Privacy policy
Last updated: October 18, 2026 (draft)
This policy explains how Stay The Course Society ("we", "us") collects, uses, protects and shares information you give us through our tax services website and tax intake form.
Information we collect
- Contact details: name, email, phone number and address.
- Tax information: filing status, tax year, income, deductions, dependents, spouse details and business information.
- Sensitive identifiers: Social Security numbers or ITINs (yours, your spouse's and your dependents'), dates of birth, driver license or state ID details, EIN, and bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit.
- Documents you upload: ID images, Social Security cards, W-2s, 1099s and other income or business documents.
- Consents and signatures you give on the form, with the date and time.
How we use it
We use your information to prepare and file your tax returns, to verify your identity, to deposit refunds where you ask us to, to contact you about your return, and to meet our legal obligations. We do not sell your information.
How we protect it
- The form sends your information directly to our own server over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. Nothing is saved in your browser.
- Sensitive identifiers and every uploaded file are encrypted (AES-256-GCM) before they are stored. The encryption key is held separately from the stored data.
- Only the owner of Stay The Course Society can sign in to view intake details and documents. Access requires a one-time code sent to the owner's email.
Who we share it with
- Tax authorities (the IRS and state agencies) when we file your return.
- Our client-management (CRM) provider receives only limited, non-sensitive details: your name, email, phone, the type of return, filing status, tax year, number of dependents, business name and entity type, the last four digits of an EIN, your payment preference and an internal reference number. It never receives Social Security numbers, dates of birth, ID details, bank numbers or documents.
- Service providers that host our website and encrypted storage (Cloudflare).
- Anyone else only with your consent or when the law requires it.
Tax return information (IRC §7216)
Federal law limits how tax preparers may use and disclose tax return information. We use and disclose it beyond preparing your return only with your written consent, which you may give or decline on the intake form. Declining does not affect our services. If you believe your tax return information has been used or disclosed improperly, you can contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484 or [email protected].
How long we keep it
TODO (attorney): set a retention period. Tax preparers are generally required to keep certain records for at least three years.
Your choices and rights
You may ask to see, correct or delete your information, subject to records we must keep by law. California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). To make a request, contact us below.
Contact us
Stay The Course Society
25017 Viking Street, Hayward, CA 94545
[email protected] · (510) 205-7587