Privacy Policy - FreelanceTaxBuddy

1. Information We Collect for 1099 Tax Estimation

1.1 Personal Information

We collect information you provide directly to us when using our 1099 tax calculator and estimation services:

• Name and email address (for account creation and authentication)
• Phone number (optional, for SMS reminders about quarterly tax payments)
• Tax-related information you input for estimates (income, expenses, filing status, state)
• Payment information (processed securely by Stripe for premium subscriptions)

1.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information about your use of our 1099 tax estimator:

• Log data (IP address, browser type, pages visited)
• Device information (operating system, device type)
• Usage patterns and feature interactions with our tax calculator

2. How We Use Your Information for Tax Estimation

We use the information we collect to provide our 1099 tax estimation services:

• Provide and maintain our tax estimation services for freelancers and contractors
• Process payments and manage premium subscriptions
• Send important service updates and quarterly payment reminders
• Improve our 1099 tax calculator and develop new features
• Provide customer support for tax estimation questions
• Comply with legal obligations related to financial services

3. Information Sharing and Data Protection

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. Your tax data is kept private and secure. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party services (Stripe for payments, SendGrid for emails, Twilio for SMS reminders)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

4. Data Security for Tax Information

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal and tax information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls and authentication for sensitive tax data
• Secure hosting infrastructure with industry-standard protection

5. Data Retention for Tax Records

We retain your personal information and tax estimates for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. You may request deletion of your account and associated tax data at any time through your settings. We recommend keeping copies of your tax estimates for your own records.

6. Your Rights Regarding Tax Data

You have the right to:

• Access and review your personal information and tax estimates
• Update or correct inaccurate information in your tax calculations
• Delete your account and associated tax data
• Opt out of marketing communications while keeping essential service updates
• Export your tax estimation data for your records

7. Cookies and Tracking for Tax Calculator

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience with our 1099 tax estimator, analyze usage patterns, and provide personalized content. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. For detailed information about our use of cookies, please see our Cookie Policy.

8. Third-Party Services for Tax Estimation

Our 1099 tax estimator integrates with third-party services that have their own privacy policies:

• Stripe: Secure payment processing for premium subscriptions
• NextAuth.js: Secure authentication for your account
• SendGrid: Email delivery for tax reminders and updates
• Twilio: SMS delivery for quarterly payment reminders
• OpenAI: AI-powered tax tips and advice

9. Children's Privacy and Tax Services

Our 1099 tax estimator service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Tax estimation services are designed for adult freelancers and contractors.

10. International Data Transfers for Tax Services

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your tax data and personal information during international transfers.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our 1099 tax estimator services or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes by email or through our service.

12. Contact Us About Privacy and Tax Data

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our data practices, or your tax estimation data, please contact us at: