Leading firms through the next generation of change™
January 7th
8879 Digital signature options and
process
Amy McCarty
Education Services
RootWorks.com
Objectives
• Learn the Rootworks recommended esignature document process using EchoSign
• Learn the Thomson Reuters e-signature
process using UltraTax CS
RootWorks.com
IRS Requirements
• E-sign function must have Knowledge Based
Authentication (KBA) and
• System must track signing method and
• Software must record:
– Digital Image
– Date and Time of Signature
– Taxpayer IP Address
RootWorks.com
Options for E-Signature
• Thomson Reuters – via UltraTax CS
• EchoSign
• Other 3rd Parties
– FYI – Right Signature claims to be IRS Compliant –
but does not use KBA and states that require
registration have not accepted their method
RootWorks.com
E-signatures via UltraTax CS
• Requires sending the tax return to the portal
from UltraTax
• Needs unique Taxpayer and Spouse Emails in
UltraTax
• Expires 3 days after transmission
• $5 per 8879 (state forms included in price) – fee
charged upon successful completion of signature
• $1 per document for engagement letters and
consents
RootWorks.com
E-signatures via EchoSign
• Requires you to buy KBA’s in batches from
EchoSign ($1.50 per KBA in bundles of 50/100)
• Create a PDF of the form from FileCabinet
(UltraTax and GFR will also work)
• Create a template for married/single returns
• Additional documents are part of your
standard monthly fee
RootWorks.com
E-signatures Process in EchoSign
• Create a template for 8879 signatures
– Add Template to Library
– Enter name and select blank 8879 PDF (just pull page
1 from irs.gov)
– Select Create as reusable form field layer
– Click Preview or Add Fields
– With Participant 1 selected, drag the Signature field to
Taxpayer’s signature line
– Select Participant 2 and drag the Signature field to the
Spouse’s signature line
– Click Save
RootWorks.com
E-signatures Process in EchoSign
• To create documents for signature:
– Select Get a Document Signed
– Enter email address(es)
– Pull in PDF (created from FCS)
– Select Knowledge based authentication
– Check box Preview, position signatures or add
form fields
– Apply the 8879 Template
– Click Send
RootWorks.com
E-signatures Process in EchoSign
• To monitor documents out for signature:
– Manage
• Out for Signature
• Signed
• Cancelled/Declined
RootWorks.com
E-signatures Process in UltraTax CS
• To enable the eSignature feature:
– Setup > Office Configuration > eSignature
– Mark ‘Enable electronic signatures (eSignature)
(1040 only) ($)’
• To create documents for eSignature:
– File > Print Returns
– Check Client copy and Electronic delivery –
Web/eSignature
RootWorks.com
E-signatures Process in UltraTax CS
• To transmit/retrieve documents for
eSignature:
– Utilities > CS Connect
– Transmit returns and eSignature documents
– Retrieve updated eSignature status and
documents
• To monitor documents out for eSignature:
– Home Page > eSignature Status Live
RootWorks.com
Questions?
RootWorks.com
Objectives
• Learn the Rootworks recommended esignature document process using EchoSign
• Learn the Thomson Reuters e-signature
process using UltraTax CS
RootWorks.com
Resources on ngaf.com
• Resources by Product
– EchoSign
• Electronic Signature of Documents
RootWorks.com
Thank you for attending!
(email [email protected] for any needed assistance)
RootWorks.com
Leading firms through the next generation of change™