Privacy Policy

Summary

Cost of Compliance is a reference site. You can use every calculator without creating an account, without giving us an email address, and without submitting any personal data. Calculator inputs are processed in your browser and are not transmitted to or stored by us.

What we collect

Information you provide

If you email us, we receive your email address, your message and anything you attach. We keep that correspondence only as long as needed to handle your enquiry and to maintain a record of corrections.

Information collected automatically

Our hosting infrastructure records standard server logs — IP address, user agent, requested URL, timestamp and referrer — for security, abuse prevention and reliability. We also use privacy-respecting aggregate analytics to understand which pages are useful. We do not attempt to identify individual visitors from this data.

Calculator inputs

Values you enter into calculators are computed locally in your browser. They are not sent to our servers, not stored, and not associated with you.

Cookies and local storage

We use browser storage in three ways:

• Strictly necessary: keeping the site functioning and secure.
• Layout testing: a value stored in your browser's local storage records which version of a page layout you were shown, so your experience stays consistent between visits. It contains no personal information.
• Advertising: third-party ad cookies set by our advertising partners, described below.

Third-party advertising

This site is funded by display advertising and works with third-party ad networks, including Google AdSense.

• Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this and other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to this site and/or other sites on the internet.
• Users may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings, or opt out of third-party vendor cookies for personalised advertising at aboutads.info.
• Where required by law, we present a consent notice before non-essential advertising cookies are set, and honour your choice.

Advertisements on this site are always labelled "Advertisement" and are visually separated from editorial content. We do not share your email address or any information you send us with advertisers.

Legal bases and your rights

Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, we rely on legitimate interests for security logging and aggregate analytics, and on consent for non-essential advertising cookies. You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you, to request its correction or deletion, to object to processing, and to withdraw consent at any time.

Where US state privacy laws apply, you may request to know what personal information is collected and to have it deleted. We do not sell personal information as that term is commonly defined, and we do not knowingly share it for cross-context behavioural advertising outside the third-party ad cookie mechanisms described above, which you can opt out of using the links provided.

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@costofcompliance.com. We respond within 30 days.

Data retention

Server logs are retained for a limited operational period and then discarded. Email correspondence is retained while an enquiry is open and for a reasonable period afterwards for record-keeping. Aggregate analytics contain no identifying data and are retained indefinitely in aggregate form.

Children

This site is intended for business audiences and is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

International transfers

Our hosting, analytics and advertising providers may process data in the United States and other countries. Where personal data is transferred out of the EEA or UK, providers rely on approved transfer mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

Changes to this policy

Material changes will be reflected in the "last updated" date above and, where the change affects how advertising or personal data is handled, announced on the about page.

Contact

Privacy questions and requests: privacy@costofcompliance.com. General enquiries are listed on the contact page.