Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 09/10/2025

Starne Consulting LLC, doing business as “The Italian Bureau” and operating ItalianCodiceFiscale.com (“Starne,” “TIB,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your information when you use our website ItalianCodiceFiscale.com and related services (collectively, “Services”). By using our Services, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

Contact Us: If you have questions, please email customercare@theitalianbureau.com or call +1-215-579-1700.

Quick Summary

We collect your personal information (including identity documents) to help you obtain an Italian tax code (Codice Fiscale). We share your information with our trusted partners in Italy who process your application.

Your data may be stored on servers in the United States, European Union, or India through our third-party service providers. You have rights over your data, including access, correction, and deletion. We take security seriously and use encryption to protect your documents.

Who We Are & What We Do

We help individuals obtain Italian tax codes (Codice Fiscale) by collecting necessary information and documents and coordinating with our legal partners in Italy who process applications with Italian authorities.

Our Details:

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

To process your tax code application, we collect:

  • Contact Information: Name, email address, mailing address, phone number
  • Identity Documents: Passport photos, birth certificates, or other government-issued ID
  • Demographic Information: Date of birth, place of birth, gender, nationality
  • Payment Information: Payment transaction confirmations (note: we do not directly collect or store complete credit card information – see Section 4 for details)
  • Application Details: Information required for your Italian tax code application

Information About Third Parties

You may provide information about family members, beneficiaries, or other individuals as needed for your application. We use this information solely to process your request.

Information About Minors

We may collect personal information about children and minors (under 18 years of age) when a parent or legal guardian applies for an Italian tax code on their behalf. This may include:

  • Full name, date of birth, place of birth
  • Passport or birth certificate information
  • Parent/guardian information

Important: Only parents or legal guardians may submit applications for minors. By submitting an application for a minor, you confirm that you are the parent or legal guardian and have the authority to provide this information and consent to its processing.

Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit our site, we automatically collect:

  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, device information, operating system
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring/exit pages
  • Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and similar technologies (see Section 5)

How We Use Your Information

Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

We process your personal information based on:

  • Contract Performance: To provide the services you’ve requested (obtaining your tax code)
  • Legal Obligation: To comply with tax, legal, and regulatory requirements
  • Consent: Where you’ve given explicit consent (e.g., marketing communications, processing minors’ data)
  • Legitimate Interests: To improve our services, prevent fraud, and ensure security

Purposes

We use your information to:

  • Process your Italian tax code application
  • Communicate with you about your order and provide customer support
  • Share necessary information with our Italian legal partners to complete your application
  • Process payments securely through our payment processors
  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Improve our Services and website functionality
  • Send service-related announcements (e.g., order confirmations, status updates)
  • Send promotional emails (only with your consent; you can opt out anytime)
  • Track affiliate referrals and manage our affiliate program
  • Apply affiliate discounts when applicable
  • Prevent fraud and ensure security

How We Share Your Information

We share your information only as described below:

Italian Legal Partners

We share your personal information and identity documents with Studio Legale Associato Metta, our trusted legal partner in Italy, who processes your tax code application with Italian authorities. This is essential to providing our service.

International Transfer Safeguards: Italy is part of the European Union, and data transfers within the EU/EEA are recognized as providing adequate protection. We have data processing agreements with our Italian partners requiring them to protect your information according to European data protection standards.

Service Providers and Third-Party Processors

We use trusted third-party service providers to help us operate our business and deliver our Services. Your information may be processed and stored on servers located in the United States, European Union, or India.

Our current service providers include:

  • Zoho (CRM, forms, email) – servers in US, EU, India
  • Microsoft (cloud services) – servers in US, EU
  • Hetzner (hosting) – servers in EU
  • SiteGround (hosting) – servers in US, EU
  • Zapier (workflow automation) – servers in US
  • Stripe (payment processing) – servers in US, EU
  • PayPal (payment processing) – servers globally

Payment Information Security: We do not directly collect, process, or store your complete credit card information. All payment transactions are securely processed through Stripe and PayPal via secure Zoho forms. These payment processors maintain PCI-DSS compliance and handle your payment information according to their security standards. We only receive confirmation of successful transactions, not your full payment card details.

