Terms of Service

YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THIS SITE IF YOU, the “User” REFUSE TO OR CANNOT COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS OF SERVICE “TOS”.

CONTACT INFORMATION

To report a Terms of Service violation or to ask a question about the Terms of Service, contact our legal department.

DEFINITIONS

  1. "Terms of Service" refers to all terms contained in this agreement as well as this site's privacy policy and all other guidelines posted anywhere on Tax Focus.
  2. Using" Tax Focus means accessing, scraping, crawling, browsing, or performing any other activities that connect to or make use of Tax Focus in any way.
  3. The word "content" refers to any form of media or data, including but not limited to text, photos, graphics, audio, and video.
  4. All content submitted to Tax Focus or made available by users is referred to collectively as "user content."
  5. All content that YOU, the “User” submit or make available, including but not limited to reviews, ratings, compliments, information, and invitations displayed as part of your profile is referred to as "your content."
  6. All content created or made available by data providers who license data to Tax Focus for use on the site, or other parties other than Tax Focus or its users is referred to as "third party content."
  7. All content created or made available by Tax Focus is referred to as "Tax Focus content."
  8. All forms of content mentioned above are referred to collectively as "site content."
  9. The words "you" and "your" refer to the user who is reading this agreement.
  10. We" and "us" refer to Tax Focus.

SITE ELIGIBILITY FOR USE

To use Tax Focus, YOU, the “User” must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the United States of America. If YOU, the “User” use Tax Focus for a business entity, YOU, the “User” must be an authorized representative of such business, and YOU, the “User” hereby agree to bind that business to these Terms of Service. If YOU, the “User” do not meet these user eligibility requirements or if YOU, the “User” do not have the authority to bind your company to these Terms of Service, YOU, the “User”, must immediately stop using this site.

PERMISSION TO USE

We grant YOU, the “User” permission to use Tax Focus under the restrictions described in these Terms of Service. YOU, the “User” may at times be exposed to inaccurate, objectionable, indecent, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate content. WE (“Tax Focus”) do not vouch for the accuracy of such content, nor do WE (“Tax Focus”) encourage or endorse it.

RESTRICTIONS

You agree that YOU, the “User” will not directly or indirectly encourage or participate in any of these activities:

  • Violate Tax Focus's Terms of Service or applicable laws.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the site, including user accounts, computer systems, or networks connected to the site, using password mining, hacking, or any other illegal activities.
  • Use Tax Focus to stalk, defraud, threaten, harass, or otherwise harm any person.
  • Submit, display, or transmit pornographic or illegal content on the site.
  • Use Tax Focus in any manner that might create a conflict of interest or the appearance of one, for example, by soliciting reviews from or trading reviews with other businesses.
  • Disable, interfere with, remove, go around, or break any of this site's security features, including but not limited to those that prevent unauthorized duplication of site content or those that limit usage.
  • Use Tax Focus to affect natural search results in any way, for example, by keyword spamming.
  • Reverse engineer any part of Tax Focus, except as permitted by law.
  • Use Tax Focus or content found within it as a means of transmitting destructive items including but not limited to viruses, worms, or Trojan horses (collectively, "viruses").
  • Omit or alter any part of Tax Focus's copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights notices on anything YOU, the “User” copy, print, or distribute from the site.
  • Use the site to gain information from minors or harm minors.
  • Mine, record, or process any data about the site or its users.
  • Scrape or index this site or its content using any automated device, robot, spider, site search/retrieval application, or process as a means to (a) frame or reformat any part of Tax Focus, (b) develop or populate a database of business-focused reviews, or (c) take any action that will impose, or, in the site's opinion, could impose an unreasonable load on our systems.
  • Use the site to crack passwords or encryption codes, disrupt or interfere with security, or for any purposes that interfere with security or cause harm to the site or site content.
  • Use any software or devices to interfere with the proper working order of the site.
  • Use Tax Focus in a manner that violates the rights of other users or third parties. Examples include but are not limited to breaching confidence, copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, privacy right, moral right, right of publicity or any other right, proprietary or intellectual.
  • Cause unnatural or excessive network traffic including botnet traffic or distributed denial of service instances.
  • Exploit the site or site content (other than your content) through modification, adaptation, translation, sale, reproduction, distribution, trade, or creation of derivative works or adaptations of site content or the site itself.
  • Use Tax Focus for promotional or commercial purposes not explicitly allowed by the site terms of service.

