TurboTax Community Terms of Use

[KatieH]

These TurboTax Community Terms of Use, together with the Intuit Inc. Privacy Promise and TurboTax.com Terms of Service (collectively, the "Terms"), govern your use of the TurboTax Community (the "Site"). The Terms describe the permitted and prohibited uses of the Site, among other things. Your access or use of the Site in any way evidences your acceptance of the then current version of the Terms, and any related rules and guidelines. Intuit reserves the right to modify the Terms at any time, effective upon posting of the modified Terms on the Site or any other Intuit sponsored Web site. Intuit also reserves the right to waive or modify any of these Terms as they apply to a specific posting and user without affecting the application of these Terms to all other postings and users. "Postings" means, but is not limited to, any text, links, images, communications, opinions, software, data, and any other content any person provides on the Site, including, but not limited to message boards, chats (discussion forums) blogs, wiki pages or otherwise. Your use of the Site, or any materials or services accessible through it, after such posting or notification constitutes your acceptance of such modifications. Your violation of any of the Terms may result in the suspension or termination of your access or use of the Site. 

Personal Use 

The Site is intended to provide TurboTax customers with the opportunity to exchange useful and helpful information. Intuit does not and cannot pre-screen or review every posting. However, Intuit (and trusted users) may edit any posting it considers, in its sole discretion, to violate the Terms, including removing any personally identifiable information. 

Conduct 

Use your Common Sense. Visitors to the Site can include everyone from tax experts and software programmers to novices who are unfamiliar with tax forms. As a result, some postings could reflect considerable tax and/or technical experience and insight, while others might be unintentionally, or even intentionally, inaccurate. You are responsible for exercising your judgment in evaluating and acting on (or ignoring) other participants' postings on the Site. Remember, due to the anonymous nature of the Internet, other Site participants may not be who they say they are, know what they say they know or be affiliated with whom they say they are affiliated. You agree that Intuit is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of the Site and will not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of the submission or use of any such content. Participants may post hypertext links to content hosted and maintained by third parties. Intuit has no obligation to monitor these linked sites, and is not responsible for them. Your access to any linked sites is at your own risk, so you should use good judgment before you click on any link or access any linked site. 

Be Thoughtful About Your Postings. The Site benefits from postings that express relevant, well-reasoned and thoughtful insights. Some ways to start a great thread include: 

* Don’t just ask a question... share your insights. 

* Respond to the specific issues raised in previous posts. 

* Provide additional details or facts to explain or illustrate your comments. 

No inappropriate material, spam or attacks. You agree not to upload, post or otherwise transmit any content (including but not limited to text, links, communications, software, images, sounds, data or other information) that: 

 
Contains inappropriate content such as: 

• Including profanity in subject lines, signatures within messages or member names
• Posting any unlawful, fraudulent, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, profane, threatening, abusive, hateful, offensive, or otherwise objectionable material of any kind
• Discussing illegal activity, or posting links to other websites that deal with such activities
• Violating copyright or other intellectual property rights
• Uploading, posting, publishing, reproducing, transmitting or distributing in any way any content of TurboTax.com, or derivative works with respect thereto, as TurboTax.com is copyrighted as a collective work under U.S. copyright laws
• Posting or transmitting any information or software that contains a virus, Trojan horse, worm or other harmful or disruptive component
• Posting a link that directs participants to any content or information that, if posted on the Site, would constitute a violation of the Terms

Spam such as: 

• Advertisements for other web sites and services, or other commercial solicitation
• Chain letters, pyramid schemes or securities offerings
• "Bombing" the Site or individual threads with repetitive, pointless or irrelevant postings
• Excessive cross-posting
• Postings that are unrelated to the Site in which they are posted

 
 Attacks such as: 

• "Flaming" other members or any entities in a manner that might incite or perpetuate a conflict or argument, including attacks of any kind
• Creating usernames to attack other participants' identities (i.e., choosing a name almost identical for purposes of impersonation, slamming on someone through your name choice) Impersonating other individuals or falsely representing your identity or qualifications
• Posts made under secondary usernames or other aliases for the purpose of either supporting or belittling others
• Posts that breach any users' privacy, e.g., contain personal or sensitive information such as name, address, phone, email address or other identifying information

Registration 

No registration is required in order to access the Site solely for the purpose of reading postings on the Site. However to ask, comment on, or answer a question, participants must create or have a login id, sign in, and create a nickname. To cause an action on a post (e.g., vote, watch a post, or "send thanks") participants must create or have a login id, and sign in (this excludes the "Report This" flag which does not require a sign in). Intuit may refuse to grant you, and you may not use, a nickname (or email address) that is already being used by someone else, impersonates another person, belongs to another person, violates the intellectual property or other rights of any person, is vulgar or otherwise offensive, or that Intuit rejects for any other reason in its sole discretion. You agree that any information provided in your profile is accurate, true, current and complete, and that you will keep it updated. Intuit may terminate your account if any of the information provided is found to be inaccurate, false, out of date or incomplete. 

Privacy 

Any information that you post on the Site is posted at your own risk, and can be obtained and used by others. Do not reveal information that you do not want to make public, such as by posting your contact information or email address on the Site. At Intuit, we respect and protect the privacy of our customers and those who use our Web sites. Intuit's Privacy Statement provides details of our approach to privacy and how we collect, use and protect your personal information. The e-mail address requested to register your account will be used to process your registration, and will not be used to send you marketing material or sold to any third parties to send you marketing material. We use a variety of technologies on our Web site. Our Web site tracks usage data, including, for example, your IP address; your browser type and version; which pages you view; which page, if any, linked you to our site; and which link, if any, you follow off of our site. We use this data in the aggregate to better understand Web site activity to improve our site offerings. We do not track URLs that you type into your browser, nor do we track you across the Internet once you leave our sites. For more information, please see our Privacy Statement. 

