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.

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.

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-populates tax forms with client data
• Auto-populates signature locations on tax forms
• Manages eSignature requests, delivery, and signature statuses while tracking your work on client returns.
• Lets you set automatic client reminders right inside your tax software
• Creates email templates
• Automates 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.
• Archives an unalterable “authoritative copy” of important documents or purge documents by specifying an expiration date.

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!

Select your tax software below to view.

• Lacerte
• ProConnect
• ProSeries

New client statuses will automatically update based on their progress so you can quickly move on or identify issues without leaving your tax dashboard. Statuses include:

• Delivered
• Signed
• Partially signed
• Multiple signatures
• Declined
• Authentication failed
• Voided
• Expired

For business tax returns or documents, only one recipient may be added. For individual returns (1040), up to two recipients may be included on married filing jointly: the primary taxpayer and the spouse.

You can personalize requests by type of delivery, either in-person or remote, and select the identification authentication appropriate for the request. In-person eSignature workflow options are currently available for ProSeries and Lacerte.

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).

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.

The status of the eSignature will show as “Authentication failed”. Void the request so it does not count toward your purchased eSignature usage and simply resubmit the eSignature request. The system will populate new questions for your client to try again.

If an eSignature status is marked as “Complete”, it can no longer be canceled. Simply resend the document with the necessary edits. For incomplete requests, you may void the request on your eSignature dashboard or main menu within your tax product. Voided requests are not counted toward your eSignature purchases.

Use the links below to purchase eSignature or call 833-333-5045 for a quick consultation. You must be logged into MyAccount for Lacerte and Proseries or into ProConnect for the links to direct you to the purchase page.

• Lacerte
• ProSeries
• ProConnect

Go to: https://proconnect.intuit.com/esignature/5-free/, select your tax product (Lacerte, ProSeries, Proconnect) and follow with instructions to activate your 5 eSignatures.

Elevates your practice: eSignature gives you and your clients flexibility to complete tax filings in a hasslefree 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-reminds clients: You can set up automatic reminds 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. The postage cost savings is greater for last minute signatures and filings!