Pathak Associates ("we", "us", "our") is a trusted tax consultancy firm with over 30 years of experience, serving individuals, MSMEs, startups, and corporates from our offices in Ranchi, Jharkhand and Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

We understand that your personal and financial information is sensitive. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how we protect it, and your rights over it — in simple, clear language.

By using our website or engaging our services, you agree to the practices described in this policy. We comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and all applicable Indian laws.

We collect only the information needed to deliver our services to you — nothing more. This may include:

• Your name, PAN, Aadhaar number, and date of birth

• Email address, phone number, and postal address

• Income details, tax documents, Form 16, GST records, and bank statements

• Business registration documents, MSME certificates, and DSC credentials

• Billing and payment information (we do not store card or UPI credentials)

• Basic website usage data such as your IP address and browser type

We never collect information that is not relevant to the service you have requested.

Your information is used strictly for the following purposes:

• Delivering the tax, compliance, and advisory services you have engaged us for

• Sending you timely reminders for filing deadlines and renewals

• Processing payments and maintaining billing records

• Meeting mandatory obligations under the Income Tax Act, GST Act, Companies Act, and other applicable laws

• Improving the quality and experience of our services

We will never use your data for advertising, profiling, or any purpose beyond what is stated above.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with anyone for commercial purposes. Your data is shared only in the following limited circumstances:

• With payment processors (such as Razorpay) solely to process your transactions

• With government authorities (Income Tax Department, GST Department, ROC, etc.) as required to deliver your services or comply with law

• With professional advisors (lawyers or co-consultants) who are bound by strict confidentiality agreements

All staff and associates at Pathak Associates are bound by professional confidentiality obligations. Your information stays within our trusted circle.

We retain your data only for as long as required by law or business necessity:

• ITR and income tax records — 8 years (as required under Income Tax Act, 1961)

• GST filings and invoices — 6 years (as required under GST Act, 2017)

• KYC and identity records — 5 years (as required under PMLA, 2002)

• Payment and billing records — 5 years

• General correspondence — 3 years

• Website analytics — 12 months

Once the retention period ends, your data is securely deleted or anonymised.

Protecting your information is a responsibility we take very seriously. We use the following measures:

• SSL/TLS 256-bit encryption for all data transmitted through our website

• Encrypted file storage with strict role-based access controls

• Access to your data is limited only to staff who need it to deliver your service

• All employees and associates sign confidentiality agreements

• Regular security reviews and safe data deletion practices

In the unlikely event of a data breach that affects your rights, we will notify you promptly as required under the DPDP Act, 2023.

As our client, you have the following rights over your personal data:

• Right to Access — You can request a summary of the personal data we hold about you

• Right to Correction — You can ask us to correct any inaccurate or outdated information

• Right to Erasure — You can request deletion of your data once it is no longer legally required to be retained

• Right to Withdraw Consent — You may withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time

• Right to Grievance Redressal — You can raise a complaint and receive a resolution within 30 days

To exercise any of these rights, simply email us at pathakassociates.ranchi@gmail.com with your name, contact number, and your request. We will respond within 30 days.

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and understand how visitors use our site. We use Google Analytics for this purpose.

We do not use cookies for targeted advertising or to build individual profiles.

You can disable cookies at any time through your browser settings. Please note that doing so may affect certain features of our website.

We communicate via email, phone, and WhatsApp for your convenience. A few things to keep in mind:

• For sharing sensitive documents (PAN, Aadhaar, bank statements), we recommend using our secure client portal or encrypted email

• Pathak Associates will never ask for your passwords, OTPs, or banking credentials through any channel

• If you ever receive a suspicious message claiming to be from us, please call our office immediately to verify

If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, you can reach our Grievance Officer directly:

Grievance Email: pathakassociates.ranchi@gmail.com

Ranchi Office: +91-7783042999 · 302, Modi Heights Phase 1, Ranchi – 834001, Jharkhand

Noida Office: +91-7903445348 · Noida, Uttar Pradesh

All complaints are acknowledged and resolved within 30 days of receipt.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law or our practices. When we make significant changes, we will notify registered clients via email at least 15 days before the update takes effect.

The most recent version of this policy will always be available on our website. Continuing to use our services after an update means you accept the revised policy.

For any privacy-related questions or requests:

Email: pathakassociates.ranchi@gmail.com

Ranchi Office: +91-7783042999 · 302, Modi Heights Phase 1, Ranchi – 834001, Jharkhand

Noida Office: +91-7903445348 · Noida, Uttar Pradesh

© 2026 Pathak Associates. All rights reserved. This policy is governed by the laws of India. Disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of courts in Ranchi, Jharkhand.