Thank you for visiting the Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR) website. The DOR is providing this website as a service to the public. The use of content, reports, images and logos on the DOR site by any other website is prohibited by law. The use of the reports and data without the consent of DOR is a violation of Mississippi copyright and other proprietary rights. The user agrees to use the DOR website only for lawful purposes.
The DOR is committed to protecting your privacy and developing safe and secure online technology. By using this website, you consent to the data practices described in this statement. This statement addresses the collection, use and security of, and access to, information obtained through use of the State of Mississippi Department of Revenue website. This statement covers:
- Information Collected
- Use of Personal Information
- Cookies
- Data Security
- Password protection
- Contact
Other Information Included in Policy
- Accessibility Statement
- Link Disclaimer
- Information Disclaimer
- International ACH Transaction (IAT) Rules
- Questions
1) Information Collected
When browsing the DOR web site and not logged on to any online service, you browse anonymously. Personal information such as your name, address, social security number, phone number or email address is not collected as you browse.
The DOR server tracks statistical information (through the use of server logs and statistical software) to help analyze and monitor the use of this site. The DOR collects and stores information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally and includes:
- IP address used to access the Internet;
- Type of browser and operating system used to access the site;
- Date and time of the visit;
- Pages visited or applications accessed;
- IP address of the website you visited prior to coming to the DOR site typically called the referral address;
- Any words you used to search this site.
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2) Use of Personal Information
The DOR does not sell or provide to anyone information collected through this website. Information included in a tax return, payment, or application is confidential and is not a public record in Mississippi.
Information collected through the website is used by the DOR for Tax Administration purposes, to answer questions, or respond to any requests for assistance. Employees of this department are prohibited from disclosing any information except as provided by law. When personal information is stored by the department, it is in a secure location and is accessible only to designated staff.
If you choose to identify yourself when you contact the DOR by e-mail, online forms, or applications; information is used to respond to the situation. This may be to:
- Respond directly back to you;
- Address issues you identify.
There is no attempt made to match any personal information provided to the DOR with your IP address, unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that doing so would provide information that is relevant and material to a criminal investigation.
Personally identifiable information collected includes your:
- E-mail address;
- Name;
- Address;
- Telephone number.
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send.
The Federal Privacy Act of 1974 requires that you are informed if providing your Social Security number is mandatory. In certain situations, you are required to provide a Social Security number. The Social Security number is used for Tax Administration purposes including verifying the identity of individuals for tax purposes. Failure to supply any information on a tax form may result in the imposition of penalties for failing to file a complete tax return.
Confidentiality training is provided annually to all DOR employees and hired contractors. All employees are required to review the State and Federal confidentiality policies on an annual basis. Access to personally identifiable information is restricted to persons who have a business need for the information. Information and physical security policies and procedures are in place to protect personally identifiable information from theft, unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure. Internal reviews of DOR policies and procedures are conducted to ensure that adequate safeguards for information security are in place.
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3) Cookies
No sensitive information is stored in any DOR cookie. Use of these cookies does not allow DOR to track sites you have visited outside of the DOR. The DOR does not track this information on its server.
Cookie files are only stored on your own computer, and used by your internet browser. The cookies used are deleted when you close your browser. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by the web server that issued the cookie to you.
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4) Data Security
The DOR considers the security of taxpayer information critical. For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, DOR web servers employ industry-standard methods to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on DOR servers are strictly prohibited and are punishable by law.
The DOR has appropriate security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information collected in order to protect your privacy to the maximum extent possible. The DOR uses the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to encrypt your personal information during online collection. SSL technology is the industry standard for secure online data collection.
The Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) uses SSL technology for secure transmission of information. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol has become the universal standard on the web for authenticating sites and for encrypting communications between users and web servers. This means that users can confidently send private data, such as credit card and Social Security numbers, to a website, trusting that SSL keeps it private and confidential in transit. When you have finished, we recommend you log out of TAP.
The website is monitored by automated security systems and, in some cases, by DOR's IT department staff, to ensure proper operation, and verify the functioning of applicable security. Anyone using this site expressly consents to this automated monitoring. If you do not consent to monitoring, exit this site now. Unauthorized attempts to modify any information stored on this site, to defeat or circumvent security features, or to utilize this site for other than its intended purposes are prohibited.
The DOR uses standard security measures to ensure that your personally identifiable information is not lost, misused, altered, or unintentionally destroyed. The DOR uses software programs that monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no attempts are made to identify individual users of the e-mail submission feature or their usage habits
These standards are influenced by those recommended by the W3C and Access Board. The Access Board is responsible for developing the standards outlined by the amended Rehabilitation Act of 1998. Universal design calls for appropriate use of auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure communication.
The DOR has adopted the Design of HTML Pages to increase accessibility to users with disabilities as the primary guideline to meet the objectives of the Universal Access for State Design policy. These published guidelines are maintained by professionals trained in the area of information technology.
The DOR embraces these standards and will be evaluating our site on a regular basis, increasing the opportunity for all individuals to access information over the Internet. The Universal Access Design Standards are being integrated into State of Mississippi websites and will continue to evolve as new technologies and opportunities emerge.
Multiple browser testing is conducted on the current versions of popular browsers.
