Terms of Service

Welcome to Cowichan Valley Tax Services ("Company," "we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our tax preparation services, website, and online portal (collectively, the "Services").

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Cowichan Valley Tax Services. By creating an account, uploading documents, or engaging our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

1.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use our Services. By using our Services, you represent and warrant that:

• You are at least 18 years old
• You have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract
• You are a resident of Canada or have Canadian tax obligations
• All information you provide is accurate and complete

Cowichan Valley Tax Services provides professional tax preparation and related services, including but not limited to:

2.1 Service Limitations

Our Services are subject to the following limitations:

• Scope: We provide tax preparation services only. We are not legal advisors, financial planners, or investment advisors
• Accuracy: The accuracy of your tax return depends on the completeness and accuracy of information you provide
• Deadlines: We cannot guarantee filing by specific deadlines unless agreed upon in writing
• CRA Decisions: We cannot control or guarantee CRA decisions, assessments, or refund amounts
• Availability: Services may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or technical issues

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of our Services, you must create an account. When creating an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Maintain the security of your password and account
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access

3.2 Account Security

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• You provide false or misleading information
• Your account is used for fraudulent or illegal activities
• You fail to pay for services rendered
• You engage in abusive or threatening behavior

As a user of our Services, you agree to:

4.1 Information Accuracy

• Provide complete, accurate, and truthful information
• Provide all necessary documents and records in a timely manner
• Review your tax return carefully before approval
• Inform us of any errors or omissions immediately
• Maintain copies of all documents provided to us

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

4.3 Document Retention

You are responsible for maintaining your own copies of:

• All tax returns filed
• Supporting documents and receipts
• CRA correspondence
• Payment records

5.1 Service Fees

Our fees are based on the complexity of your tax situation and the services required. Current pricing includes:

5.2 Payment Terms

• Due Date: Payment is due upon completion of services unless otherwise agreed
• Methods: We accept cash, cheque, e-transfer, and credit/debit cards
• Late Payment: Accounts overdue by 30 days may incur a 2% monthly interest charge
• Refunds: Fees are non-refundable once work has commenced
• Disputes: Payment disputes must be raised within 30 days of invoice date

5.3 Additional Charges

Additional fees may apply for:

• Rush services (expedited filing)
• CRA audit support and representation
• Amended returns
• Complex situations requiring additional research
• Document retrieval or reconstruction

6.1 Our Property

All content, features, and functionality of our Services, including but not limited to:

• Website design, layout, and graphics
• Software, code, and algorithms
• Logos, trademarks, and branding
• Text, images, and multimedia content
• Tax preparation templates and tools

are owned by Cowichan Valley Tax Services and are protected by Canadian and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

6.2 Your Property

You retain all rights to the documents and information you provide to us. By using our Services, you grant us a limited license to:

• Use your information to prepare your tax returns
• Store your documents securely on our servers
• Share your information with the CRA as necessary
• Use anonymized data for service improvement

6.3 Restrictions

You may not:

• Copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission
• Use our trademarks or branding without authorization
• Reverse engineer or decompile our software
• Create derivative works based on our Services
• Remove or alter any copyright notices

We maintain strict confidentiality of all client information in accordance with professional standards and legal requirements.

7.1 Our Obligations

7.2 Exceptions

We may disclose your information when:

• Required by law or court order
• Requested by the CRA in an audit or investigation
• Necessary to protect our legal rights
• You provide explicit written consent
• Required for professional liability insurance claims

8.1 Service Disclaimer

Our Services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation

8.2 Limitation of Damages

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Cowichan Valley Tax Services shall not be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, or business opportunities
• Loss of data or information
• CRA penalties or interest resulting from your actions or omissions
• Damages exceeding the fees paid for the specific service in question

8.3 Professional Liability

We maintain professional liability insurance as required by law. Our liability for professional errors or omissions is limited to the coverage provided by our insurance policy.

8.4 Your Responsibility

You acknowledge that:

• You are ultimately responsible for your tax returns
• You must review and approve all returns before filing
• Accuracy depends on the information you provide
• You are responsible for maintaining supporting documentation

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Cowichan Valley Tax Services, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or regulation
• Your provision of false or misleading information
• Your infringement of any third-party rights
• Your use or misuse of our Services
• CRA penalties or interest resulting from your actions or omissions

10.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Contacting us in writing
• Using the account closure feature in your profile
• Ceasing to use our Services

10.2 Termination by Us

We may terminate or suspend your account immediately if:

• You breach these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• You fail to pay for services
• You provide false information
• We are required to do so by law

10.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your access to the Services will be immediately revoked
• You remain responsible for any outstanding fees
• We will retain your information as required by law (7 years)
• Provisions that should survive termination will remain in effect

11.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, you agree to contact us to attempt to resolve any disputes informally. Please contact:

11.2 Mediation

If informal resolution fails, both parties agree to attempt mediation before pursuing litigation. Mediation costs will be shared equally.

11.3 Arbitration

Any disputes not resolved through mediation shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the British Columbia Arbitration Act.

11.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

You agree that any legal action or proceeding shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in British Columbia, and you consent to the jurisdiction of such courts.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the updated Terms on our website
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notification for significant changes
• Displaying a prominent notice in your portal

Your continued use of our Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using our Services.

13.1 Version History

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: