Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 2026
SelfEmployTax.com is committed to your privacy. This page explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights as a visitor to this site.
The Short Version
- We do not collect your name, email address, Social Security number, or any financial figures you type into our calculators.
- All calculator inputs stay in your browser — they are processed by JavaScript on your device and never sent to our servers.
- We use Google Analytics 4 for anonymous traffic statistics and Google AdSense for advertisements.
- We do not sell any data to third parties.
1. What Information We Collect
We collect minimal information. Here is a complete breakdown:
Calculator Inputs
Numbers and figures you enter into our tax calculators are processed entirely within your browser using JavaScript. We have no application servers receiving or storing your income figures, deduction amounts, or any other financial information. When you close the page, the data is gone.
Analytics Data
We use Google Analytics 4 to collect anonymous usage statistics: which pages are visited, how long visitors stay, what country or region traffic comes from, and how users navigate between pages. This data is aggregated — it cannot be used to identify any individual visitor.
Ad Data
Google AdSense may collect cookie data for the purpose of serving and measuring advertisements. Google controls this data collection. See the Google AdSense section below for details and opt-out options.
2. Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
| Cookie | Source | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga |
Google Analytics | Distinguish unique visitors | 2 years |
_gid |
Google Analytics | Distinguish unique visitors (session) | 24 hours |
_gat |
Google Analytics | Throttle request rate | 1 minute |
| Ad cookies | Google AdSense | Ad preference and frequency | Varies (Google-controlled) |
| localStorage keys | SelfEmployTax.com | Dismissed banner preferences | Browser-side only; persists until cleared |
You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. Our tax calculators will continue to function fully without cookies — no login or cookie acceptance is required to use any tool on this site.
3. Google AdSense
This site displays advertisements served by Google AdSense. Google may use cookies and similar technologies to show you advertisements based on your interests and browsing history across websites that use Google's advertising services.
- We do not control which specific ads Google serves or what data Google collects for ad targeting purposes.
- Review Google's privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy
- Opt out of personalized ads: adssettings.google.com
Alternatively, you can opt out of interest-based advertising by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page or the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page.
4. Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors use SelfEmployTax.com — which pages are popular, how users navigate, and where traffic originates. This helps us improve the site's content and usability.
- Data is aggregated and anonymous — Google Analytics cannot identify you as an individual.
- IP anonymization: enabled — your IP address is truncated before being stored by Google.
- Data retention: 14 months (Google Analytics default setting).
- To opt out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on — this prevents Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits on any website.
5. How We Use Information
We use the limited information we collect for the following purposes:
- To understand which tax topics, guides, and calculators are most useful to visitors, so we can improve and expand our content.
- To identify technical issues — for example, if a page has an unusually high bounce rate, we may investigate whether there is a loading or usability problem.
- To serve relevant advertisements through Google AdSense that help fund the free tools and content on this site.
6. Data Security
Our tax calculators run entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your income figures, deduction amounts, filing status, and all other financial inputs are computed locally on your device and are never transmitted to our servers. We do not operate application servers that could receive or store your financial data.
All connections to SelfEmployTax.com use HTTPS (TLS encryption), ensuring that page content is delivered securely. Our static hosting infrastructure does not log or retain visitor input data.
7. Links to External Sites
SelfEmployTax.com links to government resources (IRS.gov, irs.gov/payments, eftps.gov) and financial reference sites. These external sites have their own privacy policies and data practices, which we do not control and are not responsible for. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site you visit.
External links on this site open in a new tab and include the rel="noopener noreferrer" attribute for security.
8. Children's Privacy
SelfEmployTax.com is designed for adults engaged in self-employment, freelancing, and small business activity. This site is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect any information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has submitted information through this site, please contact us using the information in the Contact section below.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We will not notify you individually of changes.
Your continued use of SelfEmployTax.com after any changes to this privacy policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
10. Contact
If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this privacy policy or our data practices, please reach out:
Email: privacy@selfemploytax.com
We aim to respond to privacy-related inquiries within 5 business days.