Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Privacy Policy for SplitReceipt

Effective Date: January 23, 2026

Last Updated: January 23, 2026

This privacy policy explains how SplitReceipt ("the App", "we", "us", "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects your data. SplitReceipt is developed and operated by Kevin Merz.

1. Overview

SplitReceipt is a receipt-splitting app that uses AI to scan printed receipts and help you divide costs among friends. The App is designed with privacy in mind:

No user accounts or sign-ups required
No persistent storage of your receipts on our servers
Receipt images are processed temporarily and not retained
Minimal data collection necessary for app functionality

2. Data We Collect

2.1 Receipt Images

What: Photos of receipts you capture or select from your photo library
Purpose: Sent to Google Gemini AI (via Firebase) for text recognition and item extraction
Retention: Images are processed in real-time and are not stored permanently on our servers. Processing typically completes within seconds.
Legal basis: Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) - necessary to provide the service you requested

2.2 Device Identifier

What: Apple's Identifier for Vendor (IDFV) - a device identifier unique to apps from the same developer
Purpose: Rate limiting and abuse prevention (to enforce daily/monthly usage limits)
Retention: Stored only for the duration necessary to enforce usage limits (rolling 30-day window)
Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) - to prevent abuse and ensure fair usage for all users

2.3 Session Identifiers

What: Temporary session IDs generated when you watch a rewarded ad
Purpose: Server-side verification that you completed an ad view before using the scan feature
Retention: Automatically deleted after 24 hours
Legal basis: Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR)

2.4 Anonymous Authentication

What: Anonymous Firebase user ID (no email, password, or personal information)
Purpose: Secure communication with our backend services
Retention: Until app uninstallation or manual deletion request
Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) - security of our services

2.5 Technical Data

What: IP address, device type, operating system version, app version, language settings
Purpose: Service delivery, security, troubleshooting, and crash analysis
Retention: IP addresses are not logged by us; third-party services may retain according to their policies
Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR)

2.6 Advertising Data

What: Ad interaction data (views, clicks), device information for ad delivery
Purpose: Serving rewarded and interstitial advertisements
Personalization: We request non-personalized ads by default. In regions requiring consent (EEA, UK), you will be asked for consent before any personalized advertising.
Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) for personalized ads; Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) for non-personalized ads necessary to fund the free service

3. Data We Do NOT Collect

Names, email addresses, or contact information
Precise or approximate location data
Advertising Identifier (IDFA) - we do not request App Tracking Transparency permission
Persistent receipt history or purchase data beyond your current session
Financial, banking, or payment information
Health or biometric data
Contacts, calendar, or other personal data

4. Apple App Tracking Transparency (ATT)

SplitReceipt does not request permission to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies. We do not use Apple's IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers). This means:

You will not see an ATT prompt from our app
We do not track your activity across other apps or websites
We do not share your data with data brokers

5. Third-Party Services

The App uses the following third-party services. Each service may collect data according to its own privacy policy:

5.1 Firebase (Google)

Services used: Firebase Authentication (anonymous), Firebase AI (Gemini), Firebase App Check, Cloud Functions
Purpose: User authentication, AI-powered receipt scanning, security verification, backend processing
Data processed: Anonymous user ID, device information, receipt images (temporary)
Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

5.2 Google AdMob

Services used: Rewarded video ads, interstitial ads
Purpose: Monetization - users watch ads to unlock receipt scanning
Data collected by AdMob: Device information, ad interaction data, IP address
Personalization: We use non-personalized ads by default. In EEA/UK, consent is requested via Google's consent framework before personalized ads are shown.
Opt-out: You can opt out of personalized advertising in your device's privacy settings (Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising)
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

5.3 Google Gemini AI

Purpose: Optical character recognition (OCR) and intelligent parsing of receipt images
Data sent: Receipt images (processed in real-time, not stored)
Note: Google may use anonymized data to improve their AI models. See Google's AI terms for details.
Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

6. Automated Decision-Making and Profiling

In accordance with Art. 22 GDPR, we inform you about automated processing:

AI Receipt Parsing: We use Google Gemini AI to automatically extract item names and prices from receipt images. This is automated processing but does not constitute automated decision-making with legal effects.
No Profiling: We do not create profiles about you or make automated decisions that significantly affect you.
Human Override: You can always manually edit, correct, or delete any data extracted by the AI before using it for calculations.

7. Device Permissions

The App requests the following permissions:

Camera: To capture photos of receipts. Only accessed when you tap the camera button.
Photo Library: To select existing receipt photos. Only accessed when you choose to select a photo.

These permissions are only used when you actively choose to scan a receipt. No background access occurs. You can revoke these permissions at any time in your device's Settings.

8. Data Storage and Security

Receipt data exists only in your device's memory during app usage and is cleared when you close the app
No receipt data is stored on our servers after processing
All network communications use HTTPS/TLS 1.2+ encryption
Firebase App Check validates that requests come from the authentic app
We implement security best practices including input validation and secure coding standards

9. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed by Google services in the United States or other countries outside the European Economic Area. These transfers are protected by:

EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (where applicable)
Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46(2)(c) GDPR)
Google's data processing terms and technical security measures

By using the App, you acknowledge that your data may be transferred to and processed in these locations.

