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eSignature101

What is eSignature?

eSignature is an electronic signature solution that gives your clients a secure way to view and sign documents anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Intuit partners with DocuSign, the most well recognized electronic signature software provider, to give you a seamless signature request process, right from your tax program. You can select the tax forms and documents your client needs to sign, attach it to an envelope, and send the request by email.

What is an envelope?

An envelope is a container for documents that you send to your client to sign. Similar to how you would put many documents in one physical envelope, an eSignature envelope can have one document or many documents. Regardless of how many documents, fields, and signers a given envelope contains, it still counts only once towards your eSignature plan’s envelope allowance once it is sent out to be signed.

How is it different from other signature software?

eSignature is fully integrated into your tax software so you don’t need to lose momentum with other tools or paper printouts. Here are the ways eSignature can make your practice more efficient:

Pre-populate tax forms with client data.
Auto-populate signature locations on tax forms.
Manage eSignature requests, delivery, and signature statuses while tracking your work on client returns.
Let you set automatic client reminders right inside your tax software.
Create email templates.
Automate audit trail reports for every eSignature request activity, including timestamps detailing when a request is sent, viewed, printed, signed, or failed identity authentication, along with a certification of completion of the executed document itself.
Archive an unalterable “authoritative copy” of important documents or purge documents by specifying an expiration date.

What forms are eligible for eSignature?

eSignature can be used to sign any document, both tax and non-tax. Some examples include:

Any individual or business forms** (including IRS Forms 8878 and 8879)
Engagement letters and firm agreements
Request for transcript (Form 4506-T)
LLC formation documents
Confidentiality agreements (NDAs)
Power of attorney agreements
Asset purchase agreements
Reference documentation
Estimates and invoices
And more!

How does eSignature work?

How does it work in my tax software?

How can I see the status of my eSignature?

Can I include more than one recipient?

Can I use eSignatures in-person with my clients?

How do I know eSignature is secure?

Our IRS-compliant security partner, DocuSign, meets some of the most stringent U.S., EU, and global security standards. DocuSign uses the strongest data encryption technologies available, including SLL 256-bit encryption, and is ISO 27001 certified—the highest level of global information security assurance today. And, as a SOC1- and SOC2- certified organization, it complies with reporting requirements stipulated and audited yearly by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

How does eSignature verify the recipient’s identity?

eSignature uses three different ways to verify identity:

Knowledge-based authentication (KBA): Validate recipients with a set of questions using information like past addresses, vehicle ownership, and more. This IRS-compliant authentication is required for Forms 8878 and 8879.
Access code authentication: Assign and send a unique 6-9 digit code to a client to verify their identity.
Email authentication: With this built-in form of authentication, only those invited by you have access to the email account retrieving the request for signatures.

What happens if my client cannot authenticate the KBA (Knowledge-based authentication)?

Can I cancel an eSignature request?

Getting started with eSignature

How do I purchase eSignatures?

How do I access the 5 eSignatures included with my tax software?

How can eSignature help my practice?

Elevates your practice: eSignature gives you and your clients flexibility to complete tax filings in a hassle-free way.
Saves time: It pre-populates, and auto-populates signature locations right into the form, saving you precious time from inputting information for each client.
Auto-remind clients: You can set up automatic reminders so you don't have to nudge clients manually.
Keeps you organized: Makes it easier to maintain an online filing system that will make it a breeze to locate any prior year documents. This means less time scanning or keeping paper documents.
Saves costs: In addition to time saved, your practice will save on postage, paper, and ink.

- *Terms, conditions, pricing, subscriptions, packages, features, service and support options are subject to change at any time without notice.
- eSignature:
  The ability to add eSignature fields to all forms and documents, including business forms, is designed to be used at the preparer’s discretion. Per the current IRS Guidelines, electronic signatures are only accepted for the Individual Modules. Please review IRS Publication 4163 and PMTA- 2018-08 for more detail. It is your responsibility to keep updated and compliant on which forms can be used/recognized in connection with federal and state e-file tax returns and authorizations. Additional terms, conditions and fees apply. For more information, please visit https://accountants.intuit.com/esignature/.
- eSignature claim:
  *Based on tax year 2023 data through April 15, 2024. 53% of eSignatures sent and 68% of eSignatures completed through Intuit professional tax products were finalized in 24 hours or less.
- Knowledge based authentication (KBA):
  Knowledge based authentication, also known as KBA, is an identity verification measure that requires end users to establish their identities through the use of specific security questions. The e-signature option is only available to taxpayers e-filing their tax returns through an Electronic Return Originator (ERO), who uses software that provides identity verification and e-signature functionality. To meet e-signature requirements, the ERO must be able to record the taxpayer’s name, social security number, address and date of birth electronically for identity verification purposes. As part of identity verification, the software may create what is known as a “soft inquiry” in the credit reporting industry. A soft inquiry is not a credit check, although it is conducted by a credit reporting company that uses information from the taxpayer’s credit report to generate knowledge-based authentication questions. Typically, the knowledge-based authentication questions address the taxpayer’s personal and financial history. These are usually multiple-choice questions such as the name of their mortgage lender, type of car financed, a former address or phone number. The taxpayer is expected to answer the questions correctly. Taxpayers who cannot complete the identity verification check cannot use e-signature. Ordinarily, knowledge based authentication is not mandatory for envelopes which do not contain Form 8878 or 8879 or their state equivalents.