These service providers are contractually obligated to:

  • Process your data only according to our instructions
  • Implement appropriate security measures
  • Comply with applicable data protection laws
  • Not use your information for their own purposes

Data Transfer Safeguards: When your data is transferred internationally:

  • EU to US transfers: We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and ensure our US-based processors implement appropriate safeguards
  • EU to India transfers: We use SCCs and require appropriate technical and organizational security measures
  • All processors maintain industry-standard security certifications

Affiliate Partners

We operate an affiliate marketing program that allows partners to refer customers to our Services.

Affiliate Discounts: Some affiliate links may offer you discounted pricing on our services. The discounted rate will be clearly displayed before you complete your purchase.

Data Sharing with Affiliates:

  • When you click an affiliate link, we may set a cookie to track the referral
  • We share non-identifiable information with affiliates (such as number of referrals and commission owed)
  • We do not share your personal information, identity documents, or order details with affiliate partners
  • Affiliates may collect information about your visit through their own tracking (subject to their privacy policies)

Affiliate Commissions: Affiliates earn a commission on successful referrals. This commission is paid by us and does not increase the price you pay (you may actually pay less through affiliate discount links).

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, such as:

  • In response to subpoenas, court orders, or legal process
  • To comply with government or law enforcement requests
  • To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public
  • To prevent fraud or security threats

Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred. We will notify you via email and/or prominent website notice of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

Visitor Demographics

We may use aggregated, non-identifiable data to generate statistics about our users (e.g., number of visitors, popular pages, demographics). This information does not identify any individual user.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us improve your experience, analyze site traffic, and deliver relevant content.

Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function (e.g., maintaining your session, processing orders)
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site (e.g., Google Analytics)
  • Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements
  • Affiliate Tracking Cookies: Track referrals from affiliate partners and apply discounts
  • Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

Affiliate Tracking Cookies

When you visit our site through an affiliate link, we may set a cookie to:

  • Track that you came from an affiliate partner
  • Apply any relevant affiliate discount to your order
  • Calculate affiliate commissions

These cookies do not contain your personal information and are used solely for referral tracking and discount application.

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings, or use the cookie consent facility on our website. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our site, such as order forms.

Opt-Out Options:

Third-Party Tracking

Our site may include social media features (like Facebook “Like” buttons), widgets, or affiliate tracking links. These third parties may collect information about your visit. We don’t control these third-party technologies, and their use is governed by their respective privacy policies.

How We Protect Your Information

Security Measures

We take the security of your personal information seriously, especially identity documents. We implement:

  • Encryption: All sensitive data (including passports and payment information) is transmitted using SSL/TLS encryption
  • Secure Storage: Documents are stored in encrypted cloud storage with restricted access
  • Access Controls: Only authorized personnel can access personal information
  • Regular Security Audits: We periodically review our security practices
  • Secure Document Transmission: Documents are securely transmitted to our Italian partners using encrypted channels
  • Payment Security: Payment information is processed through PCI-DSS compliant processors (Stripe, PayPal)

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary:

  • Active Orders: Throughout the application process and for a reasonable period after completion
  • Identity Documents: Securely deleted within 90 days after your tax code is issued, unless legally required to retain them longer
  • Contact Information: Retained while you have an account or as needed to provide services
  • Legal Requirements: We may retain certain information longer to comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax records, fraud prevention)

You can request deletion of your information at any time (see Section 7).

Limitations

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you use our Services at your own risk.

If you believe your privacy has been breached, please contact us immediately at +1-215-579-1700 or customercare@theitalianbureau.com.

Your Rights and Choices

Marketing Communications

Promotional Emails: You can unsubscribe from marketing and promotional emails anytime by:

Service Communications: Certain emails are essential to our service and do not include unsubscribe links:

  • Order confirmations and receipts
  • Application status updates
  • Document requests
  • Account security notifications
  • Responses to your inquiries
  • Legal or policy updates

You cannot opt out of these service-related communications while using our Services, as they contain important information about your order and account.

