About SEC
SEC is FTB's secure email application. Currently, taxpayers, authorized taxpayer representatives, and certain state agencies can use SEC to electronically exchange confidential taxpayer information with designated FTB staff to expedite the resolution of open cases. SEC mail can only be exchanged within SEC.
Who can use SEC
Only registered, authorized users can have access to SEC.
How to sign up and get a SEC mailbox
You will accept an invitation to participate in SEC offered by your FTB contact. We will confirm your acceptance of the invitation by email and provide information about how to use SEC. We will notify you by follow-up email when your SEC mailbox is ready and provide instructions for logging on and customizing your password.
Software requirements
- A browser that supports 128-bit SSL encryption, for example:
- Internet Explorer 4 or higher
- Netscape 4 or higher
- Ability to open attachments in Word or Excel format (Office 2000) and WordPerfect
- A broadband connection (cable or DSL) will provide better performance
- Latest version of virus protection software, with virus updates
- HTTP/1.1
- In Internet Explorer—
- Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > HTTP/1.1 settings > Use HTTP/1.1 must be selected.
Managing your SEC mailbox
- Your mailbox size is limited to 50MB.
- You will receive a warning when your mailbox reaches 49MB.
- If your mailbox reaches 50MB, you will not be able to send or receive mail until you reduce your mailbox size by moving or deleting messages.
- Mail older than 90 days will be automatically deleted
- You cannot create personal folders in your SEC mailbox.
- You cannot send or receive email larger than 20 MB, including attachments.
- You cannot send compressed (zipped) files.
- You must change your password annually; SEC will prompt you when it is time to change your password.
Contact information
- Email or password problems - Call your FTB contact
- Software problems - Contact your firm's PC support or Internet provider
SEC Conditions of Use
We take reasonable and appropriate measures, including encryption, to ensure that confidential information is disclosed only to those who have a right to this information (such as taxpayer representatives authorized under a Power of Attorney). However, the Internet is an open system and we cannot guarantee that information transmitted using the SEC system will not be intercepted by unauthorized users and decrypted.
You agree to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself and to update this information to keep it current. If any information provided by you is untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete, FTB has the right to terminate your account and refuse current of future use of SEC.
You agree not to transfer your access to SEC to anyone else. You also agree to notify the SEC system administrator immediately if you no longer require your SEC mailbox.
You agree that the use of SEC is provided by the Franchise Tax Board without warranty for any damages caused by any failure of performance, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communication line failure, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to, or use of records.