ProConnect HelpIntuit HelpIntuit

How to use eSignature in ProSeries

by Intuit1 Updated 1 month ago

eSignature has been reimagined to be fully integrated within your workflow, saving you time and helping your office stay or become paperless.

To learn more about using eSignature in ProSeries - both Professional and Basic, continue reading.

ProSeries has a dashboard to cleanly and concisely manage your eSignature requests. Here's how you can access it:

Option 1:

  1. Go to the eSignature menu and select eSignature Dashboard.

PCG_PS_L9nHAXk6T_002.png

Option 2:

  1. Click on the Dashboard button at the top of your screen.

PCG_PS_L9nHAXk6T_001.png

  1. Click the magenta Get Free eSignatures button in the upper-right corner.
    • With this trial being available to new eSignature customers only, this button may not be present for all users.
  2. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your free trial.
Offer of 5 eSignatures included with purchase of Lacerte, ProSeries, and ProConnect available through Dec. 31, 2024, for Lacerte, ProSeries, and ProConnect customers who did not trial or purchase eSignature in tax year 2022 and have not purchased eSignatures for tax year 2023. Terms, conditions, pricing, features, service, and support options are subject to change without notice.

  1. From the EF Center in ProSeries Professional or the EF Clients tab in ProSeries Basic, select on the eSignature menu, and select Purchase.
    • Alternatively, go to the eSignature Dashboard and select the green Buy More button at the top right.
  2. If prompted, enter your login credentials.
  3. In the Purchase window, enter the number of eSignatures you wish to purchase and your billing information.

PCG_PS_L9nHAXk6T_003.png

  1. Select Continue to review your purchase.
  2. Once you've reviewed your eSignature order to make sure all information entered is correct, select Confirm Purchase.
  3. When the order is successfully processed, your purchase will be confirmed and your eSignature balance will be updated.
Any eSignature purchase is neither refundable nor transferable, meaning they can't be carried to another calendar year. Because of this, it is advised that you don't purchase more than you need to use for the current tax season. Purchases made in the current year can be used in the prior-year.

You can create and save multiple email templates for eSignature. These templates can be used when sending eSignature requests to your clients. If you have a subset of clients that you would like for them to receive a specific email message when you send them a request, you can create and save that email message as a template for later use.

To create your custom eSignature email template follow the steps below:

  1. Start the eSignature wizard.
  2. Select the documents that require an eSignature and then select Next.
  3. On the Recipients screen, select the gear icon in the email message section.
  4. In the email templates section, you can add new email templates, edit, or delete existing templates.

Before you start:

  • Make sure the tax return is set up for e-filing on the Federal Information Worksheet.
  • Make sure you've completed the return and resolved all You Must Fix Final Review errors.
  • Starting in tax year 2020 the IRS now allows electronic signatures on Form 2848 and 8824.
  • If the return is setup for Pay-by-Refund, the taxpayer will also receive the bank applications and required signature forms needed to process the Pay-by-Refund.

To send eSignature requests:

  1. From the EF Center in ProSeries Professional or the EF Clients tab in ProSeries Basic, select the client you want to send the request to.
  2. From the eSignature menu, select Request.
  3. The standard tax forms will be displayed. Check the box to include a copy of the tax return, if desired.
  4. Select Continue to be taken to the Request eSignature screen.
  5. Here you can delete or view any document you want to send to your client.
    • For instructions on adding additional documents, see the "Sending a request with additional documents" section below.
  6. When you're satisfied with the list of documents, click Next to continue to the Recipients screen.
  7. Review your client's name and email address for accuracy, and edit the email message they'll receive, if needed.
  8. Select Next to continue to the reminders and expiration options.
  9. Check the box next to any reminders you want to send, and press Next to review your request.
  10. Once you're satisfied with the request details, click Send.
  1. From the EF Center in ProSeries Professional or the EF Clients tab in ProSeries Basic, select the client you want to send the request to.
  2. From the eSignature menu, select Request.
  3. The standard tax forms will be displayed. Check the box to include a copy of the tax return, if desired.
  4. Click on Start a request to continue to the Request eSignature screen.
  5. Here you can add, delete, or view any document you want to send to your client.
  6. To add a document, choose the document type from the dropdown menu, then click Browse to select a PDF from your computer.
    • If you select Reference document as the type, that document will not require a signature from your client.
  7. When you're satisfied with the list of documents, click Next to continue to the Recipients screen.
  8. Review your client's name and email address for accuracy, and edit the email message they'll receive, if needed.
  9. Click Next to continue to the reminders and expiration options.
  10. Check the box next to any reminders you want to send, and press Next to review your request.
  11. Once you're satisfied with the request details, click Continue to DocuSign so you can insert signature tags on the 'other' documents as needed. A new tab will open that displays the documents you included.
  12. The documents will be listed on the right-hand side of the page. Select the 'other' document you manually attached.
  13. Drag and drop the Signature tag(s) located on the left side of your screen to the location your client needs to sign.
  14. Click the Send button to send the request to your client.

This section describes how to view and download your completed documents signed with eSignature.

