Is email transmission with the Department secure?

eFile & Pay
General

The Department believes that personal information obtained from the customer on its site should be protected to the maximum extent possible, and that customers should be aware of the use of the information collected. This statement summarizes this information. You may also review the State of Iowa's Policies for full details.

In order to maximize the security of the information presented, taxpayers should:

  1. Take necessary care to protect the confidentiality of any identification number or password that is used and
  2. If using a public access computer, take steps to log off the browser when exiting the application

E-mail Transmissions are not always secure.

In no case will the Department send Federal Tax Information via e-mail.

Encryption

Confidential data will be encrypted though the use of digital certificates. Communication between your browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) and our servers that involves any personal or confidential data uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. Additionally, any information provided by taxpayers is subject to the same controls and uses as collected by government offices when a person visits an office in person or provides information via regular mail. Information is subject to statutory provisions of chapter 22 of the Iowa Code, which is the public record law. The confidentiality statutes of state and federal law also apply.

Privacy Policies of Other Sites

Various commercial websites to which you link from the Department’s site may contain different privacy practices that are not subject to chapter 22 of the Iowa Code. Visitors to these sites may wish to review the relevant privacy statements before providing personal or confidential information.