Signer Intent
Expressed action showing the signer intended to sign the tax record, such as typed name or drawn signature and a signing click or tap.
Using an electronic signature for tax forms reduces manual handling, provides an audit trail of signer attribution and timestamps, and supports the ESIGN/UETA legal framework for enforceability. It also helps organizations meet retention and reproducibility obligations while reducing delays caused by printing and mailing.
Responsibility usually falls to the payer or requesting party to collect a correct, attributable e-signature and keep the complete record for required retention periods.
Expressed action showing the signer intended to sign the tax record, such as typed name or drawn signature and a signing click or tap.
Proof of signer identity using email confirmation, SMS code, knowledge-based questions, or stronger authentication where required.
A dedicated signature field with signer name, printed name line, and date to make attribution and timing explicit.
When consumer-facing, the record shows consent to receive the document electronically consistent with 15 U.S.C. §7001 requirements.
A tamper-evident log of events (IP address, timestamps, actions) retained with the signed file for evidentiary support.
A reproducible signed file stored in a secure system that supports retrieval and reproduction for audits or legal review.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Type | Click-to-sign, drawn signature, or uploaded image |
| Authentication | Email link, SMS code, KBA, or SSO |
| Retention | Store PDF with audit trail and metadata |
| Notifications | Email reminders and signer status tracking |
Verify your platform preserves audit trails and stores signed records in a tamper-evident format for compliance and future audits.
No fixed deadline — provide upon payer request
Recipient and IRS due January 31
Recipient due January 31; IRS paper Feb 28, electronic Mar 31
Individual returns due April 15 (Oct 15 with extension)
Due April 15; automatic extension to Oct 15
| Criteria | Electronic Signature | Digital Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | any electronic mark | cryptographic pki-based signature |
| Legal Status | accepted under esign/ueta | accepted and stronger technical evidence |
| Authentication | email/sms/kba options | certificate-based, ca-issued |
| Use Cases | most tax forms | high-assurance or regulated records |
| 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 | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes (Premium) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes (BAA available) | Yes (BAA available) | Yes (BAA available) | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies | Varies | Varies |