It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia that personal information about citizens will be collected only to the extent necessary to provide the service or benefit desired; that only appropriate information will be collected; that the citizen shall understand the reason the information is collected; and be able to examine his or her personal record which is maintained by the Virginia Department of Taxation. The Department of Taxation does not initiate any automated outbound calls requesting citizen information.
This statement is designed to explain what type of information the Virginia Department of Taxation collects, and with whom and under what conditions it shares this information.
Virginia law requires that state bodies not collect personal information about citizens unless it is required to provide services for the citizen. When information is collected, it must be protected from unauthorized access or disclosure and citizens have the right to know how the information is collected, used and who has access to it.
When you browse our web site, and have not logged on to any of our online services, you browse anonymously. Personal information such as your name, address, social security number, phone number or email address is not collected as you browse. Information such as the server your computer is logged onto and your browser type is captured, but not tied to your personal identity.
When you use Live Chat or log on to our online services such as iFile, the personal information that you submit to us is captured to enable you to conduct business with the Virginia Department of Taxation. The only personal information that we collect is the information that you submit to us during the process of chatting, completing an online filing, payment or registration transaction. In addition we collect the following information about your visit:
You are required to provide personal information in order to register, file and pay online. This is information that is necessary to complete the transaction with the Virginia Department of Taxation. Once you are signed up for online services, you may be eligible to request additional services that may require you to provide additional personal information. Should you not desire to provide the requested personal information, we will not be able to provide you with online services.
The information that you provide to us is used to provide a service such as filing or paying taxes, and access to your account history. Only the minimum amount of information necessary to conduct business with the Virginia Department of Taxation is gathered. This information is safeguarded according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Information that you provide to us on our online surveys is used to improve the online services that we offer and to determine if you are satisfied with the service we are providing. This information is not stored with your tax account information and is not part of your tax records.
We are required by law to treat all personal information collected as confidential information. We do not provide information to any entity except as authorized by the Code of Virginia § 58.1-3.
You should be aware that other Internet sites to which you link to might contain privacy provisions that differ from the provisions of our Privacy Statement.
References or links on this Web site to any other Web site, process, or service, is for the information and convenience of our customers, and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Virginia Department of Taxation.
A persistent cookie is generally defined as a piece of data that is stored on the user's hard drive. The Virginia Department of Taxation does not use this type of cookie on the Web site or to complete any online transaction. We do however use a transient cookie that is used only during the session between our Web server and your browser. This cookie is not stored on your computer's hard drive. Users who have their browsers set to reject persistent cookies will have no difficulty using our Web site or online transactional services. However, if your browser is set to a security level of "High", it will reject all types of cookies and you will have difficulty using our services. To ensure proper use of our services, please make sure your browser can accept transient cookies.
You may be offered the option, through our Online Services, to receive e-mailed reminders and notices. These messages are automated and do not contain confidential tax information. You may unsubscribe to these reminders and notices at any time by following the instructions on your login page. Your e-mail address is treated as confidential personal information and is not sold. We do not provide information to any entity except as authorized by Section 58.1-3, Code of Virginia.
You may contact the Virginia Department of Taxation via e-mail. While we can respond to any general tax questions by e-mail (e.g. when to file, where to file, which form to file, etc.), state and federal laws require us to keep return and account information from our records confidential. We cannot respond to requests for specific account information or assistance by e-mail. Be aware that the confidentiality of e-mail transmissions via the Internet is not guaranteed.
You have the right to review the online information we maintain on you in order to verify its accuracy. If you find errors in your personal record, or desire that we purge your online history from our records, you must request in writing that the Virginia Department of Taxation correct or purge your online records from our application servers. Submit the written request to the Virginia Department of Taxation, Post Office Box 1880, Richmond, Virginia, 23218-1880. All corrections to errors in your online information will automatically be reflected in the Department of Taxation's system of record. Please be advised that the Virginia Department of Taxation cannot legally purge taxpayer account information from our system of record.
Whether it is on the internet, in person, via telephone or mail, the Virginia Department of Taxation is committed to protecting your privacy. We will continue to provide you with the most up-to-date safeguards possible to ensure the security and privacy of your information.
Last Updated 11/16/2009 11:21