How to Share Tax Documents Securely Online

Tax season means sending countless documents to your accountant or tax preparer — W-2s, 1099s, receipts, bank statements, ID copies. These documents are highly sensitive, containing your Social Security Number, account numbers, income, and personal details. This guide shows you how to share them safely.

What's Inside Tax Documents

Document	Sensitive Info
W-2 / 1099	SSN, income, employer info
Bank statements	Account numbers, transactions
ID copy	SSN, photo, address
Investment records	Brokerage accounts, holdings
Property records	Address, mortgage details
Business records	Revenue, clients, vendors

If leaked, these can be used for identity theft, fraud, and credit scams.

Risks of Common Methods

Sending Photos via Messenger

The most common approach, but:

• ❌ Permanently stored on messenger servers
• ❌ Accountant's staff can accidentally forward to wrong chat
• ❌ Backed up to cloud automatically

Email Attachments

• ❌ Stored as plaintext on mail servers
• ❌ Permanently searchable in recipient's inbox
• ❌ 25MB size limit

Printed Hand Delivery

• ❌ Risk of loss
• ❌ Unclear chain of custody

A Safer Way: LOCK.PUB Password-Protected Files

Here's how to use LOCK.PUB to share tax documents securely.

Step 1: Scan or Photograph Documents

Make clear scans or photos of W-2s, IDs, bank statements, etc.

Step 2: Upload to LOCK.PUB

Go to lock.pub and use the "File Share" tab. Pro users can upload multiple files at once.

Step 3: Set a Password

Choose a password agreed on with your accountant in advance. Use a different password each time.

Step 4: Send Link and Password Separately

• Link: Send via email or messenger
• Password: Tell them over the phone or via SMS

This way, even if one channel is compromised, the file can't be opened.

Easy for the Accountant?

Yes. Recipients don't need to sign up. Click the link, enter the password, download. That's it.

Extra Security Tips

1. Add a Watermark

Add a watermark like "For ABC CPA — 2026 tax filing" to your ID scans. This deters misuse for other purposes.

If you are sharing bank statements, hide unrelated transactions and full account identifiers first. Use this checklist: how to redact a bank statement before sharing.

2. Set an Expiration

Pro users can set an expiration time. About 7 days after the filing is done is reasonable.

3. Use a Different Password Each Time

Even with the same accountant, use a different password each time. One leak shouldn't expose all your documents.

4. Confirm After Sending

Confirm the accountant downloaded the files, then disable or expire the link.

Safer for the Accountant Too

For accountants, password-protected file sharing offers:

• Clear responsibility for sensitive client info
• Trackable origin and timestamps
• Protection in case of disputes

Final Thoughts

Tax documents contain some of the most sensitive personal information you have. Sending them carelessly because "the accountant is trustworthy" can lead to unintended incidents.

Try LOCK.PUB for free password-protected file sharing — no sign-up required. Send all your tax season documents securely.