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5) Passwords, Password Protection
You may create a password to access or submit personal information through this website. You should not divulge your password to anyone. When you are finished with pages that are password protected, you should log off.
DOR has taken steps to ensure that password information remains well protected. Users of the site are solely responsible for monitoring the security of their password. DOR will not ask for your password in any unsolicited telephone call or e-mail.
DOR provides a growing number of online applications for various programs and tax processes. When used, these systems ask for personally identifiable information including, but not limited to, names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and Social Security numbers. This information is used to process the request and may be incorporated into DOR's computer systems.
All DOR web applications that involve sensitive information use SSL (Secure Socket Layer), which uses 128-bit strong encryption, to protect taxpayer data. If this is the case, you will be asked to use a browser capable of 128-bit strong encryption in order to connect to our secure server. Servers that host encrypted web applications encrypt all of your personal information so that it cannot be read or changed as the information travels over the Internet. The encryption process takes the information you enter and converts it into bits of code that are securely transmitted over the Internet.
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6) E-mail
Through the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) you may elect to receive e-mail reminders and notices. These messages are automated and do not contain confidential tax information. You may unsubscribe to these reminders and notices at any time by following the instructions on your log-on page.
Within the DOR website, visitors are provided opportunities to contact the department. When you choose to contact the department by e-mail from the website, you need to include some contact information so that the department may reply to your inquiry. If you prefer not to contact the department by e-mail or through the website, you may contact the DOR in-person, by telephone, or by mail.
E-mail addresses obtained as a result of requests to the DOR website will not be sold or given to any organization for marketing purposes. The information collected is subject to the access and confidentiality provisions of state law. E-mail or other information requests sent to the website is maintained in order to respond to the request, communicate updates of interest to citizens, or provide developers with customer feedback to assist in improving the site.
Users should be aware that e-mail is not secure; a third party can intercept any information included in an e-mail message. When contacting the department by email, the department discourages visitors from including private information such as Social Security numbers. Email transmissions are not secured to prevent unauthorized viewing. When the department receives information from visitors through email or another means provided by the website, the information is treated and used in the same manner as information that is received through the U.S. mail or by telephone. It is given the same protection and guidelines for nondisclosure of that information.
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7) Contact
The DOR will never contact you by phone or by email and
- ask for your TAP User ID or password;
- request your banking information; or
- ask for your full Social Security Number.
Do NOT provide any personal information to any individual if you are not convinced that the person requesting the information is a DOR employee. If you receive a questionable solicitation for personal information regarding your return or your application, if possible, collect the following information:
- person’s name
- job title
- phone number
- email address
- reason for contacting you
Contact the DOR immediately to report any suspicious contact regarding your return or your application.
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Accessibility Statement
To ensure equal access to electronic and information technologies, the DOR has developed a set of standards for web page design. Just as environmental obstacles have inhibited individuals with disabilities, the web poses an entirely new set of obstacles. In recognition of those individuals with visual, physical or developmental disabilities the DOR has adopted a policy to make government information accessible to all.
Accessible Web design provides benefits to both those using assistive technology, as well as others. It provides benefit
for users with disabilities.
If you use assistive technology and the format of any material prevents your ability to access the information, please contact us for assistance. In order to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please note the nature of your accessibility concern, the preferred format in which to receive the online material, the web page address of the requested material, and the best way to contact you.
Hard-copy documents are available for those unable to access or view the downloadable files on this web site. Simply contact us by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail to make your request.
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Link Disclaimer
The DOR provides links to government agencies and other organizations. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products or services of that website. Once you link to another website not maintained by the DOR, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including but not limited to, its privacy policy.
As a convenience to taxpayers, the website provides a listing of software providers authorized and approved by the Department of Revenue for the preparation and electronic filing of federal and state tax returns. The DOR does not endorse or warrant these companies, their products or services. Some of their software can be purchased for a fee, and other software is free to taxpayers within certain income levels or military status. The DOR recommends you read and understand the privacy and security policies and procedures of any provider that may handle your tax returns in order for you to make the most informed decision.
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Information Disclaimer
The information contained in this security policy should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the DOR website.
Information provided on this website is intended to allow the public immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current and reliable information we recognize the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore, the DOR, its employees, officers and agencies expressly deny any warranty of the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Any person who relies upon such information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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International ACH Transaction (IAT) Rules
It is the intent of the Mississippi Department of Revenue not to use the ACH system for transactions in violation of US Law, including the sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). It is also the intent of the agency to be in compliance with the "International ACH Transaction (IAT) rules" that are part of the NACHA Operating Rules. Accordingly, all ACH payments made through this website are intended only for payments not associated with a foreign bank account, which would classify it as an "International ACH Transaction (IAT)" under the NACHA Operating Rules. Since this website's payment applications do not accommodate IAT transactions, payors that would be considered an IAT payor should use alternative payment methods for remitting funds to the agency.
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Questions
If you have any questions or comments about the information presented in this policy, you may contact the DOR:
By Phone: 601-923-7700 or
By Fax: 601-923-7714
The purpose of this site is to provide information and educate users about the taxes we administer. This website also includes specific applications that provide services such as filing returns and paying taxes online, subscribing to receive electronic alerts about important tax issues, and various other services. We reserve the right to change this privacy policy at any time without notice.