INDEMNITY

USERS AGREE THAT THEY WILL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS Tax Focus AND ALL OF ITS PARENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, RELATED COMPANIES, LICENSORS, PARTNERS, AFFILIATES, AND SUPPLIERS, AS WELL AS THE OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, DIRECTORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH OF THESE ENTITIES. THE TERMS OF THIS INDEMNIFICATION (HOLD-HARMLESS) AGREEMENT INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO COSTS, LIABILITIES, AND LEGAL FEES FROM ANY DEMAND OR CLAIM MADE BY A THIRD-PARTY ARISING FROM (A) YOUR TERMS OF SERVICE VIOLATION, (B) YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF Tax Focus, OR (C) ANY INFRINGEMENT BY YOU, the “User” OR A PERSON USING YOUR ACCOUNT OF ANY PROPERTY, INTELLECTUAL, OR OTHER RIGHT OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY. YOU, the “User” CONSENT TO COOPERATE WITH CLAIMS AS Tax Focus, AT YOUR EXPENSE, RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ASSUME EXCLUSIVE DEFENSE AND CONTROL OF ANY MATTER IN WHICH YOU, the “User” ARE REQUIRED TO INDEMNIFY US. UNLESS YOU, the “User” HAVE WRITTEN CONSENT FROM Tax Focus, YOU, the “User” MAY NOT SETTLE ANY MATTER. WE (“Tax Focus”) WILL MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO MAKE YOU, the “User” AWARE OF ANY CLAIM, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING.

USER ACCOUNTS

To access certain features of Tax Focus, YOU, the “User” may need to log in using a Facebook account. YOU, the “User” will have to create a Facebook account to access these features if YOU, the “User” do not already have one. YOU, the “User” agree to keep your account password secure, and YOU, the “User” accept responsibility for any activity associated with your account. YOU, the “User” agree to notify us immediately if YOU, the “User” know or suspect that someone other than YOU, the “User” is using your account.

Personal Accounts: Accounts that YOU, the “User” use for your own personal, non-commercial purposes. To ensure your credibility as a site contributor, YOU, the “User” agree to provide accurate and complete information about yourself when creating your personal account. YOU, the “User” may not create multiple personal accounts or provide another persons e-mail address or impersonate another person in any way.

Business Accounts: Accounts that YOU, the “User” use solely for representing a business. To create an account for your business, YOU, the “User” must be an authorized representative of the business, and YOU, the “User” must register using a Facebook account. YOU, the “User” agree to submit accurate and complete information about yourself and the business when creating your business account. YOU, the “User” may not create more than one business account for the same organization or register business e-mail addresses that YOU, the “User” do not have permission to register.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTENT

Your content is solely your responsibility. Tax Focus bears no liability for your content. YOU, the “User” assume ANY AND ALL risks associated with your content, including but not limited to reliance on accuracy, completeness, or usefulness and disclosures that reveal your identity. YOU, the “User” may not imply in any way that your content is endorsed or sponsored by Tax Focus. Upon posting content on Tax Focus, YOU, the “User” represent that YOU, the “User” own the posted content or YOU, the “User” have permission to use it and to authorize its use for other purposes.

You may be exposed to liability if (a) your content violates any third-party right, including but not limited to rights involving copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, moral right, privacy right, publicity right, or any other right, intellectual or proprietary; or (b) your content contains information that is false or intentionally misleading, defamatory information, information containing hate speech or pornography, information that harms or exploits minors, unlawful information, or information that violates or encourages others to violate laws or regulations.

CONTENT PERMISSIONS

Your content may be displayed on Tax Focus, incorporated into other works, used for promotion, used to create derivative works, distributed, or used for any other lawful purpose. Others may also do the same in connection with their own websites or media platforms ("other media"). By posting your content or otherwise making it available, YOU, the “User” grant irrevocable permission to use your content for any purpose and YOU, the “User” consent to waive any moral rights, attribution claims, and assertions for your content. YOU, the “User” also agree to grant access to your content to Tax Focus and users of other media in connection with their use of the site and any other media.

USE OF CONTENT

You do not own rights or entitlements to compensation for advertisements that run with your content or anywhere else on the site. Advertising mode, manner, and extent are subject to change without notice, at our discretion.

To help distribute content widely and easily, some of the site content (also "feed content") is made available through Real Simple Syndication (RSS) and Atom feeds (collectively, "feeds"). Users may access feeds to display feed content on their computers, handheld devices, or websites, provided that (a) such use is personal and not commercial, (b) displayed feeds link back to relevant pages on the site and attribute Tax Focus as the source, (c) YOU, the “User” do not suggest through use or display of Feed Content that Tax Focus endorses or promotes any third-party causes, products, ideas, websites, or services, (d) YOU, the “User” do not redistribute the feed content, and (e) Tax Focus's systems are not overburdened by your accessing the feeds. WE (“Tax Focus”) reserve the right to terminate access to any feed at any time and for any reason.

