1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Accountable.org ("Accountable," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, mobile applications, and services (collectively, the "Services").

By creating an account or using any of our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our Services.

2. About Accountable

Accountable is a comprehensive financial platform offering tax optimization, civic engagement, and financial management tools, including:

• Tax Optimization Services - W-4 optimization, tax planning, and benefit detection

• Doc Hub - Automated tax document aggregation and management

• Found Money - Tax credit and deduction discovery

• Financial Dashboards - Personal finance tracking and analytics

• Civic Engagement - Political information and prediction features

• Additional Services - Other financial and civic tools as we develop them

These Terms apply to all Services. Some Services may have additional terms or requirements, which will be presented to you when you access those specific features.

3. Eligibility

To use Accountable, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Be a legal resident of the United States

• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts

• Not be barred from using our Services under applicable law

For minors: If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian must accept these Terms on your behalf and supervise your use of the Services.

By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

4. Account Registration

4.1 Creating an Account

To access most features, you must create an account by providing:

• Full legal name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Password

• Additional information as required for specific Services

4.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials

• All activities that occur under your account

• Using strong passwords and security measures

• Notifying us immediately at security@accountable.org of any unauthorized access

4.3 Account Accuracy

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information

• Update your information to maintain its accuracy

• Not impersonate others or provide false information

• Not create multiple accounts without authorization

• Not share your account with others

5. Service-Specific Authorizations

5.1 Tax and Financial Services

When using our tax optimization and financial services, you authorize us to:

Access Financial Information:

• Connect to your bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts

• Retrieve transaction history and account balances

• Access payroll and income information

• Obtain tax forms and documents from authorized sources

Access Tax Records:

• Request IRS transcripts and tax information on your behalf

• Retrieve W-2s, 1099s, and other tax documents from employers and financial institutions

• Access educational institution records for tuition forms (1098-T)

• Monitor for new tax documents throughout the year

Perform Analysis:

• Analyze your financial data to identify tax optimization opportunities

• Calculate optimal W-4 withholding settings

• Identify eligible tax credits and deductions

• Provide personalized financial recommendations

5.2 Identity Verification

You authorize us to:

• Verify your identity using third-party services

• Perform background checks for fraud prevention

• Access credit header information (name, address, SSN verification - not credit score)

• Monitor for identity theft and suspicious activity

• Screen against watchlists as required by law

5.3 Data Processing and Storage

You consent to our:

• Collection, use, and storage of your data as described in our Privacy Policy

• Use of automated systems and algorithms to analyze your information

• Use of third-party service providers to deliver our Services

• Retention of data as described in our data retention policies

6. Fees and Payment

6.1 Service Fees

Some Services may require payment. Current pricing includes:

Free Services:

• Basic account creation

• Limited tax document viewing

• Basic financial dashboard access

Paid Services:

• [Specify pricing for each service tier]

• Doc Hub: $[X]/year or $[X]/filing

• W-4 Optimization: $[X]

• Found Money: $[X] or [X]% of savings identified

• Premium Dashboard: $[X]/month

All fees are stated in U.S. dollars and are subject to applicable taxes.

6.2 Billing and Payment

By providing payment information, you:

• Authorize us to charge your payment method for all fees

• Warrant that you have the right to use the payment method provided

• Agree to pay all charges incurred

• Accept responsibility for any fees charged by your financial institution

6.3 Subscriptions and Renewals

For subscription services:

• Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled

• You will be charged at the beginning of each billing period

• Prices may change with 30 days' notice

• You can cancel at any time through your account settings

6.4 Refund Policy

General Policy:

• Services are generally non-refundable after use

• Unused subscription time may be eligible for pro-rated refunds

• Refund requests must be submitted to billing@accountable.org

• We evaluate refund requests on a case-by-case basis

Exceptions:

• We may provide refunds for technical errors preventing service use

• Required by law in your jurisdiction

• At our sole discretion for customer satisfaction

6.5 Taxes

You are responsible for all sales, use, and other taxes imposed by governmental authorities on your use of the Services, except for taxes based on our net income.

