Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Margen Software ("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 use our tax preparation platform, website, and related services (collectively, the "Service"). Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal information and how we will treat it.

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, do not use the Service. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and we will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you provide directly to us when you use the Service, including:

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, password, and other registration information you choose to provide.
• Tax Information: We collect tax-related information necessary to prepare and file your tax returns, including but not limited to: Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, income information, deduction information, credit information, dependent information, and other financial data required for tax preparation.
• Document Information: We collect information from documents you upload, including W-2s, 1099s, receipts, invoices, and other tax-related documents. This may include personal information, financial information, and other sensitive data contained in these documents.
• Payment Information: When you make a payment, we collect payment card information, billing addresses, and other payment-related information. Payment information is processed by third-party payment processors and is not stored on our servers.
• Communication Information: When you contact us for support or communicate with us through the Service, we collect the content of your communications and any information you choose to provide.
• Profile Information: We may collect additional information you choose to provide, such as your phone number, mailing address, and preferences.

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you use the Service, we automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with the Service, including:

• Device Information: We collect information about your device, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and mobile network information.
• Usage Information: We collect information about how you use the Service, including pages you visit, features you use, time spent on pages, clickstream data, and other usage statistics.
• Location Information: We may collect information about your approximate location based on your IP address or other location data provided by your device.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities and preferences. For more information about our use of cookies, see Section 7 below.

2.3 Information We Collect from Third Parties

We may collect information about you from third-party sources, including:

• Tax Authorities: We may receive information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax authorities regarding the status of your tax returns, acknowledgments, and other tax-related communications.
• Financial Institutions: If you choose to connect your financial accounts, we may collect information from financial institutions and other third-party services.
• Service Providers: We may receive information from third-party service providers who assist us in providing the Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• To Provide the Service: We use your information to provide, maintain, and improve the Service, including processing your tax returns, preparing tax forms, and facilitating electronic filing with tax authorities.
• To Process Payments: We use payment information to process transactions and manage billing.
• To Communicate with You: We use your contact information to send you service-related communications, respond to your inquiries, provide customer support, and send you important updates about the Service.
• To Personalize Your Experience: We use your information to personalize your experience, provide relevant content, and tailor the Service to your preferences.
• To Ensure Security: We use your information to detect, prevent, and address security issues, fraud, and other illegal activities.
• To Comply with Legal Obligations: We use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes, including tax laws and regulations.
• To Improve the Service: We use aggregated and anonymized information to analyze usage patterns, improve the Service, and develop new features.
• For Marketing: With your consent, we may use your information to send you marketing communications about our products and services. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time.

AI and Machine Learning: We use AI-powered tools to assist with tax preparation and provide guidance. We do not use your personal tax data, including Social Security numbers, financial information, or tax return data, to train AI models. Any AI processing of your data is performed solely for the purpose of providing the Service to you, and your data is not retained by AI service providers for training purposes or shared with third-party AI model providers for training. We may use aggregated, anonymized, and de-identified data that cannot reasonably be used to identify you for improving our AI features and services.

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Tax Authorities

We share your tax return information with the IRS and applicable state tax authorities as necessary to electronically file your tax returns. This is a core function of the Service, and by using the Service to file your taxes, you authorize us to transmit this information to tax authorities.

4.2 With Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Payment processors for processing payments
• Cloud storage providers for storing your data
• Analytics providers for analyzing usage patterns
• Customer support providers for providing support services
• Email service providers for sending communications
• Other service providers necessary to operate the Service

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was shared.

4.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or a government agency). We may also disclose your information to: (a) comply with a legal obligation; (b) protect and defend our rights or property; (c) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service; (d) protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public; or (e) protect against legal liability.

4.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you have given us your explicit consent to do so.

4.6 Aggregated and Anonymized Information

We may share aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you with third parties for research, analytics, or other purposes.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Secure data centers and infrastructure
• Employee training on data security and privacy
• Incident response and breach notification procedures

FTC Safeguards Rule Compliance: As a provider of tax preparation services that handles federal tax information, we are subject to the Federal Trade Commission's Safeguards Rule (16 CFR Part 314). We maintain a comprehensive Written Information Security Program (WISP) that includes: (a) designation of a qualified security officer responsible for our information security program; (b) regular risk assessments to identify and address security vulnerabilities; (c) implementation of safeguards to control identified risks; (d) ongoing monitoring and testing of our security controls; and (e) oversight of service providers to ensure they maintain appropriate safeguards.

Data Breach Notification: In the event of a data breach that may affect your personal information, we will notify affected users without unreasonable delay and in accordance with applicable state and federal law, including but not limited to state breach notification statutes. We will provide notice through email, prominent posting on the Platform, or other reasonable means as required by law. Our breach notification procedures are designed to comply with all applicable legal requirements and to provide you with timely information about any potential impact on your personal information.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Service, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. The retention period may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.

Tax return information is typically retained for a minimum of seven (7) years to comply with IRS recordkeeping requirements, though we may retain it longer as necessary for legal, regulatory, or business purposes. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where we are required to retain it for legal or regulatory purposes.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and store information about your preferences and usage of the Service. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us improve your experience, analyze usage patterns, and provide personalized content.

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Service to function properly and cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Service by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
• Functional Cookies: These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences.
• Advertising Cookies: These cookies are used to deliver relevant advertisements and track the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Service.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Access: You have the right to access and receive a copy of your personal information.
• Correction: You have the right to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Deletion: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Portability: You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Opt-Out: You have the right to opt out of certain uses of your personal information, such as marketing communications.
• Objection: You have the right to object to certain processing of your personal information.
• Restriction: You have the right to request restriction of processing of your personal information.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided in Section 12 below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.

California Privacy Rights: If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell your personal information.

9. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information from our systems.

10. International Data Transfers

Service Availability: The Service is currently designed for and available to users located in the United States. We do not intentionally collect personal information from users located outside the United States. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that by using the Service, you are transferring your information to the United States, where our servers are located and where our central database is operated.

By using the Service, you consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information in the United States. The data protection laws in the United States may differ from those in your country of residence. We take appropriate measures to ensure that your information receives an adequate level of protection in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable U.S. law.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with specific data protection requirements, please note that we are not currently offering the Service in those jurisdictions. If you have questions about international data transfers, please contact us using the information provided in Section 12.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. We may also notify you of material changes by email or through other means.

Your continued use of the Service after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.