Lockbin guide · Updated November 3, 2026
Short answer
Stop taking W-2s, 1099s and driver's licenses as email attachments. Send each client a Lockbin Information Request: they upload from their phone without creating an account, the documents arrive encrypted in your inbox, and you send the finished return back as an encrypted message. $10 per user a month, billed monthly.
Why it matters for tax preparers
Tax files are full of Social Security numbers, bank details and income records, which makes them a favorite target for identity thieves. The FTC Safeguards Rule expects tax preparers to protect customer information, including encrypting it in transit and at rest, and IRS Publication 4557 walks preparers through the same safeguards.
The weak point in most offices isn't sending returns. It's the hundreds of documents clients email in during January through April.
A tax-season workflow with Lockbin
- Request. Send each client an Information Request listing what you need: W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, last year's return, ID.
- Collect. The client taps the link and uploads photos or PDFs from their phone or computer. No account, no password, no app.
- Return. Send the finished return, engagement letter or 8879 back as an encrypted Lockbin message, with a delivery receipt.
- Clean up. Set messages to delete automatically after the season, on your schedule.
For walk-up clients, put your Lockbin file-drop link on your website and in your email signature, or embed a secure intake form on your site.
Why tax offices choose Lockbin
- $10 per user a month, billed monthly. Turn on seats for tax season and remove them after. No yearly contract or user minimum.
- Clients just tap a link. No portal to explain on the phone in March.
- Your whole firm in one account. A login for each preparer, one bill, a shared address book, and the owner can receive copies of team messages.
- Encrypted at rest and in transit. AES-256 for stored messages and files, TLS 1.2 or higher on the wire.
- Keep your email. Lockbin works next to Gmail or Outlook, used only for client documents.
Questions
What's the safest way for clients to send me tax documents?
A secure upload link instead of email attachments. With a Lockbin Information Request, clients upload W-2s, 1099s and IDs from their phone without an account, and the files are stored encrypted.
Does the FTC Safeguards Rule require encryption for tax preparers?
The Safeguards Rule requires financial institutions, which include tax preparers, to encrypt customer information in transit over external networks and at rest, with limited exceptions. IRS Publication 4557 covers the same safeguards.
How much does Lockbin cost for a tax office?
$10 per user a month, billed monthly, with no user minimum. A 5-person office is $50 a month.
Can I send the finished return back securely?
Yes. Send it as an encrypted Lockbin message. The client reads and downloads it in their browser, and you get a delivery receipt.
Or start free with 10 secure emails and one document request. Questions? Email support@lockbin.com.
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