7. User Conduct and Responsibilities

7.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use our Services:

• For lawful purposes only

• In compliance with all applicable laws and regulations

• In accordance with our Acceptable Use Policy

• Respectfully and ethically

7.2 Prohibited Activities

You may NOT:

Fraudulent Activity:

• Use Services to facilitate tax fraud or evasion

• Provide false or misleading information

• Manipulate or falsify tax documents or financial data

• Engage in money laundering or other financial crimes

Unauthorized Access:

• Access accounts or data that don't belong to you

• Bypass security measures or authentication

• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) without permission

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems

Abuse of Services:

• Overload our systems with excessive requests

• Use Services in ways that harm other users

• Reverse engineer or copy our software

• Resell or redistribute our Services without authorization

Legal Violations:

• Violate any federal, state, or local laws

• Infringe on intellectual property rights

• Violate export control or sanctions laws

• Engage in activities that support illegal conduct

For complete details, see our Acceptable Use Policy.

8. Third-Party Services and Integrations

8.1 Account Aggregation Partners

We use third-party services to connect to your financial accounts:

• Plaid (financial account connections)

• April TDS (IRS transcript access)

• Other authorized data providers

Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies.

8.2 No Endorsement

We do not endorse third-party services and are not responsible for:

• Their availability or functionality

• Their security or data practices

• Errors or damages caused by third parties

• Changes to their terms or services

8.3 Third-Party Content

Our Services may display content from third parties (news, political data, market information). We do not:

• Verify the accuracy of third-party content

• Endorse third-party views or opinions

• Accept liability for third-party errors or omissions

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Our Intellectual Property

All content and materials in our Services are owned by or licensed to Accountable, including:

• Software and source code

• Designs, graphics, and user interfaces

• Text, images, and videos

• Trademarks, logos, and branding

• Algorithms and proprietary methods

These are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, and other intellectual property laws.

9.2 Limited License to Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

• Access and use our Services for personal, non-commercial purposes

• Download and print content for your personal records

• Use our Services in accordance with these Terms

You may NOT:

• Modify, copy, or create derivative works

• Distribute, sell, or sublicense our content

• Remove copyright or proprietary notices

• Use our trademarks without written permission

9.3 Your Content

You retain ownership of data and content you provide ("User Content"). By using our Services, you grant us a license to:

• Use, process, and analyze your data to provide Services

• Store and transmit your data securely

• Create aggregated, anonymized data for analytics and research

• Share data with service providers as described in our Privacy Policy

We do NOT claim ownership of your personal or financial data.

9.4 Feedback

If you provide feedback, suggestions, or ideas about our Services:

• We may use them without any obligation to you

• You grant us a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license

• We have no obligation to keep feedback confidential

• You waive any claims related to our use of feedback

10. Professional Advice Disclaimer

10.1 Not Professional Advice

IMPORTANT: Accountable provides tools and information, NOT professional advice.

We are NOT:

• Tax preparers or advisors

• Financial advisors or investment professionals

• Attorneys or legal counselors

• Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

10.2 Tax Services

Our tax optimization tools:

• Provide information and calculations based on your data

• Identify potential tax savings opportunities

• Help you understand tax concepts

• Do NOT constitute tax advice or tax preparation services

You are responsible for:

• Verifying all tax calculations and recommendations

• Ensuring accuracy of your tax filings

• Consulting with qualified tax professionals when needed

• Understanding tax laws applicable to your situation

10.3 Financial Services

Our financial tools:

• Display your financial data and transactions

• Provide analytics and insights

• Help you track spending and budgeting

• Do NOT constitute investment or financial advice

You should:

• Consult a licensed financial advisor for personalized advice

• Make your own informed financial decisions

• Verify all financial data and calculations

• Understand the risks of financial decisions

10.4 No Guarantees

We make no guarantees about:

• Tax savings or refunds you may receive

• Accuracy of third-party data sources

• Completeness of tax benefits identified

• Suitability of recommendations for your situation

• Results you may achieve using our Services

11. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

11.1 Service "As Is"

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING:

• MERCHANTABILITY

• FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE

• NON-INFRINGEMENT

• ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS

• UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION

• SECURITY OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES

11.2 No Warranty of Accuracy

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:

• Tax calculations or recommendations are error-free

• All tax benefits will be identified

• Third-party data is accurate or complete

• Services will meet your specific requirements

• Results will match your expectations

11.3 Third-Party Services

We are not responsible for:

