QuickBooks Financial Software 2007 Privacy Statement

Our Philosophy and Practices

• We tell you how we use your information
• We tell you how our software interfaces with the Internet
• We give you choice and control
• We work to protect your information
• We tell you about our relationships with third parties
• You can contact us with a privacy question

We tell you how we use your information
You control access to the information you enter into the QuickBooks software product. When we request information, such as during registration, we will tell you, or it will be clear, what information is required to fulfill your service request. We will also tell you how we will use the information we’re asking for. Because of the financial nature of the products and services described in this privacy statement are not designed to appeal to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly request or receive any information from children.

• We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone.
• We do not share your personal information with anyone outside of Intuit for promotional and/or marketing use.

We tell you how our software interfaces with the Internet
QuickBooks software is "Internet enabled," allowing us to deliver products, services and information via the Internet. Before QuickBooks goes to an online Web page, a message informs you that you are about to connect to the Internet, giving you the option to cancel the action. When you access the Internet you will pass through an Intuit server before being "re-directed" onto the Internet. This allows QuickBooks to send you to the proper Web site even if the destination Web site has changed locations. We store which message you clicked on and its location within the software prior to linking you to the Internet. Intuit servers register the Web site you request from within the software. Intuit does not track URLs that you type into your browser, nor do we track you across the Internet if you leave Intuit's Web sites. To use the online features we require that you register your software. If and when you connect to the Internet to use online features in QuickBooks, we may also include product updates such as software updates, service information and help content in Internet transmissions.

• QuickBooks 2007 Software, U.S. Version

  When you purchase QuickBooks 2007 we require you to register your purchase. During the registration process we require your name, your business address and phone number, e-mail address and company name in addition to information about the product you purchased such as serial number and version description. When you register online, your serial number and version number are automatically sent to Intuit in order to facilitate your registration. Contact information must be entered by you via the Web site or over the phone and is not taken directly from the product. We may also request that you optionally answer some general questions about yourself and your business and how you use the QuickBooks product. Subsequent requests to register will also require your product serial number, which will be sent automatically if you chose to register via the internet, along with some contact information provided during the initial registration.

• Automatic QuickBooks Product Updates

  Intuit works year-round to make QuickBooks better. From time to time, we place updates on our Web site for customers to download. An update might include a timesaving new feature, minor repairs to keep software running smoothly, or timely information relevant to customers' businesses. With the Automatic Update feature, QuickBooks only connects to Intuit servers when you are already connected to the Internet. You always have the option of turning off this feature. To do this, go to the "File" menu within QuickBooks, select "Update QuickBooks" then click the "Update Options" link and follow the instructions. You may obtain the same updates by going to the "Update QuickBooks" screen and clicking on "Update". You may also manually download program updates by visiting the QuickBooks website.

  The update feature transmits technical information to Intuit about the computer's connection and the QuickBooks software being updated. A secure connection protects customer-sensitive information during an update. The Automatic Update feature is only used to update your software and some services to which you have subscribed. During an update, QuickBooks downloads only the files necessary to provide the update.

• QuickBooks Usage Study

  The QuickBooks team will ask a small number of users to provide information that can help us improve QuickBooks. If you are invited to participate, you will see a window pop up giving you more information about the study and asking if you would like to participate. If you agree, Intuit will collect anonymous usage information about the features and services you access in QuickBooks. No personal data will be collected. This anonymous usage information is never associated with any individual. This anonymous usage information will not be used to contact you in any way and will not be shared with anyone else; it is used by Intuit solely to measure QuickBooks' effectiveness and to identify areas for possible enhancements. You can change your mind about participating in the study by selecting QuickBooks Usage Study from the Help menu. In the QuickBooks Usage Study window, click "Discontinue." Note that once you have turned off the usage study, you will not be able to turn it back on.

