Client Vault or TaxDome: Which Should You Choose for Your Firm?

TaxDome and Client Vault don’t share the same philosophy. One rents you an all-in-one platform, the other gives you a vault you own. Let me help you choose honestly, based on your firm.

If you’re looking for a portal to exchange documents with your clients, TaxDome often comes up in searches. It’s a solid product, originally built for American accounting firms.

Let’s be upfront: I’m not going to tell you TaxDome is a bad tool. I’m going to show you what really differs between the two, so you can choose with full knowledge of the facts.

Client Vault seen by the client: list of requested documents, deadline, message from the lawyer, two documents provided and two still to upload — On the client side: the list of documents, the deadline and a Provide button for each one.

Two different philosophies

TaxDome is an all-in-one online platform: client portal, billing, signature, task management. You rent the whole package, and your data lives with the vendor.

Client Vault is a secure digital vault that you install on your WordPress site. It focuses on the relationship and the documents with your clients. Your data stays on your server, with the host of your choice.

The vendor’s jurisdiction

TaxDome is a US company. Even if some data is hosted in Europe, a company subject to US law can receive a request from US authorities under the CLOUD Act. For a European firm, that calls for your own risk analysis.

With Client Vault, nothing is stored with the vendor. I explain this point in my article on the CLOUD Act and the GDPR.

Document request tracked on the firm side in Client Vault: two documents received with their upload date, two still expected, progress 2 of 4 — On the firm side: you see at a glance which documents have arrived and which are on their way.

Day-to-day features

Document requests: both tools can request and track documents. Client Vault lists documents one by one, with a deadline and automatic reminders.
Reminders: in Client Vault, the vault only reminds clients about the documents still missing, on the days you choose.
Billing and signature: TaxDome includes them. Client Vault relies on your existing billing tools and on a specialized service for qualified signature.
Client experience: in Client Vault, your client sees a vault under your name and in your colors, in their own language.

Client Vault notification settings: automatic reminder for pending documents after 3 and 7 days, deadline alert for admin and client — The reminder for pending documents: you pick the days, the vault handles the rest.

Cost and freedom over five years

An all-in-one subscription is paid monthly, often per user, and evolves at the vendor’s pace. Run the numbers over five years with your own figures.

Client Vault is a license you own, installed on your site. The day you want to switch, your data is already with you, and every case file exports as a ZIP archive. Pricing is on the pricing page.

Document request form in Client Vault: project name, deadline, filing folder, message to the client and list of documents — The document request: one document per line, a deadline and a message for your client.

Which firm should choose TaxDome

If you want a single tool to manage everything, billing included, you work mostly in English with an international clientele, and the vendor’s jurisdiction isn’t a concern for you, TaxDome is an excellent choice.

Which firm will prefer Client Vault

If you want to keep your clients’ data on your own server, in Europe, own your tool rather than rent it, and offer your clients a vault in your own image, Client Vault is made for you.

Files encrypted with AES-256 on your server.
A sealed activity log that timestamps every action.
A vault in your colors, in each client’s own language.

Are you a WordPress agency?

Installing Client Vault for a firm is a complete service: hosting, setup, branding in the firm’s colors and training. Everything stays on sites you control.

Client Vault appearance settings: six color themes for the client space, from navy blue to anthracite gray, and a button to customize the colors — The vault takes on your firm’s colors: pick a theme, then fine-tune it.

What Client Vault doesn’t do

Let’s be upfront. Client Vault isn’t billing software and doesn’t do qualified electronic signatures. It also needs a maintained WordPress site, ideally handled by a trusted agency.

Next step

Client Vault

A vault you own, on your own server

On a video call, I show you the vault from the firm’s side and the client’s side, and we compare it with how you work today.

The vault from your client’s side
Document requests and reminders
Encryption and export
Your questions about migration

Book a video demo →

See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What’s the real difference between TaxDome and Client Vault?

TaxDome is an all-in-one online platform that you rent. Client Vault is a secure digital vault that you install on your own site and keep ownership of.

Is TaxDome subject to the CLOUD Act?

TaxDome is a US company, so it’s subject to US law. A European firm needs to assess that risk in its GDPR analysis.

Does Client Vault handle billing?

No. It focuses on exchanges and documents with your clients. You keep your own billing tool.

Can you move from TaxDome to Client Vault?

Yes. You install Client Vault on your site, then create your clients’ vaults and document requests as cases come in.

Where is data stored with Client Vault?

On your server, with the host of your choice. Nothing is stored with the vendor.