Social Media - Terms of Participation

The Department of Taxation and Finance ("DTF") uses social media to communicate with the public.  Some social media utilized by DTF promote interactions and conversation.  Public participation in DTF social media sites is governed by these terms of participation.  By interacting with any content on or made available through DTF social media sites, you accept these terms and agree to act in accordance with them.

Where applicable, your postings and links to third-party sites are subject to monitoring for appropriateness.  As used herein, "appropriate" means that the postings are relevant to DTF's government business and functions, responsive to the issues(s) being discussed, and phrased in respectful language which is appropriate for public discourse.  Posts such as listed below are not appropriate: 

• profane, abusive, vulgar or pornographic
• offensive terms that target specific ethnic or racial groups
• harassment or defamation
• personal attacks of any kind (towards followers or DTF personnel)
• threats of physical or bodily harm
• encouragement of illegal activity
• promotion of services or products
• engages in political activity or solicits or promotes any not-for-profit, religious, political or personal causes
• repetitive posts by the same user or multiple users
• off-topic posts
• confidential, proprietary or otherwise restricted information
• material that infringes any patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary rights.

If allowable by the social media site, inappropriate material will be removed.  DTF also reserves the right to block site users (e.g., Twitter followers) that include inappropriate content in posts, including posting of inappropriate links.

DTF social media site moderation, if possible, will occur during regular business hours Monday through Friday.  There may be times when DTF is unable to moderate posts prior to publication or for a period of time thereafter, if at all.  If allowable by the social media site, DTF will delete offensive posts.

Disclaimer -- DTF Links, Social Media Use, Advertisements

DTF may include useful links or pointers to information created and maintained by other entities.  As noted in DTF's website Disclaimer, this does not imply any endorsement or other warranty or representation by DTF concerning the content located at the third-party linked site.

Except as specifically noted, opinions expressed in DTF social media postings are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of DTF.  DTF does not guarantee or warrant that social media posts are accurate, current, complete, free of viruses or other destructive properties.

Information provided through social media is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice.  Participants should consult their own legal or other professional advisers.

DTF has no control over advertisements that may be posted by a social media site host in accordance with the site host's terms of service.  Such posts are not intended to reflect the opinion of DTF or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization.  Such references are not an endorsement by DTF of any product, person, or service, and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying DTF endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service. 

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold DTF and its employees or agents harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, settlements, costs and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising in any way from your use or access to DTF's social media sites.  In no event shall DTF, or any of its employees be held liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages arising from any use or inability to use DTF's social media sites. 

Privacy & Personal Information 

DTF's Privacy Policy describes our general policies and practices regarding information collection and use for site visitors and users of DTF interactive web pages.  In addition, some of the social media tools used by DTF are hosted by third-party vendors, e.g., YouTube and Twitter.  As such, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the Terms of Use, and Privacy Policies governing such third-party sites, as these will also govern your use of these hosted social media sites.

To protect your own privacy and the privacy of others, do not include any personally identifying information (such as social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses or email addresses) in any social media posts.  

By posting on DTF's social media site, you give DTF the irrevocable right to reproduce, distribute, adapt, publish, publicly display, edit, modify, delete, translate, create derivative works from and otherwise use your submission for any purpose, in any form, and on any media.  Any comments that are submitted (even if not posted) become part of state governmental records, may be archived for a period of time, and may become subject to public inspection, i.e., pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law, unless specifically exempted by law.

Press, Taxpayer Representatives, Legal Submissions

DTF does not accept tax or taxpayer specific questions through social media.  Social media sites are not intended for press and taxpayer-specific communications.  While DTF may use Twitter to enhance its media relationships, direct members of the media to press releases, and make brief announcements appropriate to Twitter, members of the media should continue to make inquiries through traditional channels, i.e. by phone or by e-mailing the Public Information Officer directly.  Taxpayers and practitioners requesting information about a specific taxpayer or tax-related issue should send questions through accepted communications channels.

Likewise, social media may not be used for the submission of any refund claim, informal or formal protest, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notice of process or for the exhaustion of any legal and/or administrative remedy.

Updates/Feedback

This Terms of Participation statement may be updated from time to time at the discretion of DTF.  If you have questions about DTF's use of social media or these terms, please contact DTF's Office of Public Information at (518) 457-7377.