Privacy Policy
Website: https://phillipsbusinessgroup.com
1. Who We Are
Our website address is https://phillipsbusinessgroup.com. Throughout this Privacy Policy, “Phillips Business Group,” “PBG,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Phillips Business Group.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect, and share personal information when you visit our website, interact with our services, or authorize us to access your financial information through connected applications.
2. Website Privacy Policy
When you visit or log in to our website, cookies and similar technologies may be used by our online data partners or vendors to associate your website activities with other personal information they or others may have about you, including information associated with your email address or home address.
We, or service providers acting on our behalf, may use this information to send communications and marketing materials to these email or home addresses.
You may opt out of receiving this type of advertising by visiting:
https://app.retention.com/optout
3. Comments
When visitors leave comments on our website, we collect the information provided in the comments form, along with the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string, to help detect spam.
An anonymized string created from your email address, also known as a hash, may be provided to the Gravatar service to determine whether you use it. Gravatar’s Privacy Policy is available at:
https://automattic.com/privacy/
Once your comment is approved, your profile picture, if associated with your Gravatar account, may be visible to the public alongside your comment.
4. Media
If you upload images to our website, we recommend avoiding images that contain embedded location data, such as EXIF GPS information.
Visitors may be able to download images from our website and extract any location data embedded in them.
5. Cookies
Our website uses cookies to improve functionality, remember user preferences, and support website administration.
The following cookies may be used:
Comment cookies: If you leave a comment, you may opt in to saving your name, email address, and website in cookies for convenience. These cookies may last for one year.
Login verification cookie: When you visit our login page, we set a temporary cookie to determine whether your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
Login cookies: When you log in, we set cookies to save your login information and screen display preferences. Login cookies generally last for two days, while screen preference cookies last for one year.
Remember Me cookies: If you select “Remember Me” when logging in, your login session may persist for two weeks.
Logout: When you log out of your account, the login cookies are removed.
Article editing cookies: If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie may be saved in your browser. It contains no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you edited. This cookie expires after one day.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect some website functionality.
6. Embedded Content From Other Websites
Articles and pages on our website may include embedded content, such as videos, images, or articles from third-party websites.
Embedded content from other websites behaves in the same way as if you visited those websites directly. These third-party websites may collect information about you, use cookies, incorporate additional tracking technologies, and monitor your interactions with their embedded content.
If you have an account with a third-party website and are logged in, that website may associate your interactions with your account.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit through embedded content.
7. Who We Share Your Data With
We share personal information only as necessary for website operations, service delivery, security, or legal compliance.
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the password reset email.
Visitor comments may be processed through an automated spam detection service.
For client financial information accessed through connected applications, please refer to the Client Financial Data and Connected Applications section below.
8. How Long We Retain Your Data
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, subject to applicable legal, regulatory, security, and professional requirements.
Comments: Comments and their associated metadata may be retained indefinitely to help us recognize and automatically approve follow-up comments.
Registered users: For users who register on our website, we store the personal information they provide in their user profiles.
Website account information: Users can view, edit, or delete their personal information at any time, except that they cannot change their usernames. Website administrators may also access and edit this information.
Client financial records: Financial and accounting records are retained in accordance with applicable laws and professional standards governing tax and accounting services.
When information is no longer required, we take appropriate steps to securely dispose of it, subject to any applicable retention obligations.
9. What Rights You Have Over Your Data
Depending on your circumstances and applicable law, you may have the right to:
Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Request an exported file containing the personal information you have provided to us.
Request that we correct inaccurate personal information.
Request the deletion of personal information we hold about you.
Request information about how your personal information is used and shared.
We may retain certain information when required for administrative, legal, regulatory, security, or professional purposes.
To exercise your rights or submit a privacy-related request, please contact us using the details provided in the Contact Us section.
10. Client Financial Data and Connected Applications
10.1 Access to QuickBooks Online
When a client authorizes Phillips Business Group (PBG) to connect to their QuickBooks Online company, PBG accesses the client’s accounting information as necessary to provide the accounting, tax, and advisory services covered by the client’s engagement.
10.2 What We Access
Depending on the services requested and the permissions granted, we may access the following information:
Company information: Company details and chart of accounts.
Financial reports: Profit and loss statements, balance sheets, general ledgers, trial balances, and accounts receivable and payable aging reports.
Transactions: Invoices, bills, payments, expenses, deposits, and journal entries.
Business records: Customer lists, vendor lists, and product or service item lists.
The information we access depends on the client’s authorization, the permissions available through QuickBooks Online, and the requirements of the engagement.
10.3 How We Use Client Financial Data
We use client financial data solely as necessary to provide the accounting, tax, and advisory services covered by the engagement. These services may include:
Preparing tax returns and supporting workpapers.
Developing tax plans and estimates.
Preparing financial reconciliations.
Reviewing financial information for accounting and advisory purposes.
Posting adjusting journal entries approved by the client.
We do not use client financial data for marketing purposes.
10.4 We Never Sell Your Data
PBG does not sell, rent, or trade client financial data.
We share such information only with secure software platforms and service providers as necessary to perform the client’s engagement, or when disclosure is required by law.
10.5 How We Protect Client Financial Data
We implement measures designed to protect client financial information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss.
These measures include:
Encrypted connections: Data is transmitted over encrypted connections.
Restricted access: Access is limited to PBG personnel who need the information to perform work related to the client’s engagement.
Credential security: Connection credentials are stored in encrypted form and are never shared by email.
We take reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality and security of client financial information.
10.6 How Long We Keep Client Financial Data
We retain client financial and accounting records for as long as required by applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards governing tax and accounting work.
When the applicable retention period ends, we dispose of records securely, subject to any continuing legal or professional obligations.
10.7 Revoking Access to QuickBooks Online
Clients may revoke PBG’s access to their QuickBooks Online company at any time by disconnecting the application through QuickBooks Online or by contacting us directly.
To disconnect the application through QuickBooks Online:
Log in to your QuickBooks Online account.
Navigate to Settings → Apps → Connected apps, or the equivalent application management section available in your account.
Locate the PBG-connected application.
Follow the available instructions to disconnect or revoke access.
Alternatively, you may email us at hello@phillipsbusinessgroup.com for assistance.
Revoking access prevents future access through that connection but does not automatically delete financial records that PBG is legally or professionally required to retain.
10.8 Your Rights Regarding Client Financial Data
You may request a copy of the client financial data we hold or ask us to delete it, subject to applicable legal, regulatory, and professional retention requirements.
We will review and respond to such requests in accordance with our obligations and applicable law.
11. Where We Send Your Data
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
We may also use secure software platforms and service providers to support our website operations and deliver accounting, tax, and advisory services. Such providers may process information on our behalf as necessary to perform their services.
For client financial data, we limit sharing to the secure software platforms and service providers required to perform the client’s engagement, except where disclosure is required by law.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or need assistance with connected financial applications, please contact us:
Phillips Business Group
Website: https://phillipsbusinessgroup.com
Email: hello@phillipsbusinessgroup.com
Phone: (713) 955-2900
Please review this Privacy Policy periodically, as it may be updated to reflect changes in our practices, services, or applicable legal requirements.