Data enters your CA firm from the very first form a client fills.
Think about the last new client your CA firm took on. Before any tax return was filed, you already had their PAN card, Aadhaar, phone number, and salary slips. That is personal information — and the new data law covers all of it. Many CA firms do not realise data collection starts at the very first step. If this sounds like your firm, keep reading.
Your CA firm touches personal information many times a day. A client sends their Aadhaar on WhatsApp — that is data. A company shares employee salary slips for payroll — that is data. An audit request comes with director details and PAN cards — that is data. All this happens before you even start the actual work. Under the new data law, your firm must handle all this information carefully from day one. Not after the work is done. From the very first message.
List every place your firm receives client information today.
Tell your team: WhatsApp documents with PAN or Aadhaar must be stored safely.
Check if your business is ready. Takes 3 minutes. Visit saralprivacy.com/assessment
“Data collection starts before service delivery starts.”
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