Internet privacy policy
The data controller collecting the data described herein is Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, the United States professional services firm, Personal data collected by Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service may be transferred to other individual Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, which are member firms of Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service organization, where it is necessary to meet the purpose for which the visitor has submitted the information. By submitting data on Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' Web site, the visitor is providing explicit consent to transmission of data collected on the Web site for the fulfilment of their voluntary requests.
Data collection
We collect only personally identifiable information that is specifically and voluntarily provided by visitors to Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' Web site. Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service receives limited identifiable information, such as name, Title, company address, email address, and telephone and fax numbers, from Web site visitors. Typically, identifying information is collected to:
• Register for certain areas of the site
• Inquire for further information
• Distribute requested reference materials
• Submit resumes
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' intention is not to seek any sensitive information through our Web site unless legally required for regulatory purposes. Sensitive information includes a number of types of data relating to: race or ethnic origin; political opinions; religious or other similar beliefs; trade union membership; physical or mental health; sexual life or criminal record. We suggest that you do not provide sensitive information of this nature. If you do wish to provide sensitive information for any reason, Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service accepts your explicit consent to use that information in the ways described in this privacy statement or as described at the point where you choose to disclose this information.
Use of data
A user may choose to provide personal information in the following examples:
• Order publications
• Submit resumes or work history information
• Participate in "join our mailing list" initiatives
• Participate in bulletin boards, discussion or message forums
• Contact us for further information
• Enter Quick Surveys, Quiz's or Benchmarking Surveys
• Register for events and conferences
• Register for premium online services
Information attained by the is not shared with other entities in the network for secondary or unrelated purposes, or shared with a third party, unless otherwise disclosed at the point of collection. If there is an instance where such information may be shared, the visitor will be asked for permission beforehand.
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service makes every practical effort to avoid excessive or
irrelevant collection of data. If a visitor believes the site has collected excessive
information, we encourage the visitor to contact us to raise any concerns.
Cookies and log files
Cookies may be used on some pages of our site. "Cookies" are small text files placed on your hard drive that assist us in providing a more customized Web site experience. For example, a cookie can be used to store registration information in an area of the site so that a user does not need to re-enter it on subsequent visits to that area. It is Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' policy to use cookies to make navigation of our Web sites easier for visitors and to facilitate efficient registration procedures.
If you are concerned about cookies, most browsers permit individuals to decline cookies. In most cases, a visitor may refuse a cookie and still fully navigate our Web sites.
In order to properly manage our Web site we may anonymously log information on our operational systems, and identify categories of visitors by items such as domains and browser types. These statistics are reported in the aggregate to our webmasters. This is to ensure that our Web site presents the best web experience for visitors and is an effective information resource.
Third parties
It is Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' policy only to disclose information to third parties under the following circumstances:
• As required by law through subpoena, search warrant or other legal process
• When explicitly requested by a visitor
• When required to deliver publications or reference materials requested by a visitor
• When required to facilitate conferences or events hosted by a third party
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' Web sites do not collect or compile personally identifying information for dissemination or sale to outside parties for consumer marketing purposes, or host mailings on behalf of third parties.
Third party links
There are several places throughout sterlingstax.com that may link to other Web sites that do not operate under sterlingstax.com’s privacy practices. When you link to other Web sites, Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service's privacy practices no longer apply. We encourage visitors to review each site's privacy policy before disclosing any personally identifiable information.
Choices
As a policy, visitors are not required to register to gain access to areas of the Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service Web sites. In certain cases in the future, as your Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service Web site experience expands, we may require visitors to register in order to obtain a user-id and password for authentication and secure access to a transaction or certain business confidential or proprietary information services on premium Web sites.
Personally identifiable information provided to Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service through its
Web site is provided voluntarily by visitors. Should visitors subsequently choose to unsubscribe
from mailing lists or any registrations, we will provide instructions, on the appropriate Web site area or in
communications to our visitors; or a visitor may contact the webmaster of the appropriate site at
WebContactMgr@sterlingstax.com.
Access
Each visitor has the right of access to personal data they have submitted through the Web sites to Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service.
User updates of information should be handled by going back through the registration process. Inquiries about the accuracy of identifying information previously submitted to Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service through its Web site, or requests to have outdated information removed, should be directed to WebContactMgr@sterlingstax.com.
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service is committed to providing reasonable and practical access to visitors to allow them the opportunity to identify and correct any inaccuracies. When requested and practical, Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service will delete identifying information from current operational systems.
When personally identifiable information is retained, Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service assumes responsibility for keeping an accurate record of the information once a visitor has submitted and verified the data. Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service does not assume responsibility for verifying the ongoing accuracy of the content of personal information. When practically possible, if Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service is informed that any personal data collected through a Web site is no longer accurate, Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service will make appropriate corrections based on the updated information provided by the authenticated visitor.
Security
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service has implemented generally accepted standards of technology and operational security in order to protect personally identifiable information from loss, misuse, alteration or destruction. All Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service employees follow a network-wide security policy. Only authorized Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service personnel are provided access to personally identifiable information and these employees have agreed to ensure confidentiality of this information. Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' policy is to use secure socket layer technology for the protection of credit card information submitted through web forms. This policy is also required for any fulfillment agents of our firms.
Children
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service understands the importance of protecting children's privacy especially in an online environment. The Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' sites covered by this privacy statement are not intentionally designed for or directed at children 13 years of age or younger. It is Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service' policy never to knowingly collect or maintain information about anyone under the age of 13.
Modifications
Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service reserves the right to modify or amend this Statement at any time. The effective date will be displayed at the beginning of this statement. To keep visitors informed, Sterling’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service will notify users of changes to our Privacy Statement by prominently identifying the alteration for a period of not less than two weeks on sterlingstax.com