10. Data Retention

Data Type	Retention Period
Receipt images	Not retained (processed and immediately discarded)
Session IDs	24 hours maximum
Anonymous user IDs	Until app uninstall or deletion request
Device IDs (for rate limiting)	Rolling 30-day window
Server logs (if any)	30 days maximum

11. Your Rights

11.1 Rights under GDPR (EEA/UK Users)

If you are in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, you have the following rights:

Right of Access (Art. 15): Request a copy of your personal data
Right to Rectification (Art. 16): Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to Erasure (Art. 17): Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
Right to Restriction (Art. 18): Limit how we process your data
Right to Data Portability (Art. 20): Receive your data in a machine-readable format
Right to Object (Art. 21): Object to processing based on legitimate interests
Right to Withdraw Consent (Art. 7(3)): Withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing
Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority

11.2 Rights under CCPA/CPRA (California Users)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, and disclosed
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: We do NOT sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights
Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: We do not collect sensitive personal information as defined by CCPA/CPRA

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information: SplitReceipt does not sell your personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes.

11.3 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights:

In-App: Use the "View My Data" or "Delete My Data" options in Settings
Email: Contact MerzKevin@me.com

We will respond to your request within 30 days (GDPR) or 45 days (CCPA). We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

12. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers send "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals. Since SplitReceipt does not track users across websites, DNT signals do not change our data practices. We treat all users the same regardless of DNT settings.

13. Children's Privacy

SplitReceipt is not intended for children under 16 years of age (or the applicable age of consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at MerzKevin@me.com and we will delete such information.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes:

We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top
For significant changes, we may notify you through the App or other means
Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy

We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

15. Additional Information for Specific Regions

15.1 Brazil (LGPD)

If you are in Brazil, you have rights under the Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD), including rights to access, correction, deletion, and data portability. Contact us to exercise these rights.

15.2 Other Jurisdictions

We comply with applicable data protection laws in all jurisdictions where the App is available. If your jurisdiction provides additional rights not listed here, please contact us.

Terms of Use for SplitReceipt

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY

By downloading, installing, or using SplitReceipt, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the App.

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Use ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you", "your") and Kevin Merz ("Developer", "we", "us", "our") governing your use of the SplitReceipt mobile application ("App", "Service").

By accessing or using the App, you confirm that:

You are at least 16 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction)
You have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement
You agree to comply with these Terms and all applicable laws

2. Description of Service

SplitReceipt is a utility application that:

Uses artificial intelligence (AI) to scan and parse receipt images
Extracts item names and prices from receipts
Helps users divide costs among multiple people
Calculates individual shares and settlement amounts

The App is provided as a convenience tool and is not intended to replace professional accounting, financial, or legal advice.

3. License Grant

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

Download and install the App on your personal mobile device
Use the App for personal, non-commercial purposes

This license does not include the right to:

Modify, adapt, translate, or create derivative works of the App
Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App
Remove, alter, or obscure any proprietary notices
Use the App for any commercial purpose without written consent
Transfer, sublicense, or assign your rights under this license

4. User Responsibilities

You agree to:

Use the App only for lawful purposes
Verify all AI-extracted data before relying on it for financial decisions
Not attempt to circumvent usage limits or security measures
Not use the App to process fraudulent, illegal, or unauthorized receipts
Not interfere with or disrupt the App's functionality or servers
Not use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the App
Not upload malicious content, viruses, or harmful code

5. AI-Generated Content and Accuracy

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ABOUT AI ACCURACY

The App uses artificial intelligence (Google Gemini) to extract text from receipt images. AI technology is inherently imperfect and may produce errors.

You acknowledge and agree that:

AI is not infallible: The AI may incorrectly read, interpret, or extract information from receipts
Errors are possible: Item names, prices, quantities, and totals may be extracted incorrectly
Verification is your responsibility: You MUST verify all extracted data before using it for any purpose
No guarantee of accuracy: We make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-extracted data
Image quality affects results: Poor lighting, blur, damage, or unusual receipt formats may result in errors
Human oversight required: The App is designed to assist, not replace, human verification

6. Advertisements

The App displays advertisements to fund the free service. By using the App, you agree that:

Advertisements may be displayed before accessing certain features
Ad content is provided by third parties (Google AdMob) and we do not control or endorse it
You interact with advertisements at your own risk
We are not responsible for any products, services, or content in advertisements

7. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in the App, including but not limited to:

Software code, algorithms, and architecture
User interface design and graphics
Trademarks, logos, and branding
Documentation and content

are owned by Kevin Merz or our licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms transfers any intellectual property rights to you.

