PRIVACY STATEMENT

Section A. Introduction

Thank you for visiting our website and reading this Privacy Policy. This Policy explains what we do with data collected as a result of your visit to this website.  It also describes several state and federal laws that apply to personally identifiable information that you might provide in the course of navigating this site.

Section B. Data Collection and Use

  • Information collected if you only browse this site

When you browse this website, we may gather and store certain information about your visit. We automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

  1. The Internet domain and network address you use to access our site ;
  2. The type of web browser and operating system you are using;
  3. The date and time of your visit;
  4. The pages you visit on this website;
  5. The last website you visited before coming to ours; and
  6. Other web traffic statistics such as Google Analytics or Piwik Analytics.

The information we automatically collect is saved and used by this agency to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services.

  • Information collected if you volunteer information

If during your visit to our website you participate in a survey, send us an email, or perform some other transaction online, the following additional information may be collected:

  1. Your email address and contents of the email.
  2. Information volunteered in response to a survey.
  3. Information volunteered through an online form for any other purpose.

The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us. We will not usually ask for or collect this kind of information from the general public through this website.

Email you send to us may be used to respond to issues and to further improve our services.  We may forward your email to another agency or a vendor for appropriate action.

The records retention schedules published by the State Archives require us to keep this information only so long as it is useful, and then destroy it; these schedules change from time to time.

Section C. Personal Information

Personally identifiable information (“PII”) as defined in this Privacy Policy, means information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as your name, address, and phone number.

We will not collect PII about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us by sending us email, or completing an online form or survey.  You may choose not to contact us by e-mail or to provide any PII using an online form or survey.   Your choice to not participate in these activities will not restrict impair your ability to use our site and read or download any information provided on the site. If you choose to provide PII by emailing us, participating in a survey, or completing an online form, we may store this information.

If you have questions about how we use your personally identifiable information, you can contact our agency as shown in the Contact Information section of this statement.

Section D. Public Access to Information

In the State of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public’s right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.

As a public agency, all our information is governed by laws such as Washington’s Public Records Act  RCW 42.56(link is external). Information you send us may become a public record, and it may be subject to public inspection and copying if not otherwise protected by federal or state law.

Information collected through use of this site may be public information and subject to inspection and copying by members of the public.  For example, the Public Records Act states that:

Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.56.070(6) (link is external)], Chapter 42.56 RCW (link is external), or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by Chapter 42.56 RCW (link is external), an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with Chapter 42.56 RCW (link is external) when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.

In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Policy and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.

Section E. Correcting Personally Identifiable Information

State law requires agencies that collect personally identifiable information to provide “procedures for correcting inaccurate information, including establishing mechanisms for individuals to review information about them and recommend changes in information they believe to be inaccurate.” (RCW 43.105.365 (link is external))

You can access any personally identifiable information we collect about you by using the information in the Contact Information section at the end of this Policy. We will do our best to correct factual errors in your personally identifiable information if you send us a written request that clearly shows the error.

Section F. Security

This Agency has taken steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information maintained by us. These measures are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data, block unknown or unauthorized access to our systems and information, and to provide reasonable protection of information in our possession.

Section G. Disclaimer

Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity who relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.

We reserve the right to revise and update this Privacy Policy at any time without notice by posting the revision on our site.

Section H. Contact Information

To offer comments about Board of Tax Appeal’s website, or about the information presented in this Privacy Notice, please contact using the information on our Contact Us page.