  1. Click on the eSignature Dashboard tab.
  2. Click on Ready to e-file on the Action Required card. This will display only the client with completed eSignatures.
    • You can search for specific client by using the Search field as well.  Type the clients name or their email address in the Search field to find the client.
  3. When all documents are signed, the eSignature status column will show eSignature Completed. To view the signed documents, click the drop-down menu on the Actions column and select View.
  4. Choose the PDF you wish to view.
  1. To download the documents, click Download under the Actions column.
  2. Select a local folder or network folder to save the .zip file.
  3. Type the name of the file or elect to keep the default name.
    • The default format for the name of the file is esign-documents-Client#.zip.
  4. Click Save.
Once an eSignature status is Completed, it cannot be canceled. Simply resend a new eSignature request to the client.

To cancel an eSignature request.

  1. Open the eSignature Dashboard.
  2. From the Actions menu on the right, click View for the client you wish to void. This will highlight the client in blue and there will be a dropdown menu for that client. Click the down arrow to display your choices.
  3. Select Void Request.
  4. On the Cancel eSignature Request window, select Confirm.

While eSignature itself will allow requests to be sent to taxpayers with foreign addresses, the feature uses a Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA) service similar to what you'd see when checking your credit report online. Foreign addresses may cause complications for the taxpayer in authenticating their information.

You can view the remaining eSignature uses left by accessing the eSignature Dashboard.

You can access the eSignature Dashboard by selecting the Dashboard button below the File menu, or by going to the eSignature menu and selecting eSignature Dashboard.

esig_Dashboard copy.jpg

The remaining balance will show in the top left box as Available.

esig_Dashboard_2 copy.jpg

You can view the status of an eSignature Request on the ProSeries EF Center HomeBase View. The client's eSignature status will be displayed in the E-Sig Status column.

E-Sig Statuses that may be displayed in the ProSeries EF Center HomeBase View include:

  • Request - An eSignature request has not yet been sent to the client. A Request status is a hyperlink. Click this status to initiate an eSignature request to the client.
  • Sent - An eSignature request has been issued to the client and is currently outstanding.
  • Expired - An eSignature request has been issued to the client, but remained outstanding beyond the expiration. The request is now Void, but a new request may be issued to the client. To send the client a new eSignature request to this client, select the client and from the E-File menu select Electronic Signature then Request.
  • Declined - An eSignature request was issued to the client and was received, but the client declined your request to sign the document electronically. The request is now Void, but a new request may be issued to the client. To send the client a new eSignature request to this client, select the client and from the E-File menu select Electronic Signature then Request.
  • Failed Auth - An eSignature request was issued to the client, but the ID-Check failed to confirm the identity of the individual accessing the signature request. The request is now Void, but a new request may be issued to the client. A Failed Auth status is a hyperlink. Clicking this status will provide details on how to resubmit an eSignature request to the client.
  • Completed - An eSignature request was issued and your client has electronically signed the requested docucment(s). A Completed status is a hyperlink. Clicking this status will open the signed documents that have been returned to you.

To check for status updates to your outstanding eSignature requests:

  1. Open ProSeries EF Center HomeBase View
  2. From the ProSeries E-File menu, select Electronic Signature.
  3. Select Update Status.
    • ProSeries will check for updates and refresh the E-Sig Status column.

Editing an existing eSignature request

Starting with the 2023 September release, on the eSignature Dashboard you can use Edit to modify an eSignature request after it's been sent. This lets you to change what's in the eSignature request without using an additional eSignature credit. You can change:

  • Text in the email sent to the recipient
  • Remove no longer needed forms.
  • Add new federal or state forms.
  • Send updated forms

Note: This does not allow you to edit eSignature Payment Requests.

Edit is available for eSignature requests based on their Status. The following chart will show you if the request is editable:

StatusDescriptionEditable
SentThe request has been successfully sent.Yes
DeliveredThe recipient has opened the request and has logged into Docusign, but has not yet been signed. Yes
In-ProcessThe request is being setup but has not yet been sent to the recipient. When your ready to continue, select the Resume option. No
eSignature completedAll the recipients signed and returned the eSignature process. No
Partially signedOne of the recipients signed and returned the eSignature process.No
DeclinedThe recipient declined the eSignature request. A new request can be sent.No
ExpiredThe eSignature request expired before the recipient took the requested action. A new request can be sent. No
Authentication failedThe recipient failed the autentication check. A new request can be sent.No
VoidedThe eSignature requested was Voided. A new request can be sent.No
Pending In-PersonThe eSignature is setup for in person signing and has not yet been completed. Yes
Expires in # daysThe eSignature request was sent but the recipeint has not completed the request. If not completed in the specified time the request will expire. Yes

Related topics

Intuit eSignatureProSeries Basic 2020ProSeries Basic 2021ProSeries Basic 2022ProSeries Basic 2023ProSeries Professional 2020ProSeries Professional 2021ProSeries Professional 2022ProSeries Professional 2023

Sign in now for personalized help

Ask questions, get answers, and join our large community of Intuit Accountants users.

More like this

Dynamic AdsDynamic Ads