We may remove or reinstate user content at any time and for any reason at our discretion. Specifically, WE (“Tax Focus”) may remove content that is determined to violate our Terms of Service or that WE (“Tax Focus”) believe to be inappropriate.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OR ACCESS

We strictly and expressly forbid unauthorized access to Tax Focus. WE (“Tax Focus”) reserve the right to use any means necessary to prevent unauthorized access, including but not limited to mapping IP addresses, contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and using technological or programmatic obstructions.

INVESTIGATIONS

Tax Focus is under no obligation to monitor the site or its Content. However, if WE (“Tax Focus”) believe a possible Terms of Service violation has occurred, WE (“Tax Focus”) reserve the right to investigate, contact appropriate law enforcement personnel as necessary, and/or block YOU, the “User” from the site. In compliance with the Privacy Policy listed on this page, information may be prudently disclosed, including some or all of your content.

THIRD PARTIES

YOU, the “User” may see links to other websites ("third party sites"). Responsibility for third party content lies with third party sites and not with Tax Focus. Third party sites are not endorsed or controlled by Tax Focus.

Some of Tax Focus's features are powered by Google, Inc. Use of these features is governed by our Terms of Use and Google.com's Terms of Use, which reside at http://maps.google.com/help/terms_maps. The Microsoft Corporation powers other features. These features are governed by their terms of use, located at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=21969. Microsoft Corporation's privacy policy is located here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId21970. These URLs might have been changed.

SITE AVAILABILITY

We may change, update, or discontinue Tax Focus at any time, for any reason, at our discretion, without notice or liability.

TERMINATION

WE MAY, AT ANY TIME AND FOR ANY REASON OR WITHOUT CAUSE, TERMINATE OR SUSPEND YOUR ACCOUNT OR ABILITY TO USE THE SITE WITHOUT NOTICE OR LIABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE (“Tax Focus”) SUSPECT THAT YOU, the “User” ARE INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OR YOU, the “User” ARE FOUND TO BE IN BREACH OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, WE (“Tax Focus”) MAY TERMINATE OR SUSPEND YOUR ACCOUNT. IF YOUR ACCOUNT IS TERMINATED OR SUSPENDED, YOU, the “User” MAY BE PREVENTED FROM ACCESSING YOUR ACCOUNT, YOUR CONTENT, THE SITE CONTENT, AND/OR ANY RELATED DATA.

OWNERSHIP

Tax Focus content elements include interactive features, visual interfaces, graphics, designs, computer code, products, compilations, software, aggregate user reviews and ratings, and all other elements of Tax Focus, including user and third-party content. These elements are owned by Tax Focus. No express or implied rights are provided to users, other than those provided by these Terms of Service. WE (“Tax Focus”) retain all rights in and to Tax Focus and all site content. Also, all copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, and intellectual and proprietary rights throughout the world ("IP Rights") that are associated with Tax Focus in any way, whether with its content or with the site itself, are also owned by the site. Trademark, patent, and trade dress laws, and all applicable intellectual and proprietary rights and laws protect these IP Rights. Changing, distributing, reproducing, publicly displaying, creating derivative works or adaptations, or exploiting the Tax Focus content, in whole or in part, is prohibited unless expressly authorized by the site.

FEEDBACK

  1. Dissatisfaction. If the site experience has dissatisfied you in any way, please let us know through our contact us page. The only other way to remedy any dissatisfaction with (i) the Site, (ii) the Terms of Service, (iii) any of our policies or practices in operating Blend, or (iv) any information or content transmitted through the site, is to terminate your account.
  2. Site Improvements or Suggestions. If you have ideas on how we can improve the site or your user experience, we'd love to hear them. By sending us suggestions or ideas, documents or proposals (“Feedback”), you are in agreement that (i) there is no confidential or proprietary information regarding third parties contained in your Feedback, (ii) with respect to the Feedback, Blend is under no obligation of confidentiality, express or implied, (iii) similar Feedback may be in development or under consideration, and (iv) Blend is granted an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use, modify, publish, distribute and sublicense the Feedback.

