1. 1. Overview & Scope
OpenTax ("we", "us", "our") is dedicated to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your data when you access or interact with the OpenTax website, tax calculators, and public REST API endpoints.
2. 2. Information We Collect
OpenTax adheres strictly to data minimization principles. We do not require user account registration, nor do we collect sensitive personal identifiers, bank details, or credit card numbers:
- Query Input Data: ZIP codes, city names, or transaction amounts entered to calculate sales tax. These are processed in real-time and not linked to individual identities.
- Geolocation (Optional): If you explicitly click "Use My Location", browser GPS coordinates are temporarily processed via Haversine algorithm to match your nearest tax jurisdiction. Coordinates are not stored or tracked.
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Local Storage:
We use browser LocalStorage strictly to persist your preferred visual theme mode (
open_tax_theme: light, dark, or system). - Server Access Logs: For infrastructure security, rate limiting, and DDoS prevention, our servers log standard HTTP request metadata (IP address, timestamp, User-Agent, endpoint, status code). Logs are routinely purged.
3. 3. How We Use Information
We process collected information solely for the following operational purposes:
- Providing accurate, real-time US sales tax rates and multi-jurisdiction breakdown calculations.
- Optimizing API latency, database indexing, and autocomplete search algorithms.
- Detecting and mitigating API abuse, automated scraping, and cyber threats.
4. 4. Third-Party Services & External Links
Our tax database compiles published rate schedules from the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board (SST) and geographic datasets from SimpleMaps. Our website may contain links to official state Department of Revenue websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.
5. 5. User Privacy Rights (CCPA / GDPR)
Under applicable global privacy regulations (including California CCPA/CPRA and European GDPR), you have the right to know what data is collected and request its deletion. OpenTax does not sell, rent, monetize, or trade user data to third parties or data brokers.
6. 6. Tax Information Disclaimer
Sales tax rates and calculations provided by OpenTax are compiled for informational and estimation purposes only. They do not constitute binding legal, financial, or tax determinations. Consult local taxing authorities for statutory filings.
7. 7. Policy Updates & Contact
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect technological or regulatory changes. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised date. For questions or inquiries, please contact us via our GitHub project repository.