Overview
In general, our online policies governing the collection and dissemination of personal information follow the same rules that apply to an in-person visit to our office and are governed by the same state and federal laws that cover such visits.
Purpose
The purpose of this statement is to inform users of this site with regard to the collection and use of personal information. Nothing herein should be construed to, nor does it, create any new or different rights than those available under existing state and federal laws.
Definition of Personal Information
For the purposes of this statement, "personal information" means information that identifies or describes an individual who is the subject of the information. This includes information such as names, addresses, social security numbers and credit card numbers.
Personal Information Not Routinely Collected
Users are not required to provide personal information simply to visit our websites or to download information. We may request personal information in order to provide requested specialized services, but such information is handled as it would be on an in-person visit to a government office.
Personal Information May Be Subject to Public Disclosure
In the state of South Carolina, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by a government agency. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access certain records. Such exemptions are authorized by both state and federal laws. Information collected by us, like information collected during an in-person visit to our office, may be subject to inspection and copying by the public, unless such an exemption in law exists. In the event that there is a conflict between this Privacy Statement and a state or federal law governing the disclosure of public records, the applicable state or federal law shall control.
The Family Privacy Protection Act of 2002 prohibits persons or private entities from using any personal information obtained from the Department's website for commercial solicitation purposes. A person knowingly violating this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to penalties.
Use, Collection and Retention of Personal Information
The IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of computers used to visit our websites are noted as part of the statistical analysis used to better design government services and improve access to them. However, we do not attempt to collect personal information on individual users or to associate individual users with IP addresses.
We collect, retain, and use personal information about users only when: 1) they choose to subscribe to a service and 2) where it is lawful and is essential to administer and to provide products, services and other opportunities requested by a user.
Use of Cookies
Our web applications may create "cookies" to hold user information. These "cookies" are then sent to, and stored on, the user's computer. This information is handled in the same way as other personal information obtained by us. No user information will be gathered through the use of "cookies" except that which is required to run the specific application(s) being accessed by the user.
Use of User E-mail Addresses
E-mail addresses obtained as a result of requests to our websites will not be sold or given to any organization for marketing purposes. The information collected is subject to the access and confidentiality provisions of the State's Freedom of Information Act and other applicable sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws and/or federal law. Email or other information requests sent to our websites may be maintained in order to: respond to the request, forward that request to the appropriate department or agency, communicate updates to the system that may be of interest to citizens, or provide our web developers with valuable customer feedback to assist in improving the site.
Data Security and Quality
We are committed to data security and the data quality of personal information that is either available from, or collected by, our websites and have taken precautions to protect personal information from loss, misuse or alteration. Any third parties responsible for this information are committed to the same principles and also are required by contract to follow the same policies and guidelines as the State of South Carolina in protecting this information. Unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law, rule or regulation, individuals will be given the ability to access and correct personal information maintained by us that may be in error.
Non-Department of Revenue Websites
Various websites will be linked through us. This includes websites of other governmental agencies, as well as websites of private entities. Many of these sites may not be subject to the South Carolina Code of Laws or may operate under different privacy standards. Visitors to those websites are advised to check the privacy statements of those sites and be cautious about providing personal information without a clear understanding of how the information will be used.
Limiting Access to Personal Information
We have taken steps to limit access to personal information to support staff who require access in order to perform their assigned duties. We have notified and instructed our staff of their responsibilities concerning the protection of personal information.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your interaction with this website, please contact:
South Carolina Department of Revenue
Taxpayer Advocate
Phone: 803-898-5444
Email: TaxpayerAdvocate@dor.sc.gov