Your Data Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

For EU/UK Users (GDPR/UK GDPR):

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
  • Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your personal information
  • Right to Restriction: Limit how we use your information
  • Right to Data Portability: Receive your information in a portable format
  • Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for marketing
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior processing)
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority

For California Users (CCPA):

  • Right to Know: Request information about the personal data we collect, use, and share
  • Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
  • Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the “sale” of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise your rights without discriminatory treatment

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at customercare@theitalianbureau.com or call +1-215-579-1700. We will respond within 30 days (or as required by applicable law).

Verification: For security, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

Minors and Children’s Information

Applications for Minors

We provide services to obtain Italian tax codes for individuals of all ages, including minors (under 18 years of age). We collect personal information about minors only when a parent or legal guardian submits an application on their behalf.

Information We Collect About Minors

For minor applicants, we collect:

  • Full name, date of birth, place of birth
  • Nationality and country of residence
  • Passport or birth certificate information
  • Parent/guardian contact information

Parental Consent and Responsibility

If you are submitting an application for a minor, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are the parent or legal guardian of the minor
  • You have the authority to provide the minor’s information
  • You consent to the collection, use, and sharing of the minor’s information as described in this Privacy Policy
  • You understand the minor’s information will be shared with our Italian legal partners to process the application

How We Protect Minors’ Information

We apply the same (or greater) security measures to minors’ information as we do to adults’ information:

  • Encrypted transmission and storage
  • Access restricted to authorized personnel only
  • Secure sharing with Italian partners
  • Retention only as long as necessary

Parental Rights

As a parent or legal guardian, you have the right to:

  • Access the minor’s personal information we hold
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of the minor’s information (subject to legal retention requirements)
  • Withdraw consent (though this may prevent completion of the application)

To exercise these rights, contact us at customercare@theitalianbureau.com or +1-215-579-1700.

International Users

Data Transfers and Storage Locations

Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in:

United States:

  • Our primary operations and customer service
  • Service providers: Zoho, Microsoft, Stripe, PayPal, Zapier, SiteGround

European Union:

  • Our Italian legal partners (Studio Legale Associato Metta)
  • Service providers: Hetzner, SiteGround (EU servers), Zoho (EU servers)

India:

  • Service providers: Zoho (data processing servers)

Transfer Safeguards

For transfers outside your country, we use:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission
  • Adequacy decisions where available (e.g., within the EU/EEA)
  • Processor agreements requiring appropriate security measures
  • Encryption for data in transit and at rest

Your Consent: By using our Services, you acknowledge and consent to the transfer of your information to these locations for processing. If you are in the EU/UK and have concerns about international transfers, you may contact us to learn more about the specific safeguards in place.

Third-Party Links and Social Media

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these sites. Please review their privacy policies before providing any information.

Social Media Features

Our website includes social media features, such as the Facebook “like” button and widgets. These features may collect your IP address, which page you are visiting on our site, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Social media features and widgets are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our site. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it.

Testimonials, Reviews, and Public Forums

Testimonials and Reviews

We may display personal testimonials of satisfied customers received through email surveys. We ask for your specific consent as part of the survey. If you wish to update or delete your testimonial or review, you can contact us at customercare@theitalianbureau.com.

Blogs and Forums

If our site includes publicly accessible blogs or interactive forums, you should be aware that any information you provide in these areas may be read, collected, and used by others who access them. Use caution when deciding whether to disclose your personal information in these areas. To request removal of your personal information from our community forums, contact us at customercare@theitalianbureau.com. In some cases, we may not be able to remove your personal information, in which case we will let you know why.

Communication Monitoring

In the regular course of our business, we may monitor and record phone conversations or email communications between you and our representatives for training and quality assurance purposes. We may receive a confirmation when you open or click on content in an email from us, which helps us make our communications to you more useful and interesting.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. If we make material changes, we will post a prominent notice on our website and update the “Effective Date” at the top of this policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

In the event of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, we may not be able to control how your personal information is treated, transferred, or used. If such an event occurs, your personal information may be treated like any other company asset and sold, transferred, or shared with third parties. In this case, you will be notified via email and/or a prominent notice on our site of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information, as well as any choices you may have.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:

Starne Consulting LLC (The Italian Bureau)

For EU/UK Users: If you have concerns about how we handle your data, you may also contact your local data protection authority.