SkillBench Inc. (“we,” “our,” or “us”), is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and share your information when you use our outsourced accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and related accounting services (“Services”).
By engaging with our Services or visiting our website, you consent to the practices described in this Policy.
1. What This Policy Covers
This Privacy Policy applies to:
- Visitors to our website
- Clients who engage with our Services
- Client employees and authorized representatives whose information we process (e.g., for payroll)
This Policy complies with:
- U.S. federal and Wisconsin state privacy laws
- The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if you are based in the European Economic Area (EEA)
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) when we handle protected health information (PHI)
2. What We Collect
A. Information You Provide
We collect data you submit when you:
- Request or engage our Services
- Fill out forms or provide onboarding documents
- Share information for tax filings, payroll, or accounting tasks
- Communicate with us via email, portals, or phone
This may include:
- Full name, business name, contact info
- Tax identification numbers (SSN, EIN, etc.)
- Payroll details (employee names, wages, deductions)
- Banking and accounting records
- Insurance, benefits, or health plan data (for HIPAA-covered processing)
B. Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our website or portal:
- IP address, browser type, pages visited
- Date/time stamps and referring URLs
- Cookies or session data (non-marketing)
We use this only to improve site performance and protect your data.
3. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR Only)
If you are located in the EEA, we process your personal data under these legal grounds:
- Contractual necessity – to provide agreed services
- Legal obligation – to comply with tax, payroll, and labor laws
- Legitimate interest – to improve operations, detect fraud, and secure data
- Consent – when you provide it for specific purposes (e.g., communications)
You may withdraw consent at any time by emailing info@globalskillbench.com.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the data we collect to:
Provide and manage outsourced financial and payroll services
Prepare reports, filings, and statements
Communicate with clients and fulfill service requests
Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations
Secure, audit, and improve our systems
We do not sell or rent your data. We do not use it for advertising.
5. How We Share Your Information
We only share your information with:
Authorized employees and contractors who need it to deliver services
Trusted third-party vendors (e.g., payroll processors, cloud accounting platforms)
Government agencies (IRS, state tax offices) as legally required
Healthcare or insurance providers (HIPAA-related payroll services)
Legal authorities, if required to respond to subpoenas or lawful requests
All vendors and partners are bound by confidentiality or data processing agreements.
6. HIPAA Compliance
When handling health-related payroll or benefits data that may be classified as Protected Health Information (PHI), we comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the Security Rule.
We use secure systems and protocols to store and transmit PHI
We restrict access to PHI to only those who need it for processing payroll or benefits
If required, we will enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with HIPAA-covered clients
If you are a covered entity and need a signed BAA, please contact us at info@globalskillbench.com.
7. Data Security
We implement robust technical and organizational measures to safeguard your data, including:
Secure cloud storage with encryption at rest and in transit
Two-factor authentication and role-based access control
Regular system monitoring and backups
Staff training in data privacy and secure handling procedures
While no system is 100% secure, we take all reasonable precautions to protect your data.
8. Data Retention
We retain personal and business data:
As long as you are a client
For up to 7 years after services end, to comply with IRS/tax laws and professional standards
Longer if legally required or requested by regulators
After the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymized.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location and applicable laws, you have the right to:
Access a copy of your personal data
Correct or update inaccurate data
Request deletion or restriction of processing
Object to processing in certain situations
Receive your data in a portable format (GDPR)
File a complaint with a regulatory authority
To exercise these rights, email us at info@globalskillbench.com. We will respond within 30 days.
10. International Data Transfers
If you are located outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and stored in the United States, where we are based.
When transferring data from the EEA, we rely on contractual protections (such as Standard Contractual Clauses) to safeguard your data.
11. Children’s Privacy
Our Services are intended for use by adults in business contexts. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under age 13 (or under 16 in the EU). If we learn that we have, we will delete it promptly.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in laws or our practices. When we do, we’ll update the effective date and notify you of material changes.
Continued use of our Services means you agree to the updated Policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact: