CISKeep Privacy Policy
CISKeep is published and operated by PocketForge Studio.
This Privacy Policy explains how information is handled when you use the CISKeep Android application.
CISKeep is designed primarily as an offline application for recording and managing Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) payment information.
For privacy or support enquiries, contact support@ciskeep.co.uk.
1. Information stored in CISKeep
CISKeep allows you to enter and store information including:
- your name and optional business or trading name;
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR);
- National Insurance number;
- email address and phone number;
- contractor names;
- payment dates;
- labour and CIS-liable amounts;
- qualifying CIS costs;
- CIS deduction rates and amounts;
- VAT and Domestic Reverse Charge information;
- expected and actual payment amounts;
- opening balances; and
- tax-year and reporting information.
This information is entered by you and stored locally on your device.
2. Information CISKeep collects from your device
CISKeep does not currently send your CIS records or personal details to PocketForge Studio, CISKeep servers, or any other CISKeep-operated online service.
The app does not currently use:
- user accounts or online sign-in;
- advertising;
- advertising identifiers;
- analytics or behavioural tracking;
- location tracking;
- contacts;
- camera or microphone access; or
- third-party tracking services.
CISKeep does not require internet access for its normal operation.
3. Local storage
Your CISKeep records are stored within the app's private storage on your Android device.
This includes payment records, contractor information and information entered under My Details.
Your information remains on your device unless you choose to export it, create a CISKeep backup, share a report, or otherwise transfer it yourself.
Automatic Android backup and device-transfer backup of CISKeep's private app data are disabled.
4. CISKeep backups
CISKeep includes a manual Backup & Restore feature.
When you create a backup, the backup may contain information including your:
- payments;
- contractors;
- opening balances;
- VAT and CIS information; and
- My Details information, where saved.
You choose where the backup file is stored.
CISKeep does not automatically upload these backup files to PocketForge Studio.
If you choose to store a CISKeep backup in a third-party cloud storage service, email service or other external location, that service's own privacy and security practices will apply.
You are responsible for keeping exported and backup files secure.
5. Reports and exports
CISKeep can create reports and exports, including PDF and CSV files.
These files may contain personal, financial and contractor information.
The files are created at your request and saved or shared using locations or services that you choose.
CISKeep does not automatically send copies of these reports to PocketForge Studio.
6. Support communications
If you contact PocketForge Studio at support@ciskeep.co.uk, we may receive information that you voluntarily provide, such as:
- your email address;
- your name;
- information contained in your message;
- screenshots; or
- diagnostic or other information you choose to send.
We use this information only as reasonably necessary to respond to your enquiry, provide support, investigate problems and maintain appropriate support records.
You should avoid sending UTRs, National Insurance numbers or unnecessary financial information in support emails.
Email sent to support@ciskeep.co.uk may be processed by the email and forwarding services used by PocketForge Studio, including Fasthosts and Google.
These providers may process information using infrastructure outside the United Kingdom, subject to their own privacy practices and applicable data-transfer safeguards.
7. How we use personal information
Information entered directly into CISKeep is processed locally so the app can provide functions requested by you, including calculations, record keeping, reports, exports and backups.
PocketForge Studio does not use your locally stored CISKeep records for advertising, marketing or profiling.
Where you contact PocketForge Studio directly for support, we process the information you provide where reasonably necessary to:
- provide support;
- operate and improve CISKeep;
- protect our legitimate interests in operating the app; and
- comply with applicable legal obligations.
8. Sharing of information
PocketForge Studio does not sell or rent your personal information.
Because CISKeep's normal app data remains locally on your device, PocketForge Studio does not ordinarily have access to that information.
Information may be disclosed where:
- you deliberately share or export it yourself;
- service providers are required to process information to provide support communications;
- disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal obligation; or
- disclosure is necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
9. Data retention
Information stored within CISKeep remains on your device until you edit or delete it, clear the app's data, uninstall the app, restore different data, or otherwise remove it.
Backup and exported files remain wherever you chose to save them until you delete them.
Support correspondence is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to deal with an enquiry, maintain appropriate support records, resolve disputes, or meet applicable legal requirements.
10. Security
CISKeep is designed to minimise unnecessary transfer of personal information.
App records are stored in Android's private application storage, and automatic Android backup of CISKeep's private data is disabled.
No method of electronic storage can guarantee absolute security.
You should protect your Android device using appropriate security measures such as:
- a PIN or password;
- biometric security where available; and
- current Android security updates.
You should also keep CISKeep backup, PDF and CSV files secure because these files may contain financial or identifying information.
11. Your choices and rights
Because CISKeep stores its normal records locally, you have direct control over much of your information through the app and your device.
You can edit or delete payment and contractor records and can clear CISKeep's data or uninstall the application.
If you contact PocketForge Studio and we hold personal information about you outside the app, such as support correspondence, UK data-protection law may give you rights including:
- access to your personal information;
- correction of inaccurate information;
- erasure in certain circumstances;
- restriction of processing; and
- objection to certain processing.
To make a privacy request, contact support@ciskeep.co.uk.
PocketForge Studio cannot remotely view, change or delete CISKeep records stored only on your device because we do not possess those records.
12. Automated decision-making
CISKeep performs calculations based on information and rates selected or entered by you.
These calculations are tools to help you manage CIS records.
CISKeep does not perform profiling or make automated decisions about you that have legal or similarly significant effects.
13. Children
CISKeep is intended for people using or managing Construction Industry Scheme records and is not designed for children.
PocketForge Studio does not knowingly collect personal information from children through the app.
14. HMRC and professional advice
CISKeep is an independent record-keeping and calculation tool published by PocketForge Studio.
CISKeep is not operated by, endorsed by, affiliated with or connected to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Information and calculations provided by CISKeep are intended to assist with record keeping and should not be treated as tax, accounting or legal advice.
Users remain responsible for checking their records and obligations and should obtain professional advice where appropriate.
15. Changes to this Privacy Policy
PocketForge Studio may update this Privacy Policy if CISKeep's features, data practices or applicable legal requirements change.
Any updated version will show a revised Last updated date.
If CISKeep later introduces features such as online accounts, cloud synchronisation, analytics, subscriptions or other online services that change how personal information is handled, this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly.
16. Complaints
If you have concerns about how PocketForge Studio handles personal information, please contact support@ciskeep.co.uk.
You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your data-protection rights have been infringed.