultation Data: When you contact us via form, email, phone, or schedule a consultation, we collect your name, email address, telephone number, country of residence, expat status, and details regarding your tax inquiry.
• Sensitive Tax and Financial Data: We do not collect or request Social Security Numbers (SSNs), bank account numbers, or full tax returns through general website contact forms or unencrypted email. Once an engagement begins, all non-public personal information (NPI) and tax documents are collected exclusively through encrypted, secure client portals.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically (Web Analytics)

• Privacy-Respecting Analytics: Our website uses Cloudflare Web Analytics to analyze aggregate visitor traffic, popular pages, referral sources, general geographic region (country/city level), and browser/device types.
• Cookieless Tracking: Cloudflare Web Analytics operates without client-side cookies, local storage, or persistent identifiers. It does not track individual user behavior across external third-party websites.
• Google Analytics (only with your consent): If you accept analytics cookies, we also use Google Analytics, as described in section 2.3.

2.3 Cookies and Analytics

When you first visit this website you are asked whether to allow analytics cookies. Nothing from Google loads until you choose Accept. If you choose Reject, or do not respond, Google Analytics does not run and no Google scripts are loaded.

If you accept, we load Google Analytics 4, which sets the cookies _ga and _ga_<container-id>. Google states that both expire after 2 years by default. We use the data to count visits and see which guides are read. Advertising storage and ad personalization stay switched off. Accepting also loads a Google publisher script from news.google.com.

Cloudflare Web Analytics runs without a prompt because, according to Cloudflare, it does not use cookies or localStorage to collect usage metrics and does not collect or use visitors’ personal data.

Your choice is stored in your browser (localStorage) for 12 months. You can change it at any time using Cookie settings in the footer of any page. If you reject after previously accepting, we remove the Google Analytics cookies we can reach on this domain.

3. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR and International Standards)

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

1. Performance of a Contract (or Pre-Contractual Steps): Processing inquiry details to respond to your request for tax consultation or to fulfill our advisory agreement.
2. Compliance with Legal and Statutory Obligations: Meeting recordkeeping, anti-money laundering (AML), professional tax preparer standards, and tax authority requirements (e.g., U.S. Internal Revenue Service regulations).
3. Legitimate Interests: Operating, securing, and improving our digital platforms, preventing fraud, and managing business operations, provided these interests do not override your fundamental rights.
4. Consent: Where explicitly requested (e.g., subscribing to tax updates or specialized newsletter publications, or accepting analytics cookies). You may withdraw consent at any time.

4. U.S. Tax Confidentiality and Financial Privacy Safeguards

As a U.S. tax advisory practice, we adhere to strict confidentiality and data protection obligations:

• Internal Revenue Code § 7216: We strictly comply with IRC § 7216, which prohibits the disclosure or use of tax return information by tax preparers without explicit, knowing client consent, except as required by law or court order.
• Financial Data Security: Information shared during an active engagement is subject to administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect non-public personal financial data against unauthorized access or disclosure.

5. Third-Party Service Providers and Cross-Border Transfers

5.1 Service Providers (Data Processors)

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties. We may share necessary personal data with vetted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our services (e.g., cloud hosting, CRM systems, secure document portals, communications providers). All processors operate under strict Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) requiring confidentiality and compliance with privacy laws.

5.2 Cross-Border Data Transfers

AIT operates an international network serving clients across Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. Your data may be processed in countries outside your residence (including Hong Kong and the United States).

• International Transfer Safeguards: For individuals in the EU, EEA, or UK, transfers to jurisdictions without an adequacy decision are governed by approved legal mechanisms, including standard contractual clauses (SCCs) or contractual data transfer safeguards.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law:

• General Website Inquiries: Retained for up to 24 months from last contact if no engagement ensues.
• Tax Client and Engagement Records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years post-engagement to comply with U.S. IRS regulations, professional accounting standards, statutory limitation periods, and tax recordkeeping obligations.

7. Global Data Subject Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may hold specific rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access and Portability: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you in a structured format.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal records.
• Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and statutory retention requirements.
• Right to Restrict or Object: Object to or restrict certain types of data processing.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications or optional processing at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at admin@aitaxadvisers.com. We will respond within mandatory statutory timelines (typically 30 days).

8. Region-Specific Notices

8.1 European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) Residents

If you reside in the EU/EEA or UK, you are entitled to data rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local Supervisory Authority (e.g., the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK or your national Data Protection Authority in the EU).

8.2 California and United States Residents (CCPA / CPRA)

• Categories Collected: Identifiers (name, email, phone), commercial information (tax consultation details), and internet activity (Cloudflare aggregate analytics and, if you accept analytics cookies, Google Analytics).
• No Sale of Personal Data: AIT does not “sell” or “share” (for cross-context behavioral advertising) personal data as defined under California law.

8.3 Australian Residents (Privacy Act 1988 and APPs)

Pursuant to Australian Privacy Principle (APP) 8, personal information collected from clients in Australia may be disclosed to overseas recipients (including our head office in Hong Kong and secure cloud infrastructure in the U.S.). By submitting your information, you acknowledge this cross-border transfer.

9. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy to reflect regulatory updates or changes in operational practices. Updates will be published on this page with an updated “Last updated” revision date.

10. Contact Us and Data Enquiries

For questions, exercise of privacy rights, or privacy-related complaints, please contact:

American International Tax Advisers
Attention: Data Privacy Administrator
Head Office: 15/F Skyway Centre, 23 Queen's Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Email: admin@aitaxadvisers.com
Phone: (800) 906-598