WARRANTIES, DISCLAIMERS, AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE DUE TO THE USE OF THE SITE AND SITE CONTENT IS FURTHER DISCLAIMED BY Tax Focus. USE OF THIS SITE IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK. ANY RESULTING LOSS OR DAMAGE IS SOLELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGE RESULTING FROM VIRUSES THAT YOU, the “User” MAY DOWNLOAD DURING YOUR USE OF THE SITE.

Tax Focus DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY (1) DAMAGES, BE THEY RELIANCE, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, OR INDIRECT, (2) PROFIT LOSS, (3) DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OF REPUTATION OF Tax Focus OR ANY THIRD PARTY, (4) INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS, OR (5) INFORMATION OR DATA LOSS.

ALL LIABILITY FOR LOSSES OR DAMAGE ARISING FROM YOUR DEALINGS OR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BUSINESSES, ADVERTISERS OR USERS ON THE SITE IS DISCLAIMED BY Tax Focus. ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THESE ADVERTISERS, BUSINESSES OR USERS IS SOLELY BETWEEN YOU, the “User” AND THEM AND WILL NOT BE MEDIATED BY Tax Focus; HOWEVER, Tax Focus RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MONITOR ANY DISPUTES.

SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF SOME WARRANTIES, THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, OR LIMITATIONS ON THE LENGTH OF A WARRANTY. IN THIS CASE, THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, the “User” FULLY, BUT THEY WILL APPLY TO YOU, the “User” TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, STATUTORY, OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE BY Tax Focus AS TO (1) SITE OPERATION OR FUNCTIONALITY, (2) THE IP RIGHTS, SAFETY, USEFULNESS, LEGALITY, QUALITY, COMPLETENESS, INTEGRITY AND ACCURACY OF ANY SITE CONTENT, WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE ACCURACY OF BUSINESS INFORMATION AND REVIEWS LISTED ON THE SITE, AND (3) ANY SERVICES AND/OR PRODUCTS SOLD BY LISTED BUSINESSES. ALL CONTENT CONTAINED ON Tax Focus AND THE SITE ITSELF ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU, the “User” ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. Tax Focus DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, STATUTORY, OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, MERCHANTABLE QUALITY, DURABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT WARRANTIES. ANY INFORMATION OR ADVICE, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, THAT IS OBTAINED FROM Tax Focus SHALL NOT CREATE ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR CONDITION NOT EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN.

LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF (1) THE AMOUNT PAID TO THE SITE IN CONNECTION WITH Tax Focus IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE OFFENDING ACTION OR (2) U.S. $100.00.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • This agreement supersedes all other prior agreements between YOU, the “User” and Tax Focus.
  • Both parties herein acknowledge that no reliance is placed on any direct or indirect representation contained in these Terms of Service.
  • Either party's failure to exercise, in any respect, any right provided herein will not result in the providing of a waiver.
  • The Terms of Service contain the entire agreement between YOU, the “User” and Tax Focus for all instances and types of Site use.
  • THIS WEBSITE OFFERS ADVICE FROM OTHER USERS REGARDING MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS; AMONG THOSE BEING TAXES, FINANCES, ETC. WE MAKE NO GUARANTEE OF THE ACCURACY OF ANY STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS WEBSITE, WHETHER BY ADMINISTRATORS OR USERS. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT UPLOADED BY 3RD PARTIES (USERS) NOR DO WE RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS AS A RESULT OF YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE.
  • Section headings within the Terms of Service are included for convenience only and have no contractual or legal meaning or effect.
  • In the event that any provisions found in these Terms of Service are found to be unenforceable or illegal, those provisions will be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent necessary to make them enforceable and legal.
  • You may not assign, transfer, or sub-license these Terms of Service without Tax Focus's written agreement. Any assignment made in violation of these Terms of Service will be void. Tax Focus reserves the right to assign or transfer the Terms of Service without restriction.
  • These Terms of Service may not be interpreted as authorization of agency, employment, joint venture, or partnership. These Terms of Service do not give YOU, the “User” authority to bind Tax Focus in any way.
  • Tax Focus reserves the right to make necessary changes to these Terms of Service. WE (“Tax Focus”) will notify YOU, the “User” of any such changes by posting the revised Terms of Service on this page with a list of changes. Notifications may also be provided to YOU, the “User” through e-mail or regular mail, but this is not required. YOU, the “User” agree to periodically revisit this page to read all changes. All changes are in effect as of the moment they are posted on this page. All future changes are binding to YOU, the “User” through use of this site. By continuing to use Tax Focus after WE (“Tax Focus”) change the Terms of Service, YOU, the “User” indicate agreement with all changes.
  • These Terms of Service give no rights or remedies to any third parties unless expressly noted.