• Merchant Services for QuickBooks

  To apply for merchant services such as QuickBooks Merchant Services, QuickBooks Point of Sale Merchant Services, and QuickBooks Point of Sale Gift Card Services, your company must apply for a merchant account with Innovative Merchant Solutions, an Intuit company. You will be required to supply both business and personal information, including but not limited to: business name, EIN, telephone numbers, owner's name(s), addresses, phone numbers and social security numbers. This information is used by Innovative Merchant Solutions, an Intuit company, for making a credit decision on your application. Also, in order to support the transaction reporting and downloading features of QuickBooks Merchant Services, we store QuickBooks Merchant Service customer authorization data and credit card transaction and settlement data.

• Online Services Provided by Third-Party Financial Institutions

  QuickBooks connects to the internet to update the list of supported financial institutions. When you enable online services from third-party financial institutions through your QuickBooks software, you will be asked only for the information necessary to set up your online account, such as your account number or password. The information you provide goes directly to your financial institution (even though you may enter it on a screen within QuickBooks). We cannot access or use this information in any manner. We encourage you to review your financial institution's privacy policy to learn more about how it collects and uses personally identifiable information. We also may connect to the Internet for web connect downloads by opening a default web browser and linking you to your Financial Institution.

  We may measure the number of customers and frequency of usage of online account services. This information is used in the aggregate only; it does not contain any account or transaction-specific data, and it is not linked to your individual information. We also periodically receive aggregated general usage information from financial institutions or their processors, including which online services are used and the frequency of usage.

• Online Commerce Services Provided by Third Parties

  QuickBooks offers you the ability to sign up for electronic commerce enabling service delivered by a third-party Internet commerce company. When you set up an account for the service, you will be directed to that Company’s web site. That Company’s privacy policy will apply to the personal information and related business information. You will be asked only for the information necessary to set up your online account, such as your account number, password, business address and product inventory information. The information you provide goes directly to the Internet commerce Company (even though you may enter it on a screen within QuickBooks.) We may also receive aggregated general usage information from the online commerce Company or their processors, including which online services are used, frequency of usage and inventory to sales rates.

• QuickBooks Billing Solutions

  QuickBooks Billing Solutions allows you to transmit invoices, statements, and estimates (forms) electronically from QuickBooks software to your customers. Intuit does not maintain data on your customers, nor do we contact your customers, other than to fulfill and support your and their use of the service.

  For forms that are transmitted using the service, advanced features such as receiving online payment, tracking, reminder, and online account view capabilities are available. To use this service, we ask that you first sign in with QuickBooks Business Services. This allows you to access the service securely outside of QuickBooks later on. In order to provide one step sending, your transmissions are routed via a secure connection through Intuit servers for formatting and final delivery.

  E-mailing from QuickBooks. When you send e-mail from QuickBooks using the FREE feature, only the data necessary to support the service is stored on Intuit servers. This data includes the "from", "to", "cc", “bcc” and subject line and will be used to deliver the form and notify you of any problems with the form delivery.

  E-mailing as a Billing Solutions customer. When you send e-mail utilizing the Billing Solutions service, additional form data must be stored on Intuit servers to support the full functionality of the service. This form data may include items, quantities, terms, customer information and amounts and will only be stored and used to provide the full functionality of the service. The Forms Delivery Tracking feature enables the sender to determine if the recipient has viewed e-mailed invoices and estimates. Viewing is tracked through the use of a single pixel gif included in the e-mail or when a recipient clicks on a link to an online copy of the invoice. Invoice recipients are notified of this feature through a brief disclosure included with e-mailed form messages sent prior to the first use of this technology.

  Invoice Mailing through Billing Solutions. When you transmit invoices to be mailed through QuickBooks, the invoice information is electronically sent to Intuit, then securely forwarded to a specialized third party company that prints, stuffs, and mails your invoices via the U.S. Mail to your customer. The third party does not keep invoice data for longer than required to fulfill the service.

  The information collected about the usage of the Billing Solutions service will be used in the aggregate to help us evaluate and improve the service. This information may also be used for customer support reasons when a problem is detected and your involvement is needed to help fix the service.

• Rate-a-Vendor

  When you rate a vendor from within QuickBooks, the vendor and transaction information that is needed to post your rating will be automatically sent to the Zipingo.com Web site. For example, we need the vendor name, the payment amount and date, and if available, the vendor address. This information may be posted as part of your rating. The payment amount is used to select the appropriate payment range associated with your experience. You will have the opportunity to preview and edit this information prior to public posting. Please note, including a payment range in your rating is optional. No other account or financial information is transmitted or used. Your QuickBooks account and financial information remain confidential and under your control.

• QuickBooks Payroll

  QuickBooks may provide several options to perform payroll for your company. To sign up for any of these services, we require you to provide your company EIN number. To assist you during the sign up, tax filing, and electronic payment processes, we will pre-populate some of the requested information which you will have the option of editing, if necessary. If you sign up for Direct Deposit, you will need to enter your employees’ bank account information. This information will only be used to process payments.

• Feedback

  We invite you to share your thoughts about your QuickBooks software product or service. To better understand your issue or suggestion, Intuit may collect information about your QuickBooks product or service, such as the product you are using and the help screen you are on, browser version and operating system.

We may use your contact information to tell you about other products and services we think might interest you. However, if you don't want us to contact you for promotional purposes, you can tell us when you provide the information. You may also specify your contact preferences by visiting our  Privacy Web site. Your contact preferences only apply to marketing contact. We may need to communicate with you regarding the usability of your product or critical messages relating to your service or software (such as service messages, subscription renewal notices, critical notices, or legally mandated notices).
You can update or correct your contact information you provided during software product registrations by calling us at (800) 4-INTUIT.

We work to protect your information

We use industry recognized security safeguards to help protect the personally identifiable information you provide us from loss, misuse or unauthorized alteration. Whenever we prompt you to transmit sensitive information over the Internet, such as a credit card number, we support the encryption of your data as it is transmitted to us.

When you use any of QuickBooks online features, we work to protect personally identifiable information stored on our servers from unauthorized access using industry standard security products such as firewalls, as well as carefully developed security procedures and practices. All Intuit employees must review and sign a written statement of these practices, which include limiting access to sensitive information only to those employees who require the information and enforcing strict password protocols for all employees. We use both internal and external resources to review the adequacy of our security measures on a regular basis.

We tell you about our relationships with third parties

Sometimes, we enter into contracts with third parties who assist us in servicing you, such as customer orders or providing customer service. The contracts outline the appropriate use and handling of your information and prohibit third parties from using any of your personal information for purposes unrelated to the product or service for which they've been contracted. These third parties are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information we provide to them.

We may disclose or report personal information in limited circumstances where we believe in good faith that disclosure is required under the law. For example, we may be required to disclose personal information to cooperate with regulators or law enforcement authorities, to comply with a legal process such as a court order, subpoena, search warrant, or a law enforcement request.

We have business partners that provide services to you, some of which are co-branded. Partner services and sites are clearly identified. When you request any of these products or services, you are permitting us to provide your personal information to the partner to fulfill your request. In some cases you may be asked to provide your personal information directly to the third party. This Web site may provide links to third-party sites, such as those of our business partners and online advertisers. Because Intuit does not control the information policies or practices of these third parties, you should review their privacy policies to learn more about how they collect and use personal information.

Should we sell, merge or transfer any part of our business, part of the sale may include your personal information. If so, you will have the opportunity to ask not to receive promotional information following any change of control.

We may use publicly available sources outside of Intuit to verify or supplement the information you give us. For example, we may obtain address updates from the U.S. Postal service or demographic or firmographic information from direct marketing companies. We use this data to help us maintain accurate records and to improve the products and services that we deliver to you.

Intuit and its subsidiaries may exchange your contact information (name, address, phone number, e-mail address) and the types of products and services you have purchased from us to provide you with a service or product you have requested. We do not share the information that you enter into the software product. Unless you have asked us not to contact you, we may occasionally use your contact information to update you about new products or services we believe you may be interested in.

You can contact us

If you have privacy-related questions that are not addressed here, please contact the  Privacy Team or write us at: Privacy Team, Intuit Inc. 2800 East Commerce Center Place, Tucson, AZ 85706.

Return to top of Privacy Statement

Updated: August, 2006