Your data, handled with care.
Who we are
This website is run by HTG Accountants Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 15328163) with its registered office at 4 Emery Lane, Boston, PE21 8QA. In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” mean HTG Accountants Limited.
We are the data controller for the personal data described here, and we are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). You can search the ICO register to check our entry.
What we collect
We only collect what you give us, or what we need to provide the service you ask for:
- Enquiries and quote requests: your name, mobile number, email address, location and message when you use our contact form.
- Appointment bookings: your name, email address, mobile number, preferred date and time, and any message you add.
- Online orders: the details each order form asks for (for example company, director or shareholder details for a Companies House filing) and your contact details.
- Customer accounts: your name, email address, optional mobile number and a password if you register, plus your order and invoice history.
- Order tracking: the order number and email address you enter to look up an order.
- Identity checks: when you become a client, the identification documents and information anti-money laundering law requires us to collect.
- Client work: the financial, tax and business records you share with us so we can prepare your accounts, returns and filings.
The Companies House company search on this site looks up information that is already on the public register.
How we use it, and why we're allowed to
UK data protection law requires a lawful basis for each use of your data. Ours are:
- To provide the services you ask for (contract): answering enquiries, preparing quotes, processing orders and doing the accounting, tax and company secretarial work you engage us for.
- To meet our legal obligations (legal obligation): we are supervised by HMRC under the Money Laundering Regulations, so we must verify the identity of our clients and keep records of those checks. We also file information with HMRC and Companies House on your behalf, including as a Companies House Authorised Agent (P8002A).
- To run our business properly (legitimate interests): keeping records of our conversations, sending reminders about your deadlines, and keeping this website and our systems secure.
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not use it for automated decision-making.
Who we share it with
We only share your data where it is needed to do the work, or where the law requires it:
- HMRC and Companies House, when we file returns, accounts and other documents for you.
- Stripe, which processes card payments made on this website. Your card details go directly to Stripe and are never stored by us.
- Software and IT providers who host our systems and the cloud accounting software we use with you, under contracts that require them to keep your data secure.
- Law enforcement and regulators, where we are legally required to report or disclose information.
If you choose to contact us on WhatsApp, your messages are also handled by WhatsApp under its own privacy policy.
Keeping it safe
We use secure, access-controlled cloud systems, and only people who need your information to do their job can see it. This website is served over an encrypted connection, and payments are handled by Stripe rather than on our own servers.
How long we keep it
We keep personal data only for as long as we need it for the purposes above. Some records we are required by law to keep for set periods: for example, the Money Laundering Regulations require us to keep client identification records for five years after our business relationship ends, and tax and company records must be kept for the periods HMRC and company law set.
Cookies and browser storage
We do not use advertising or analytics cookies on this website. If you sign in to a customer account, we store a sign-in token in your browser's local storage to keep you signed in; signing out removes it.
When you pay by card, Stripe may set its own cookies to process the payment securely and prevent fraud.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you;
- ask us to correct anything that is wrong or incomplete;
- ask us to delete your data, where we are not required to keep it;
- object to, or ask us to restrict, how we use your data;
- ask us to transfer data you gave us to another organisation.
To use any of these rights, email contact@htgaccountants.co.uk or write to us at 4 Emery Lane, Boston, PE21 8QA. There is normally no charge, and we will reply within one month.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, please tell us first so we can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of the page shows when it last changed. Our website terms explain the rules for using this site.
Questions about this page?
Talk to us. We'll give you a straight answer.
- contact@htgaccountants.co.uk
- 01522 275041
- HTG Accountants Limited, 4 Emery Lane, Boston, PE21 8QA
See also our Terms of use.