• Failures of third-party services or APIs

• Accuracy of data from banks, IRS, or other sources

• Security breaches at third-party providers

• Changes to third-party terms or availability

11.4 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ACCOUNTABLE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

Indirect Damages:

• Lost profits or revenue

• Lost data or business interruption

• Loss of goodwill or reputation

• Costs of substitute services

Tax-Related Damages:

• IRS penalties, interest, or audits

• Missed deductions or credits

• Incorrect tax filings

• Late filing penalties

• Tax preparation costs

Financial Damages:

• Investment losses

• Missed financial opportunities

• Overdraft or late payment fees

• Credit score impacts

Security Incidents:

• Identity theft or fraud (except where caused by our gross negligence)

• Unauthorized account access

• Data breaches at third parties

11.5 Maximum Liability

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

• Amounts you paid us in the 12 months before the claim, OR

• $100

11.6 Jurisdictional Exceptions

Some jurisdictions do not allow exclusion of certain warranties or limitations of liability. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Accountable, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Services

• Your violation of these Terms

• Your violation of applicable laws or regulations

• Inaccurate information you provide

• Tax penalties or audits resulting from your tax filings

• Your violation of third-party rights

• Unauthorized use of your account

13. Data Privacy and Security

13.1 Privacy Policy

Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms.

13.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256)

• Multi-factor authentication options

• Regular security audits and testing

• Access controls and monitoring

• Compliance with security standards (SOC 2, PCI DSS)

13.3 Your Security Responsibilities

You must:

• Use strong, unique passwords

• Enable security features like two-factor authentication

• Keep your devices and software updated

• Not share account credentials

• Report security concerns immediately

13.4 No Absolute Security

While we implement strong security, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security against:

• Sophisticated cyber attacks

• Zero-day vulnerabilities

• Social engineering attacks

• Compromised third-party services

14. Modifications to Services and Terms

14.1 Service Changes

We reserve the right to:

• Add, modify, or discontinue features at any time

• Change pricing with 30 days' notice for existing customers

• Update our Services to improve functionality or security

• Temporarily suspend Services for maintenance

We will provide notice of material changes when feasible.

14.2 Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time:

• Material changes will be communicated via email or in-app notification

• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

• If you don't agree to changes, you must stop using our Services

We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms.

15. Term and Termination

15.1 Term

These Terms remain in effect while you use our Services.

15.2 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Deleting your account through account settings

• Contacting support@accountable.org

• Following account closure procedures

Upon termination:

• You lose access to your account and data

• Paid services are non-refundable unless required by law

• You must download any data you wish to retain before termination

15.3 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without notice, if:

• You violate these Terms or our policies

• We suspect fraudulent or illegal activity

• Required by law or regulatory authority

• Your account has been inactive for extended periods

• We discontinue the Services

15.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your license to use the Services immediately ends

• We will delete your data according to our retention policy and legal obligations

• Provisions that should survive (indemnification, liability limitations, etc.) remain in effect

• You remain liable for any outstanding fees or obligations

15.5 Data Retention After Termination

After account closure:

• Personal data deleted within 90 days (except where legally required)

• Tax records retained for 7 years (IRS requirement)

• Transaction records retained as legally required

• Aggregated, anonymized data may be retained indefinitely

16. Dispute Resolution

16.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing a formal claim, you agree to contact us at legal@accountable.org to attempt informal resolution. We'll work in good faith to resolve disputes within 60 days.

16.2 Binding Arbitration

READ THIS CAREFULLY - IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS

Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved through binding arbitration rather than in court, except for:

• Small claims court matters

• Intellectual property disputes

• Injunctive relief for unauthorized access or security violations

Arbitration Terms:

• Administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA)

• Conducted under AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules

• Held in [specify location] or remotely by mutual agreement

• Arbitrator's decision is final and binding

• Each party bears its own costs unless arbitrator awards fees

• Discovery may be limited compared to court proceedings

Opt-Out: You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days of first using our Services by sending written notice to:

Accountable.org
Attn: Arbitration Opt-Out
[Address]

Include your name, email, and statement that you decline arbitration.

16.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that disputes will be resolved on an individual basis, NOT as a class, consolidated, or representative action. You waive the right to participate in class actions against Accountable.

If the class action waiver is found unenforceable, the arbitration agreement does not apply to that dispute.

16.4 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of [specify state], without regard to conflict of law principles.

For disputes not subject to arbitration, you consent to exclusive jurisdiction in the state and federal courts located in [specify county/state].

16.5 Time Limit for Claims

You must bring any claim within one (1) year after the cause of action arises. After one year, the claim is permanently barred.

17. General Provisions

17.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any service-specific terms, constitute the entire agreement between you and Accountable regarding the Services.

17.2 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect. The unenforceable provision will be modified to reflect the parties' intent to the maximum extent permitted by law.

17.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right or future enforcement.

17.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our written consent.

We may assign these Terms or transfer our rights and obligations to:

• An affiliate or subsidiary

• A successor entity in a merger or acquisition

• Any party with your consent

17.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Natural disasters

• Acts of war or terrorism

• Government actions or regulations

• Labor strikes

• Internet or utility failures

• Pandemics or health emergencies

17.6 No Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms are for the benefit of you and Accountable only. No third party has any right to enforce any provision of these Terms.

17.7 Electronic Communications

You consent to receive communications from us electronically, including:

• Service notifications and updates

• Billing and transaction confirmations

• Security alerts

• Policy changes

• Marketing communications (with opt-out option)

Electronic communications satisfy any legal requirement for written communication.

18. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms:

Email:
General inquiries: support@accountable.org
Legal matters: legal@accountable.org
Privacy concerns: privacy@accountable.org
Security issues: security@accountable.org

Mail:
Accountable.org
[Legal Department]
[Street Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]

Support Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM ET
Email support available 24/7

19. State-Specific Provisions

19.1 California Residents

Electronic Signatures: You may request a paper copy of these Terms by contacting support@accountable.org.

Consumer Rights: California residents have specific rights under California consumer protection laws. Nothing in these Terms limits those rights.

19.2 New York Residents

These Terms shall be construed in accordance with New York law where required.

19.3 Other States

If you reside in a state with specific consumer protection laws, those laws may provide additional rights not waived by these Terms.

20. Government Users

If you are a U.S. federal, state, or local government entity:

• These Services are "commercial items" as defined in FAR 2.101

• Use is subject to your agency's IT security policies

• Additional restrictions may apply under your employment rules

• You may not use Services with classified information

• Standard commercial terms apply unless superseded by applicable federal acquisition regulations

21. Export Compliance

You agree not to:

• Export or re-export our software or technology in violation of U.S. export laws

• Use Services in countries subject to U.S. embargoes or sanctions

• Provide access to individuals or entities on restricted party lists (OFAC, BIS)

• Use Services for nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons development

You represent that you are not located in, or a national of, any restricted country.

22. Accessibility

We strive to make our Services accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact accessibility@accountable.org.

We work toward compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

23. Special Terms for Specific Services

23.1 Doc Hub

Users of Doc Hub agree to additional terms regarding:

• IRS transcript authorization (separate consent form required)

• Automated document retrieval

• Identity verification for fraud protection

• No manual document upload during MVP phase

23.2 Civic Engagement Features

Political prediction and civic engagement features:

• Are for entertainment and educational purposes

• Do not constitute polling or election forecasting

• May include user-generated content we don't control

• Are not affiliated with any political party or candidate

23.3 Beta Features

Some Services may be offered as "Beta" features:

• May be unstable or contain errors

• Are provided "as is" with no warranties

• May be discontinued at any time without notice

• Your feedback helps us improve

24. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child provided information to us, contact privacy@accountable.org immediately.

If we learn we collected data from a child under 18, we will delete it promptly.

25. Acknowledgment and Acceptance

By using Accountable's Services, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Terms

• You agree to be bound by these Terms

• You have the authority to enter into this agreement

• You understand we provide tools, not professional advice

• You are responsible for verifying all information and calculations

• You accept the limitations of liability and dispute resolution provisions

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE OUR SERVICES.

Last Updated: January 20, 2026

For the most current version of these Terms, visit: www.accountable.org/terms

Your use of Accountable constitutes acceptance of these Terms of Service.