8. User Content

Receipt images you upload are processed temporarily and not stored. You represent and warrant that:

You have the right to upload any images you submit
Your content does not infringe third-party rights
Your content does not contain illegal or harmful material

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we expressly disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

MERCHANTABILITY: We do not warrant that the App is fit for any particular purpose
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE: We do not warrant that the App will meet your specific requirements
NON-INFRINGEMENT: We do not warrant that the App does not infringe third-party rights
ACCURACY: We do not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content or results
AVAILABILITY: We do not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation
SECURITY: We do not warrant that the App is free from viruses or other harmful components
RESULTS: We do not warrant that use of the App will achieve any particular results

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties. In such jurisdictions, the above exclusions may not apply to you, and you may have additional rights.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL KEVIN MERZ, HIS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, OR SERVICE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER.

This limitation applies to:

Direct damages: Any direct financial loss
Indirect damages: Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
Incidental damages: Costs incurred as a result of using the App
Consequential damages: Any damages arising from the use or inability to use the App
Special damages: Any extraordinary losses
Punitive damages: Any damages intended to punish
Exemplary damages: Any damages intended as an example

This limitation applies regardless of:

The legal theory (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise)
Whether we were advised of the possibility of such damages
Whether such damages were foreseeable
Whether the limited remedies fail of their essential purpose

Maximum liability: In jurisdictions that do not allow complete exclusion of liability, our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the App in the 12 months preceding the claim (which is zero for this free App).

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Kevin Merz and his affiliates, licensors, and service providers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

Your use of the App
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any third-party rights
Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
Any content you submit through the App
Any dispute between you and other users regarding cost-splitting

12. Third-Party Services

The App integrates with third-party services including:

Google Firebase (authentication, backend)
Google Gemini AI (receipt parsing)
Google AdMob (advertisements)

Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the actions, content, or practices of these third parties.

13. Service Availability and Modifications

We reserve the right to:

Modify, suspend, or discontinue the App at any time without notice
Change features, functionality, or content
Impose limits on certain features or restrict access
Update, modify, or change these Terms

We are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the App.

14. Usage Limits

The App may impose limits on usage, including but not limited to:

Number of scans per day or month
Frequency of requests
File size limits for receipt images

Attempting to circumvent these limits is a violation of these Terms and may result in termination of access.

15. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the App immediately, without prior notice, for any reason, including:

Violation of these Terms
Fraudulent or illegal activity
Abuse of the service
At our sole discretion

Upon termination:

Your license to use the App is immediately revoked
You must cease all use of the App
Provisions that by their nature should survive (including disclaimers, limitations of liability, and indemnification) shall survive

16. Dispute Resolution

16.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal dispute resolution, you agree to first contact us at MerzKevin@me.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. Most disputes can be resolved quickly through informal discussion.

16.2 Arbitration (Where Applicable)

For users in jurisdictions where arbitration is enforceable, any dispute that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved through binding arbitration, rather than in court, except for disputes that qualify for small claims court.

16.3 Class Action Waiver

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND KEVIN MERZ EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, COLLECTIVE ACTION, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND.

17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

For users in the European Union: Nothing in these Terms affects your rights as a consumer under mandatory EU consumer protection laws.

Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Soest, Germany, unless mandatory consumer protection laws provide otherwise.

18. Consumer Rights (EU/EEA Users)

If you are a consumer in the European Union or European Economic Area:

These Terms do not exclude or limit any mandatory consumer rights you may have
You may have the right to bring proceedings in your country of residence
The European Commission provides an Online Dispute Resolution platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr
We are not obligated to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board, but we will consider each case individually

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable:

That provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable
If modification is not possible, the provision shall be severed from these Terms
The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect
The invalid provision shall be replaced with a valid provision that most closely achieves the original intent

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy above, constitute the entire agreement between you and Kevin Merz regarding your use of the App and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and communications.

21. Waiver

No waiver of any term or condition shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term. Our failure to assert any right or provision shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

22. Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

23. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, pandemics, government actions, network failures, or third-party service outages.

24. Apple App Store Additional Terms

If you downloaded the App from Apple's App Store, you also agree that:

These Terms are between you and Kevin Merz, not Apple
Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the App
Apple is not responsible for any product warranties
Apple is not responsible for addressing any claims related to the App
Apple is not responsible for any third-party intellectual property claims
Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them
You must comply with any applicable third-party terms when using the App

25. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes:

We will update the "Last Updated" date
We may notify you through the App or other means
Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the App.

Summary of Key Points

For your convenience, here are the key points (this summary is not legally binding):

The App uses AI which may make errors - always verify extracted data
The App is provided "as is" without warranties
We are not liable for any damages arising from your use of the App
You are responsible for verifying all calculations before using them
We may modify or discontinue the App at any time
German law applies to these Terms

Contact & Legal Information

Data Controller

Kevin Merz
Merowingerweg 11a
59494 Soest, Germany
E-Mail: MerzKevin@me.com

Supervisory Authority

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority. For North Rhine-Westphalia:

Landesbeauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Nordrhein-Westfalen (LDI NRW)
Kavalleriestraße 2-4, 40213 Düsseldorf
Website: www.ldi.nrw.de

Hosting

MKQ Internetservice
Kleinwolschendorf 16, 07937 Zeulenroda-Triebes, Germany
Website: www.mkq.de