FileSeal is a UK-hosted secure document sharing service for accountants. You create an encrypted upload link in about 30 seconds, your client uploads tax returns, bank statements, payroll records or VAT paperwork without creating an account, and you download the files once before they are deleted from FileSeal’s servers. The free trial is 5 secure requests with no time limit and no card. Professional is £29 a month (£25 billed annually) and Teams is £59 a month (£47 billed annually) for up to 5 people including the owner, both plus VAT.
Prices and facts last reviewed: September 2026. Prices exclude UK VAT.
The January Nightmare Every Accountant Knows
The 10pm Document Sort
January 25th. Tax deadline in 6 days. Client finally sends 200 receipt photos via 7 emails. Half are sideways. Some duplicated. You’re sorting at 10pm because tomorrow’s fully booked.
The “Tomorrow” Promise
They promise documents “tomorrow” since November. You send reminders, they forget. Deadline approaches, panic sets in. Suddenly it’s your emergency.
You See Everything
You see everyone’s financial skeletons. Hidden income, cash payments, property investments. One data breach doesn’t just lose you clients, it destroys lives.
Professional Source Document Collection
Turn client document chaos into organised, secure handoffs
1. Create secure link
October remindersSend clients a secure upload link with their October reminder. “Upload your documents here. It’s encrypted and secure.”
2. Client uploads securely
Throughout the yearClients upload receipts, bank statements, and invoices as they go. AES-256 encryption on their device. No registration needed.
3. Organised & deleted
No weekend workDownload everything in one go. Uploads and downloads logged for HMRC. Documents auto-deleted after download. No more 10pm email sorting.
Every Source Document You Need
Self Assessment
P60s, P45s, P11Ds, dividend vouchers, rental income records
Corporation Tax
Company accounts, bank statements, invoices, expense receipts
VAT Returns
Purchase invoices, sales records, import/export documentation
Payroll
Employee starter forms, P45s, student loan notices, pension documents
Bookkeeping
Bank statements, receipts, mileage logs, expense claims
Annual Accounts
Trial balances, fixed asset schedules, stock valuations
HMRC & Payroll Logins
Send a tax reference or payroll login as a one-time note instead of emailing it
Why Accountants Choose FileSeal
HMRC-Ready Audit Trails
Uploads, downloads and collections are logged against each request. When HMRC asks about your data protection measures, you have a record to point to.
No More Deadline Panic
Send secure links with October reminders. Clients upload throughout the year. No more sorting 200 sideways receipt photos at 10pm.
Client Trust & Retention
Clients appreciate knowing their financial data is handled securely. Professional security differentiates you from competitors.
Simpler Than Xero File Requests
No complex software setup. No client training. Just a secure link that works on any device. £29/month vs enterprise pricing.
Ways an accountant can collect a client record, compared
| How you collect it | Who can read the file | After the download | Record you can point to | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email attachment | Every mail server and mailbox the message passes through | The attachment stays in both mailboxes until somebody deletes it | Nothing beyond your sent folder | Included with your mail account |
| WeTransfer or a similar transfer service | The provider holds the keys, so it can access the files | Kept for a fixed window whether or not anyone downloaded it | None on the free tier | Free tier, or a paid plan |
| A Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive link | The provider holds the keys, plus anyone the link reaches | The file stays in your drive until you remove it | Access logs on business tiers | Bundled with a storage subscription |
| Practice software such as Xero | Your firm and the vendor, under their terms | Stored for the life of the matter | Usually, inside the system | Typically quoted per user on request |
| FileSeal | Anyone holding the link, and its key in Most private mode, can open it once. In the default Email them mode FileSeal holds the key too, so it can email a working link | Deleted from FileSeal’s servers after the one download | Uploads, downloads and collections logged against the request | £29 a month plus VAT, after 5 free requests |
See also: FileSeal compared with ShareFile, FileSeal compared with WeTransfer.
Frequently asked questions
What accountants ask before switching from email.
How much does FileSeal cost for an accountancy practice?
The free trial is 5 secure requests with no time limit and no card. Professional is £29 a month (£25 billed annually) and Teams is £59 a month (£47 billed annually) for up to 5 people including the owner, both plus VAT. Professional covers unlimited secure requests for one person, so a practice pays a flat monthly fee rather than per document.
Do my clients need an account to upload their records?
No. Clients upload from any device without creating an account or installing anything. They open the link, choose their files and upload. Nothing is installed and no password is set.
Can I use FileSeal alongside Xero or my practice software?
Yes. FileSeal handles the collection moment rather than replacing your ledger or practice system: your client uploads through a one-time link, you download once, and you file the documents wherever you already keep them. FileSeal is not long-term storage, so nothing needs migrating into it.
Where are my clients’ records stored?
The application, database and encrypted files are hosted in the UK: Vercel in London, Neon PostgreSQL in AWS eu-west-2, and Vercel Blob’s UK store. Supporting services such as email delivery and error monitoring run in the UK or the EEA, listed in the Data Processing Agreement at fileseal.uk/terms/dpa.
Can FileSeal read my clients’ records?
It depends on the delivery mode, and FileSeal states both plainly. “Email them” is the default and lets FileSeal keep the key so it can email a working link. “Get a link”, labelled Most private, keeps the key only in the link, so FileSeal stores ciphertext it cannot read. Files are encrypted with AES-GCM-256 on the device before upload in either mode.
What happens to the files after I download them?
Each link works once. Files are deleted from FileSeal’s servers after that download, and uncollected files are deleted when the link expires. Notes are wiped the moment they are opened, and the recipient keeps the copy they downloaded.
Security Guides for Accountants
Expert guidance on document security, GDPR compliance, and HMRC-ready audit trails for accounting professionals.
Accountant Client Document Security
How ICAEW and ACCA members handle sensitive client financial data securely.
GDPR Document Collection Compliance Guide
Fix your document collection process in 15 minutes and avoid fines up to £17.5 million.
Client Data Breach Response Guide
The 72-hour response plan every UK professional needs when client data is compromised.