Legal Identity
Registered business name, DBA (if any), formation state and entity type to confirm legal standing and tax classification.
Complete, consistent paperwork reduces onboarding delays, prevents backup withholding, and creates an auditable record. For electronic execution, the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA permit electronic signatures and records when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are satisfied.
Completed packets serve internal controls, external audits, and recurring reporting; maintain version control and a clear signature chain.
Registered business name, DBA (if any), formation state and entity type to confirm legal standing and tax classification.
EIN or TIN, tax classification (LLC, S corp, C corp, sole proprietor) and W-9 or other IRS forms where required.
Bank routing and account numbers for ACH, payment terms, remittance contact, and invoicing instructions.
Name, title, and authorization proof for signers; attach board resolution or POA where the signer is not obvious.
Certificates of insurance, license numbers, and industry-specific compliance attestations as required by contract.
EIN confirmation letter, government ID for signer, and any state filings needed to verify authority.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication Method | Email + SMS code or KBA for higher assurance |
| Signer Order | Sequential or parallel routing options |
| Field Validation | Required fields, format masks, and formulas |
| Retention Settings | Automatic archive and export to cloud storage |
Choose delivery methods that preserve the audit trail and meet industry rules for authentication and retention.
Provide on request to avoid backup withholding
Recipient and IRS deadlines: Jan 31
Individual tax return due Apr 15 (Oct 15 with extension)
Retain for 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination
FinCEN 114 due Apr 15 with automatic Oct 15 extension
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Verify vendor | Verify vendor | Verify vendor | Verify vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes (Premium) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |