Legal and data protection

 

 

Legal Information

 

International Tax Compact

The ITC Secretariat is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

ITC Secretariat

c/o GIZ Office Bonn

Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36

53113 Bonn, Germany

E  secretariat@taxcompact.net  

I  www.taxcompact.net

 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Registered offices

Bonn and Eschborn, Germany

Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36

53113 Bonn, Germany

T +49 228 44 60-0

F +49 228 44 60-17 66

Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1–5

65760 Eschborn, Germany

T +49 61 96 79-0

F +49 61 96 79-11 15

E info@giz.de

I www.giz.de

Registered at

Local court (Amtsgericht) Bonn, Germany: HRB 18384

Local court (Amtsgericht) Frankfurt am Main, Germany: HRB 12394

VAT no. DE 113891176

Chairperson of the Supervisory Board

Jochen Flasbarth

State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Management Board

Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel (Chair of the Management Board)

Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven (Vice-Chair)

Anna Sophie Herken 

 

Copyright 2025 GIZ. All rights reserved.

 

 

Data Privacy Policy

 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH attaches great importance to responsible and transparent management of personal data.

 

1. Controller and Data Protection Officer

The responsible body for data processing is the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Address: 

Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 32 + 36, 53113 Bonn

Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1–5, 65760 Eschborn

Contact:

secretariat@taxcompact.net  

If you have specific questions about the protection of your data, please contact GIZ's data protection officer: datenschutzbeauftragte@giz.de

 

2. Information about the collection of personal data

 

2.1 General

GIZ processes personal data exclusively in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).

Personal data are, for example, name, address, e-mail addresses, and user behavior.

Personal data will only be processed by GIZ to the extent necessary. Which data is required and processed for what purpose and on what basis depends largely on the type of service you use, or on the purpose for which the data is required. 

 

2.2 Collection of personal data when visiting our website

When visiting www.nto.tax, www.addistaxinitiative.net, and/or www.taxcompact.net, the browser used automatically transmits data that is stored in a log file. GIZ itself only processes the data that is technically required to display the website correctly and to ensure its stability and security.

Among other things, it is stored for each access the page viewed, the IP address of the accessing device, the page from which the user was redirected, as well as the date and time of the access. A detailed list of stored data can be found here.

 

Log file fields

Field

Displayed as

Description
Date

date

 The date on which the activity occurred.
Time

time

 The time, in coordinated universal time (UTC), at which the activity occurred.
Server IP Address

s-ip

 The IP address of the server on which the log file entry was generated.
Method

cs-method

 The requested action, for example, a GET method.
URI Stem

cs-uri-stem

 The target of the action, for example, Default.htm.
URI Query

cs-uri-query

 The query, if any that the client was trying to perform. A Universal Resource Identifier (URI) query is necessary only for dynamic pages.
Server Port

s-port

 The server port number that is configured for the service.
User Name

cs-username

 The name of the authenticated user who accessed your server. Anonymous users are indicated by a hyphen.
Client IP Address

c-ip

 The IP address of the client that made the request.
User Agent

cs(User-Agent)

 The browser type that the client used.
Referrer

cs(Referrer)

 The site that the user last visited. This site provided a link to the current site.
HTTP Status

sc-status

 The HTTP status code.
Protocol Substatus

sc-substatus

 The sub status error code.
Win32 Status

sc-win32-status

 The Windows status code.
Time Taken

time-taken

 The length of time that the action took, in milliseconds.

The data in the log file is deleted after [number] days.

 

Further information on the storage and transfer of data: 

GIZ is obliged to store data beyond the time of the visit in order to ensure protection against attacks on the GIZ’s internet infrastructure and the communications technology of the Federal Government (legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with Section 5 BSI Act). In the event of attacks on communications technology, this data is analyzed and used to initiate legal and criminal prosecution. 

Data logged when accessing our websites is only transmitted to third parties if there is a legal obligation to do so or if the transmission is necessary for legal or criminal prosecution in the event of attacks on the Federal Government's communications technology. Data will not be passed on in any other cases. This data is not merged with other data sources at GIZ.

 

2.3 Cookies

When you visit our website, small text files, so-called cookies, are stored on your computer. They are used to make the online presence more user-friendly and effective overall. Cookies cannot run programs or infect your computer with viruses.

Our websites use cookies that are automatically deleted as soon as the browser in which the page is displayed is closed (so-called temporary cookies or session cookies). This type of cookie makes it possible to assign different requests from a browser to a session and to recognize the browser when you visit the website again (session ID).

 

2.4 Analysis service (user analysis)

Matomo

To analyze usage data on its websites, GIZ uses the Matomo web analysis service operated by InnoCraft Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand. Data is stored and evaluated completely anonymously.

The data generated with Matomo is processed and stored by Matomo on behalf of GIZ in Europe and New Zealand only.

Further information on data protection at Matomo can be found here Matomo Cloud Privacy Policy - Matomo Analytics

Further information on user analysis

Matomo uses cookies to enable a statistical analysis of the use of the GIZ website. Matomo cookies do not contain any information that permits identification of a user. Every time you visit a page on the GIZ website and every time you download a file, information about the activity is processed and stored in a temporary log file. Before it is stored, each data set is rendered anonymous by altering the IP address.

GIZ evaluates usage information for statistical purposes as part of its public relations work and for the needs-based provision of information within the scope of the tasks it performs (legal basis: Article 6 (1) e GDPR in conjunction with Article 3 BDSG).

Information on opting out 

Users who do not agree with the completely anonymous storage and evaluation of the data from their visit can opt out of the storage and use of the data at any time with a click of the mouse.

The button is located at the bottom of the page.

Further information on opting out

For this purpose, what is known as an opt-out cookie is stored on the device, preventing user data from being collected when the user visits the website in question. In order for the opt-out to take effect, the cookie must be stored on every device used. As the cookie is stored in specific browsers (programs for internet access), the cookie must be stored in each browser used on each device (e.g. Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox). 

When all cookies on a device are deleted, the opt-out cookie is also deleted and must be reactivated.

 

3. Processing of personal data when contacting us

When users contact us, the data provided will be processed in order to be able to respond to the enquiry. Users can contact us via the e-mail address provided secretariat@taxcompact.net. In this case, at least the email address but also any other personal user data transmitted with the email (e.g. family and given name, address) as well as the information contained in the email are stored solely for the purpose of contacting the user and processing the request. 

The legal basis for the processing of data transmitted in the course of sending an e-mail is Art. 6 (1) e GDPR.

 

4. Processing of personal data in connection with social network use 

On our websites, we offer the opportunity to visit our digital presence on social networks and platforms such as LinkedIn and YouTube.

These online presences are operated in order to interact with the users active on these sites and platforms and to provide information about projects and services. By clicking on a social network’s logo, the user is redirected to the International Tax Compact presence on the respective network.

When users visit the platforms, personal data is collected, used and stored by the operators of the respective social network, but not by GIZ. This is also the case even if the users themselves do not have an account with the respective social network. 

The individual data processing operations and their scope differ depending on the operator of the respective social network. GIZ has no influence on the collection of data and its further use by the operators of the social networks. We are not fully aware of the extent to which, where and for how long the data is stored; to what extent the networks comply with existing obligations regarding erasure; what analyses are conducted and links established with the data; and to whom the data is disclosed.

When you access an International Tax Compact presence on social media, the terms of use and the data protection declarations of the respective operators apply. Click here for the contact addresses and links to the privacy policies of the social media in which the International Tax Compact operates.

 

Social media with International Tax Compact appearances

 

5. Registration Form

On our website, we offer users the opportunity to register for webinars, events, and activities by providing personal data. The data is entered into an input mask and transmitted to us and stored. The data will not be passed on to third parties. The following data is collected as part of the registration process: title, surname, first name, e-mail address, organisation, position.

As part of the registration process, users' consent to the processing of this data is obtained. The processing is carried out on the basis of consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and for the purpose of carrying out the registration for the event. 

 

6. Disclosure to third parties

GIZ does not pass on personal data to third parties unless it is legally obliged or entitled to do so by law. 

 

7. Transfer of data to third countries

GIZ does not transfer personal data to third countries. When using social media, the data protection regulations of the respective providers apply. 

 

8. Duration of data retention

User data will not be kept any longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it is processed or as required by law.

 

9. IT security of user data

The protection of personal data is an important concern for GIZ. Therefore, technical and organisational security measures ensure that the data is protected against accidental and intentional manipulation, unintended erasure and unauthorised access. These measures are updated according with the technical developments and are constantly adapted in line with the risks.

 

10. Reference to user rights

Visitors to the International Tax Compact websites have the right to

  • Access to information about your data stored by us (Art. 15 GDPR),
  • Rectification of your data stored by us (Art. 16 GDPR),
  • Erasure of your data stored by us (Art. 17 GDPR),
  • Restriction of the processing of your data stored by us (Art. 18 GDPR),
  • Object to the storage of your data, provided that this data is processed based on Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. f) and e) GDPR (Art. 21 GDPR),
  • receive the data concerning you in a commonly used and machine-readable format from the controller in order to have it transmitted to another controller if necessary (right to data portability, Art. 20 GDPR),
  • withdraw your consent, provided that the processing of the data has been carried out on the basis of consent (Art. 6 para. 1 a) GDPR). The lawfulness of the processing based on the consent given remains unaffected until the reception of the withdrawal.
  • In accordance with Art. 77 GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection supervisory authority. The competent authority for GIZ is the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI).

If you have any questions about the processing of your personal data, you can contact GIZ's data protection officer at datenschutzbeauftragte@giz.de.