Section A. Introduction
Thank you for visiting
the Department of Revenue's (DOR) web site and reviewing our Privacy Notice.
This statement addresses collection, use of the information you provide,
security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of
this web site. This notice covers the following topics:
Section B. Information
Collected and How it is Used
Information collected if you only browse this site
If you do nothing
during your visit to our web site but browse, read pages, or download
information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit.
This information does not identify you personally. The following information
about your visit is automatically collected and stored:
- The Internet Protocol
Address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical
identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly
to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol Address to direct Internet
traffic to you. This address can be translated to determine the domain
name of your service provider (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu);
- The type of browser
and operating system you used;
- The date and time
you visited this site;
- The web pages or
services you accessed at this site; and
- The web site you
visited prior to coming to this web site.
The information automatically
collected is logged and used by the Department of Revenue only to improve
the content of our web services and to help us understand how individuals
are using our services. The Department of Revenue analyzes this information
to determine how our web site is being used, so that we may continually
improve the site's usefulness to the public.
What we collect if you volunteer information
If during your visit
to our web site you participate in a survey, send an email, or perform
some other transaction online, the following additional information will
be collected:
- The email address,
and contents of email, for those who communicate with us via email.
- Information volunteered
in response to a survey.
- Information volunteered through an online application or form for any other purpose.
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.
The Department uses
your email to respond directly to you to address issues you identify in
your email, to further improve our web site, or to forward to another
agency for appropriate action. Survey information is used to improve DOR's
services to you. Information from other online forms is used for the purpose
requested, and as authorized by agency statutes.
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Section C. Personal Information and
Choice
You may choose whether
to provide personal information online.
"Personal information"
is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to
that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as
an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet
Protocol address is not necessarily considered personal information.
DOR does not collect
personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us
by sending us email, participate in a survey, or complete an online form.
Your decision not to participate in these activities will not impair
your ability to browse the Department of Revenue web site and read or
download any information provided on the site. If you choose to not use
online applications, forms, or services, you still have the ability to
contact DOR by mail, fax or telephone. Please refer to the Contact
Information Section.
If personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered by
the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it.
However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and
may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by state
or federal law.
If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose
other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Department of
Revenue Public Records Officer, as shown in the Contact
Information Section of this statement.
Department of Revenue web site is a general audience site and we do not knowingly collect any personal information from children. Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children online or by e-mail will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to the public access.
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Section D. Public Access to Information
In Washington, laws exist to ensure that state government is open and
that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information
possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions
to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs,
including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both
state and federal laws.
All of the information collected at this site becomes a public record that
may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an
exemption in law exists. The provisions of
RCW 42.17. 260(1) state that:
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available
for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record
falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section
[RCW 42.17.260(6)], RCW 42.17.310, 42.17.315, or other statute
which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records.
To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal
privacy interests protected by RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315, an agency
shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.17.310
and 42.17.315 when it makes available or publishes any public record;
however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained
fully in writing.
In addition, the Department of Revenue is governed by the provisions of RCW
82.32.330. This statute states in part, RCW
82.32.330(2).
Returns and tax information shall be confidential and privileged, and
except as authorized by this section, neither the Department of Revenue
nor any other person may disclose any return or tax information.
RCW
82.32.330(1)(c) defines returns and tax information as any information related
to your business, including, but not limited to, the nature, source, or amount
of income, payments, receipts, deductions, exemptions, credits, assets, liabilities,
net worth, tax liability deficiencies, over or under payments, whether your
account has been, is being or is scheduled for audit or other review, or subject
to any other investigation or processing.
In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency's disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.
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Section E. Nondisclosure of Certain Personal Information
The Department of Revenue may require you to provide certain confidential
information in order to use specific online services. This information is required to verify a user's identity. You may choose not
to give this information, but if you choose not, we will be unable to
provide you access to these online services and you will have to use traditional
methods such as personal contact, fax or mail.
The strict confidentiality standards set in RCW
82.32.330 prohibit the Department of Revenue from disclosing personal
information about you without express consent or statutory authority.
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Section F. Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable
Information
You can review any personally identifiable information DOR collects about you
by using the information in the Contact Information Section
at the end of this Notice. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable
information you believe to be inaccurate by submitting a written and signed
request that explains the inaccuracy. DOR will take reasonable steps to verify
your identity before granting access or making corrections. Please refer to
RCW
43.105.310.
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Section G. Cookies
To better serve our users, DOR uses "cookies" to customize your browsing
experience with the Department of Revenue web site. Cookies are simple
text files stored on your computer by your web browser.
Cookies created on your computer by using this web site do not contain
personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy
or security. We use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated
identifying tag on your computer.
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Section H. Security
The Department of Revenue has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity
of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including, but
not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Security
measures have been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day
practices of the entire DOR operating environment as part of its continuing
commitment to risk management.
These safeguards should not be construed in any way as giving business,
legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information
provided via DOR supported web sites.
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Section I. Disclaimer
The Department of Revenue web site has many links to other web sites.
These include links to web sites operated by other government agencies,
nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another
site, you are no longer on the Department of Revenue web site and this
Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another web site, you
are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.
Reference in this web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the state of Washington, Department of Revenue, or its officers, employees or agents.
Neither the state of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the
state of Washington guarantees the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any
information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints,
products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable
for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness
of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current.
Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system
does so at their own risk, except as provided in SHB
2493 (Chapter 104, Laws of 2000).
To address concerns regarding emerging technology,
SHB 2493 (Chapter 104, Laws of 2000), provides in part, that businesses
that rely on technology developed and provided by DOR to calculate tax rates
such as the Geographical Information
System (GIS), shall be held harmless from errors resulting from such use.
The Department of Revenue reserves the right to revise and update this Privacy Notice at any time without notice by posting such revised Privacy Notice at the Department of Revenue home page.
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Section J. Department of Revenue Contact Information
You may contact the Department of Revenue as follows:
To review your personal information, or request correction of your personal
information:
Public Records Officer
Department of Revenue
PO Box 47478
Olympia WA 98504-7478
Fax (360) 705-6655
Telephone (360) 705-6647
E-Mail
To offer comments about the Department of Revenue's web site, or about
the information presented in this Privacy Notice:
Internet Content Manager
Department of Revenue
PO Box 47478
Olympia WA 98504-7478
Fax (360) 705-6625
Telephone (360) 705-6610
E-Mail
To inquire about the availability of this information in an alternate
format, please call (360) 705-6715. Teletype (TTY) users, please call
1-800-451-7985.
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