IRS Circular 230 Notice 

Nothing in our communications with you (including, but not limited to, any emails, web site content, attachments, enclosures or other accompanying materials) relating to any federal tax transaction or matter are considered to be “covered opinions” as described in Circular 230. 

Moderators 

Intuit reserves the right to manage the postings on the Site in order to facilitate the orderly distribution of information through the Site. For that purpose Intuit may, at its election, designate Intuit employees to act as moderators/administrators for the Site ("Moderators"). These Moderators are the only authorized representatives of Intuit who can manage the Site. Any Intuit employees who are not designated as Moderators or TurboTax experts are not authorized to represent themselves on the Site as Intuit employees, and you agree are not providing official Intuit responses. Intuit is not responsible for content provided by any Intuit employee who is not designated as a Moderator or Intuit TurboTax expert. 

Community Watch 

We do ask that you help us keep this Site honest, tolerant and considerate. If you see anything violating these Terms, click the “Report to a Moderator” link or “Report This” button on the applicable post and confidentially tell us about any offending messages or other violations of these Terms. Repeat offenders will be contacted by e-mail and eventually banned from the Site. If violations are egregious (wide-scale spamming, or of pornographic/inappropriate nature) we will contact the appropriate authorities. Also be sure to visit the SEC's site [ www.SEC.gov ]. This excellent site will assist you in detecting online fraud as well as giving you instructions on reporting it. Another good resource is the National Fraud Information Center [ www.fraud.org ]. 

Modification and Discontinuance of the Site 

Intuit reserves the right at any time and from time to time to delete, modify, suspend or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Site (or any part thereof, including any postings) with or without notice. You agree that Intuit shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the Site. 

Termination 

Your privilege to use or access the Site may be terminated by Intuit immediately and without notice if you fail to comply with any term or condition of the Terms. Upon such termination, you must immediately cease accessing or using the Site and agree not to re-register or otherwise make use of the Site. Furthermore, you acknowledge that Intuit reserves the right to take action -- technical, legal or otherwise -- to block, nullify or deny your ability to access the Site. You understand that Intuit may exercise this right in its sole discretion. 

Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability 

MOST OF THE CONTENT POSTED TO THE SITE IS PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES NOT AFFILIATED WITH INTUIT. SUCH THIRD-PARTY CONTENT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON ORIGINATING THAT CONTENT. YOU AGREE THAT INTUIT DOES NOT CONTROL, AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IN ANY WAY FOR THIS THIRD-PARTY CONTENT. ADDITIONALLY, YOU AGREE THAT INTUIT IS NOT LIABLE FOR, AND YOU SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD INTUIT, AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIM, INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES, MADE BY ANY THIRD PARTY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF CONTENT YOU SUBMIT, POST, TRANSMIT OR MAKE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE, YOUR USE OF THE SITE, YOUR VIOLATION OF THE TERMS OF USE OR YOUR VIOLATION OF ANY RIGHTS OF ANOTHER. 

THE CONTENT ON THE SITE IS "AS IS" AND CARRIES NO WARRANTIES. INTUIT DOES NOT WARRANT OR GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, COMPLETENESS, USEFULNESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OR QUALITY OF ANY CONTENT ON THE SITE, REGARDLESS OF WHO ORIGINATES THAT CONTENT. INTUIT DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SITE IS SECURE, FREE FROM BUGS, VIRUSES, INTERRUPTION, ERRORS, OR OTHER LIMITATIONS. YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU BEAR ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USING OR RELYING ON THAT CONTENT. INTUIT IS NOT LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE IN ANY WAY FOR ANY CONTENT POSTED ON OR LINKED FROM THE SITE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN CONTENT, OR FOR ANY LOSSES OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF OR RELIANCE ON ANY CONTENT. 

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INTUIT AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES RELATING TO LOSS OF BUSINESS, TELECOMMUNICATION FAILURES, LOSS, CORRUPTION, SECURITY OR THEFT OF DATA, LOSS OF PROFITS OR INVESTMENT, TAX POSITIONS TAKEN BY YOU, INABILITY TO FILE YOUR RETURN, OR THE LIKE), WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF INTUIT OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND EVEN IF A REMEDY SET FORTH HEREIN IS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. THE LIMITATIONS OF DAMAGES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THE BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN INTUIT AND YOU. INTUIT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE PROVIDED THE FORUMS WITHOUT SUCH LIMITATIONS. 

Miscellaneous 

The Terms are a complete statement of the agreement between you and Intuit Inc., and set forth the entire liability of Intuit and your exclusive remedy with respect to your access and use of the Site. In the event of a conflict between these TurboTax Community Terms of Use and either the Intuit Inc. Privacy Promise or the Terms of Service applicable to TurboTax.com, these Terms of Use shall prevail. The agents and employees of Intuit are not authorized to make modifications to the Terms, or to make any additional representations, commitments or warranties binding on Intuit. Any waiver of the terms herein by Intuit must be in a writing signed by an authorized officer of Intuit and expressly referencing the applicable provisions of the Terms. Your privilege to use or access the Site may be terminated by Intuit immediately and without notice if you fail to comply with any term or condition of the Terms. Upon such termination, you must immediately cease accessing or using the Site. If any provision of the Terms is invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, then it shall be, to that extent, deemed omitted and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The Terms will be governed by California law as applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within California, without regard to its choice of law or conflicts of law principles, and applicable federal law. The parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts in Santa Clara County, California. The Terms do not limit any rights that Intuit may have under trade secret, copyright, patent or other laws.