1. Introduction
Freedom Formation ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.
By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
2. Information We Collect
Personal Information
We may collect the following personal information:
- Name, email address, phone number
- Business information (business name, EIN, formation details)
- Credit information (credit scores, credit reports with your authorization)
- Financial information (income, expenses, bank account information for payments)
- Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- Address and contact information
Automatically Collected Information
- IP address, browser type, and device information
- Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
- Referral sources and search terms
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide our credit building and business formation services
- Process payments and manage your account
- Communicate with you about our services, updates, and promotions
- Analyze and improve our website and services
- Comply with legal obligations and prevent fraud
- Provide customer support and respond to your inquiries
- Access credit reports and scores (with your authorization)
- Submit applications for business credit cards and funding
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We may share your information with:
Service Providers
- Credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, Dun & Bradstreet)
- Financial institutions and credit card issuers
- Payment processors (Stripe)
- Email service providers
- Analytics and marketing platforms
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Secure servers and databases
- Regular security audits and updates
- Limited access to personal information
- Employee training on data protection
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
5A. Tax Document Data Handling
⚠️ CRITICAL NOTICE:
If you use our Tax Document Preparation Service, we collect and process highly sensitive tax-related information. This section explains our specific practices for tax data.
Tax Information We Collect
For tax document preparation, we collect:
- Tax Identification Numbers: SSN, ITIN, EIN
- Personal Information: Full legal name, date of birth, address
- Financial Information: Income, expenses, bank accounts, business finances
- Business Information: Business structure, formation details, activities
- Foreign Ownership Information: If applicable, related party transactions, foreign owner details
- Supporting Documents: Receipts, invoices, 1099s, bank statements, W-2s
How We Use Tax Data
Tax information is used ONLY for:
- Preparing official IRS tax forms
- Submitting completed forms to the IRS and state tax agencies
- Providing you with copies of your tax documents
- Complying with legal record retention requirements
Tax Data Security
We implement enhanced security for tax data:
- Encryption: All tax data is encrypted at rest and in transit using AES-256 encryption
- Access Control: Only authorized personnel have access to tax documents
- Secure Storage: Tax data is stored in secure, access-controlled databases
- Audit Logging: All access to tax data is logged and monitored
- Employee Training: Staff handling tax data receive specialized security training
Third-Party Sharing of Tax Data
We share tax data ONLY with:
- IRS and State Tax Agencies: To file your tax returns
- Letterstream.com: For certified mail delivery of tax documents
- Legal Requirements: If required by court order or government request
We will NEVER:
- Sell your tax information to third parties
- Use your tax data for marketing purposes
- Share your tax data with credit bureaus or financial institutions
- Disclose your tax information without legal requirement
Tax Data Retention
We retain tax documents for 7 years as required by IRS regulations (IRS Publication 583). This allows us to provide copies if you lose your documents or if the IRS requests them.
After 7 years:
- Tax documents are securely destroyed
- Personal identifiable information is permanently deleted
- Encryption keys are destroyed
Your Tax Data Rights
Regarding your tax information, you have the right to:
- Request copies of all tax documents we prepared
- Request correction of errors in your tax documents (before submission only)
- Withdraw consent before document submission (full refund available)
- Request information about who accessed your tax data
Data Breach Notification
In the unlikely event of a data breach affecting tax information, we will:
- Notify you within 72 hours
- Notify the IRS and relevant state agencies
- Provide identity theft protection services
- Assist with IRS identity verification if needed
Contact for Tax Data Concerns
For questions or concerns about tax data handling, contact:
privacy@freedomformation.com
Subject: "Tax Data Privacy Inquiry"
6. Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Access, update, or delete your personal information
- Opt-out of marketing communications
- Disable cookies through your browser settings
- Request a copy of your data
- Withdraw consent for data processing (where applicable)
- File a complaint with a data protection authority
To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@freedomformation.com
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyze website traffic, and personalize content. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
Types of Cookies We Use:
- Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand website usage
- Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements
- Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
8. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.
9. Children's Privacy
Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
10. California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to know what personal information is collected
- Right to delete personal information
- Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
11. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize your information.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: