How We Use Cookies and Similar Technologies
This page explains the cookies we use on taxcollectors.org/, what each one does, the controls you have, and how we honor opt-out signals including the Global Privacy Control under CCPA/CPRA, the Texas TDPSA, and other state laws.
What’s on this page
1. What Cookies Are
A cookie is a small text file placed on your device when you visit a website. Cookies let a site remember your settings, whether you’ve dismissed a banner, or your session as you click around. Beyond classic cookies, websites use related technologies that do similar work: local storage, session storage, pixel tags / web beacons, and SDKs. On this page, “cookies” means all of these unless we say otherwise.
2. Why We Use Cookies
- To make the site work. Pages need to load, sessions need to stay consistent, and the cookie banner needs to remember your answer.
- To remember your preferences. Once you’ve set a cookie choice, we remember it.
- To measure how the site is used. Anonymous analytics tells us which content is useful and which pages have problems.
- To support advertising. Display advertising funds the site. Advertising cookies help limit ad frequency and measure performance.
3. The Four Categories
| Category | What it does | Opt-out available? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Lets the site load, serves the right page, protects against abuse, remembers your cookie choice | No (required for the service you have requested) |
| Functional | Remembers preferences (text size, dismissed notices) | Yes — manage in cookie settings |
| Analytics / performance | Counts visits, measures speed, identifies broken links | Yes — manage in cookie settings or browser |
| Advertising / targeting | Limits ad frequency, measures ad performance, supports relevant ads | Yes — manage in cookie settings, send GPC, or use industry opt-outs |
4. First-Party Cookies
| Name | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| txc_consent | Stores your cookie consent choice | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| txc_pref | Remembers display preferences and dismissed banners | Functional | 6 months |
| txc_session | Maintains your session across pages so the site loads consistently | Strictly necessary | Session (deleted when you close the browser) |
| txc_csrf | Security token used to protect against cross-site request forgery on contact forms | Strictly necessary | Session |
5. Third-Party Cookies
| Vendor | Purpose | Category | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Aggregate, anonymized site analytics | Analytics | policies.google.com/privacy · Opt-out add-on |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising, frequency capping, ad measurement | Advertising | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare | Security, bot mitigation, content delivery | Strictly necessary | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
We do not use cookies that fingerprint your device, sell your data to data brokers, or build cross-site behavioral profiles for resale beyond standard advertising frequency-capping and measurement.
6. Session vs Persistent Cookies
- Session cookies are temporary. They are deleted automatically when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set period — anywhere from a day to a year or more.
7. Consent and Opt-Out
- California — under CCPA/CPRA, you have the right to opt out of “sale” and “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising. Use the cookie banner, “Cookie settings” in the footer, or send GPC.
- Texas — under the TDPSA, you have the right to opt out of targeted advertising. Use the cookie banner or send GPC.
- Florida — Florida Digital Bill of Rights (FDBR) provides similar opt-out rights for qualifying residents.
- Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Oregon, Montana, and other states with comprehensive privacy laws — similar rights to opt out of targeted advertising and (where defined) sale of personal data.
- EU and UK visitors — under GDPR/UK GDPR and ePrivacy/PECR rules, we ask for opt-in consent before placing any non-essential cookie.
8. Global Privacy Control
The site honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal. If your browser is configured to send GPC, we treat that as a valid opt-out under CCPA/CPRA, the Colorado Privacy Act, the Connecticut Data Privacy Act, and other state laws that recognize universal opt-out mechanisms.
To learn more about GPC and how to enable it, visit globalprivacycontrol.org.
9. Changing Your Cookie Choices
You can re-open the cookie preference panel at any time by clicking the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer. Changes apply immediately.
10. Browser-Level Controls
- Google Chrome: Manage cookies in Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox: Cookies in Firefox
- Apple Safari (Mac): Manage cookies in Safari
- Microsoft Edge: Cookies in Edge
- Brave Browser: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Opera: Settings → Advanced → Privacy and security → Cookies
The site will still load, but some functions may break. Blocking strictly necessary cookies isn’t recommended.
11. Mobile Device Controls
- iPhone / iPad (iOS): Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → toggle off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.”
- Android: Settings → Google → Ads → toggle on “Opt out of Ads Personalization.”
- Browser apps on mobile have their own cookie controls inside the app’s Settings menu.
12. Industry Opt-Outs
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): optout.aboutads.info
- DAA AppChoices (mobile apps): youradchoices.com/appchoices
- Google Ad Settings: adssettings.google.com
13. Changes to This Policy
If we add a new vendor, change cookie durations, or update our consent tools, we will revise this page and update the “Last reviewed” date at the top. Substantive changes will trigger a refreshed cookie banner.
14. Questions About Cookies
- Email: info@taxcollectors.org
- Subject line: “Cookies”
Adjust Your Cookie Settings Anytime
Use the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer to change your choices, or send the Global Privacy Control signal from your browser for site-wide opt-out.
📧 info@taxcollectors.org