This policy explains all cookies used on uktaxhero.com. You can withdraw or amend your consent at any time. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are required for the site to function correctly.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device on subsequent visits, remember your preferences, and gather information about how the site is used.
Similar technologies include web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage — these function in analogous ways and are covered by this policy where applicable.
The use of cookies on UK websites is regulated by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and the UK GDPR. Non-essential cookies require your informed consent before being set.
2. Categories of Cookies We Use
We classify our cookies into four categories:
- Essential Required for the website to function. Cannot be disabled.
- Analytics Help us understand how visitors use the site. Require consent.
- Functional Remember your preferences and settings. Require consent.
- Third-Party / Affiliate Set by partner platforms for tracking purposes. Require consent.
3. Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary for the Website to operate. They cannot be switched off and do not require consent under PECR. No personal data is collected by these cookies beyond what is strictly necessary to provide the service.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Retention | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress_sec_* | WordPress security authentication token | Session | Essential |
| wordpress_logged_in_* | Identifies logged-in WordPress users | Session | Essential |
| wp-settings-* | Stores user interface settings for WordPress admin | 1 year | Essential |
| PHPSESSID | Maintains your PHP session state across page requests | Session | Essential |
| cookie_consent | Records your cookie consent preference | 1 year | Essential |
4. Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Website. All analytics data is aggregated and anonymised — we cannot identify you personally from this data. These cookies require your consent.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users. IP anonymisation enabled. | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | Stores and counts page view sessions | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users across a 24-hour period | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate to the analytics server | 1 minute |
We use Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled. This means your full IP address is never stored by Google. You may also opt out of Google Analytics entirely using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
5. Functional Cookies
Functional cookies allow the Website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, personalised features. These require your consent but do not track your browsing across other websites.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Retention | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| ukth_calc_prefs | Remembers your calculator preferences (e.g. tax year selection) | 30 days | Functional |
| ukth_chat_session | Maintains AI Tax Chat session state | Session | Functional |
| elementor | Elementor page builder session data | Session | Functional |
6. Third-Party & Affiliate Cookies
Where we include affiliate links or embed third-party content, those providers may set their own cookies on your device. These are subject to the respective providers' privacy and cookie policies, not ours. We have no direct control over third-party cookies.
| Provider | Purpose | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google (Fonts / Analytics) | Font delivery and usage analytics | Google Privacy Policy |
| Trustpilot | Review widget and engagement tracking | Trustpilot Privacy |
| Affiliate networks (various) | Tracks clicks on affiliate links for commission attribution | Varies by partner — see each product page |
You can block third-party cookies in most browsers through your browser settings. See Section 8 below for full instructions.
7. Consent & Your Choices
When you first visit the Website, you will be presented with a cookie consent banner. You may:
- Accept all cookies (essential + analytics + functional + third-party)
- Accept essential cookies only
- Customise your preferences by category
Your preference is stored in the cookie_consent cookie for 12 months. You may change your preference at any time by clicking the cookie settings link in the website footer or by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site.
Essential cookies are set regardless of your preferences. They are strictly necessary for the Website to function and do not require consent under PECR Regulation 6(4).
8. How to Manage & Delete Cookies
In addition to the consent banner on our site, you can control cookies at browser level:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
- Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari (macOS/iOS): Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and stored data
You may also use browser extensions and third-party tools to block or audit cookies across all sites you visit.
Disabling non-essential cookies will not prevent you from using the Website, but some features (such as calculator preference saving and AI Chat session persistence) may not function as expected.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or wish to exercise your rights under UK PECR or UK GDPR, please contact us via our Online Helpdesk.
For complaints about our use of cookies, you may also contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
