Privacy and Security

Employees of this department are prohibited from disclosing any information you provide, except as provided by law. Personal information you provide is used primarily for tax administration purposes. When personal information is stored by the department, it is in a secure location and is accessible only to designated staff.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue has taken steps to safeguard the integrity of its telecommunications and computing infrastructure, including but not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day practices of the entire department operating environment as part of its continuing commitment to risk management.

Our e-Services system uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology for secure transmission of information. The SSL protocol is the universal standard on the web for authenticating sites and encrypting communications between users and web servers. This means that you can confidently send private data, such as credit card and Social Security numbers, to us, trusting that SSL keeps it private and confidential in transit.

What is an internet cookie?

Cookies are small files that serve one of two functions:

• Collect information about how people use a site
• Provide features to improve a user’s experience on a site

The two most common types of cookies are session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are kept as long as your browser window is open. Persistent cookies are locally stored on your computer, even after your browser is closed. Persistent cookies remain on your computer until they expire or you delete them from your device.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue uses both types of cookies.

How does Revenue use session cookies?

We primarily use session cookies to count how many times our website is accessed and to gather information about how visitors use the site. We use the data to make the site better and more user-friendly. We may also use cookie data to prevent unlawful intrusions to government systems or as otherwise allowed by law. (See Minnesota Statutes, Section 13.15, subdivision 4.)

Specifically, we use these cookies to collect and identify the following types of information:

• Date and time of access
• Type and version of browser software
• Computer or mobile operating system
• Internet protocol (IP) addresses
• Internet address from which the site was accessed or linked

How does Revenue use persistent cookies?

Our e-Services system uses persistent authentication cookies to determine whether or not you are logged in to your account. Information we collect is classified as private or nonpublic data. (See Minnesota Statutes, Section 13.02.)

Persistent cookies allow us to guide you through our interactive applications. Our additional layer of security, Two-step Verification, uses persistent cookies. The cookie allows you to bypass the second verification step when you log in.

Note: The cookies only contain navigational information.

Additional information

• We will not associate any of the cookie data we gather with any taxpayer, individual, or other personally identifiable information.
• We will not distribute the cookie data we gather to any third parties.
• You may access our website even if your browser does not accept cookies. Refusing to accept a cookie will not prevent or prohibit you from gaining access to or using our website. (See Minnesota Statutes, Section 13.15, subdivision 5.)

Our website includes a form to contact us by email. If you choose to use this form and would like a response, you must include contact information. If you prefer not to contact the department by email you can contact us in-person, by phone, or by mail.

When you contact the department by email or another means provided by the website, do not include private information such as Social Security numbers. These transmissions are not secured to prevent unauthorized viewing. When the department receives information through email or another means provided by the website, the information is treated and used the same 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.

In an effort to provide the most current and useful information possible, the department website includes links to websites that are not maintained or controlled by the department. The majority of these external links are to other governmental agencies. Since the department does not maintain or control these linked websites, the department cannot and does not control the data collection activities or privacy policies of those websites. When visiting any of the linked websites, you should consult the privacy policy that has been posted for that website to determine the policies that govern the website.