> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pernee.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Exporting your client list from SmartVault

> Export to CSV from Client Management in the portal.

SmartVault does this from the web portal, not the Connected Desktop. The export runs in the background and emails you a link when it's ready.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to the SmartVault portal">
    The web portal. The Connected Desktop doesn't have this.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Client Management">
    In the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Actions, then Export to CSV">
    **Actions** sits next to **Add Client**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the email">
    SmartVault puts the file together and emails you a download link.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Worth knowing before you do

SmartVault is a document portal, not tax software. What comes out is contact information — names, email addresses, how the accounts are structured. It usually won't carry entity type, return type or tax year.

That's fine, and Pernee won't make them up. Those columns come through empty and you fill them in on the review screen.

<Tip>
  If you run SmartVault alongside [CCH Axcess](/help/guides/cch-axcess), [Lacerte](/help/guides/lacerte) or [UltraTax CS](/help/guides/ultratax-cs), export the book from the tax software instead. It knows the entity types, which is the column you'd otherwise key by hand.
</Tip>

## Then bring it in

Drop the CSV into the card in Getting started, or open **Clients** and choose **Import clients**.

Pernee reads the file, proposes a name, entity type, return form and tax year for each row, and shows you the lot on a review screen. Nothing saves to your book until you hit **Import**.

## Who works on what

**Manage Employees** in the left sidebar, select the employees you want, then **Actions** → **Export Assigned Clients**. Gives you assignments per employee.

Useful when you're setting up client assignments in Pernee. Not needed for the import itself.

## Moving the documents too

Connected Desktop: **File** → **Export data**, choose to include all clients, pick a folder.

Usually you don't need to. Pernee reads documents out of the systems you connect rather than making you upload them — see [Connect your systems](/help/getting-started/connect-systems).

Running something else too? See [Getting your client list into Pernee](/help/guides/overview).


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