diff --git a/HANDOFF.md b/HANDOFF.md
index bd5b07c..7cecc4a 100644
--- a/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/HANDOFF.md
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ Remaining partials in order: `Audio` (Commit 6), `Trax` (7), `Socials` (8), `Str
 `Chat` (10), `Overlays` (11). Each lands the same way: cut → build 0 warnings →
 `./scripts/verify.sh` + `./scripts/scope-check.sh "file1" …` → commit titled
 `refactor: split <Area> out of MainViewModel — Commit N/12 (tag refactor-commit-N)`
-with the `ViewModels/index.md` progress update in the SAME commit → `git tag refactor-commit-N`
-→ `git push && git push --tags`.
+with the `ViewModels/index.md` progress update in the SAME commit → `git tag refactor-commit-N`.
+**Do NOT push per commit (policy 2026-08-30):** commits land locally; `git push` only at
+a user-agreed sub-milestone/milestone ("push it"). Tags ride along on that push.
 
 Known partial-usings list (grep-verified):
 `Scenes` = ObjectModel+Specialized+ComponentModel+`ytLive`+Models+Services;