1. Introduction

BleedRate ("we," "our," or "us") operates this website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, including all its content, functionality, and services offered on or through the website.

IMPORTANT: We are transparent about how we handle your data. This is not a sophisticated tracking system—this is a tax calculator. We collect only what's necessary to provide the service.

2. What Data We Collect

A. Data You Provide Directly

When you use the BleedRate calculator, you voluntarily provide:

• Financial Information: Salary, bonuses, retirement contributions, investment income, consumption spending
• Personal Information: Age, number of dependents (for tax calculation purposes)
• Household Information: Vehicle ownership, property ownership, utility usage, lifestyle choices (alcohol, tobacco)
• Device Information: Screen resolution, viewport size, color depth, browser capabilities (collected to optimize your experience)

⚠️ Important: Your calculation results are NOT stored on our servers by default. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Results are only saved if you explicitly choose to save them (future feature).

B. Data Collected Automatically

• Cookies: We use session cookies to maintain your calculator state within a single session. No persistent tracking cookies.
• Analytics: We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how users interact with the site (aggregate statistics, not personal)
• Server Logs: Standard web server logs capture IP address, browser type, pages visited, timestamp
• Form Submission Metadata: Time to complete calculation, device type, browser capabilities (for performance optimization)

C. What We Do NOT Collect

• ❌ Your name, email, or phone number (unless you voluntarily contact us)
• ❌ Your identity number, passport number, or tax number
• ❌ Biometric data or location data
• ❌ Persistent tracking across unrelated websites
• ❌ Your calculated results (unless you save them)

3. How We Use Your Data

4. Third-Party Services

A. Google AdSense (Advertising)

B. Google Analytics (Analytics)

C. Cloudflare (CDN & DDoS Protection)

D. Railway (Hosting Provider)

E. Content Delivery Network (Tailwind CSS, Chart.js)

We load CSS and JavaScript libraries from public CDNs (jsDelivr, Unpkg). These services may log your access requests.

5. Data Retention

Your Tax Calculations

• Calculated in your browser only—not stored on our servers
• Deleted from your device when you close your browser (unless you save them locally)

Server Logs & Analytics

• Web server logs: Retained for 30 days for security and debugging purposes
• Google Analytics data: Retained for 14 months (Google's default)
• Cookies: Session cookies expire when you close your browser

Form Submission Metadata (Future Feature)

If you voluntarily choose to save your calculation results (feature coming soon), we will retain that data until you request deletion or 2 years of inactivity, whichever comes first.

6. Your Rights (GDPR & CalOPPA)

European Users (GDPR)

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Deletion: Request erasure of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Restriction: Request that we limit processing of your data
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Objection: Object to processing for marketing or profiling
• Complaint: File a complaint with your national data protection authority

California Users (CalOPPA)

You have the right to:

• Know: What personal information is collected, used, and shared
• Delete: Request deletion of personal information we've collected
• Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information
• Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights

How to Exercise Your Rights

Contact us at contact@bleedrate.co.za with:

• Your full name and email address
• A clear description of your request
• Proof of identity (we may request this for verification)

We will respond to verified requests within 30 days (or as required by law).

7. Cookies & Tracking

Session Cookies

We use session cookies to remember your calculator state as you interact with the form. These are deleted when you close your browser.

Third-Party Cookies

Google AdSense and Google Analytics may set persistent cookies to track your behavior across websites. You can:

• Disable cookies in your browser settings
• Use a private/incognito browser mode
• Install a privacy extension (e.g., uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger)
• Opt out of personalized ads at Google Ads Settings

Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers allow you to send a "Do Not Track" signal. We respect DNT requests where technically feasible, but we cannot guarantee all third parties will honor it.

8. Data Security

Disclaimer: While we implement industry-standard security measures, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute protection against all security threats.

9. Children's Privacy

BleedRate is not intended for users under 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided personal information, we will delete it immediately and notify the parent or guardian.

If you believe a child has provided information to us, please contact us immediately at contact@bleedrate.co.za.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post the updated policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

Material changes (e.g., new data collection practices) will be announced prominently on the website. Continued use of BleedRate after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

12. Summary