Settings (Basic): Signatures

When managing e-signatures, it's important to balance security, convenience and legal compliance. In this article, we’ll explore how you can enhance the security of your e-signatures by enabling knowledge-based authentication (KBA), qualified or advanced electronic signatures (QES/AdES) and customizing the default date format. We’ll also look at allowing e-signing without logging in for the client's convenience or requiring them to log in for added security.

Note! All changes made to the signature settings will be reflected on the Activity feed page.

Require login for e-signature

By default, all your clients who use the client portal must log into it when you request them to sign a document. This way, nobody else can use their link to sign a document without their credentials. 

However, if you want to allow your clients an easier e-signature experience, you can allow them to sign documents without logging in. Then, they'll just need to click a link in the email and sign a document right away. If they want to, they'll be able to log into the portal from the document page.

To enable or disable this setting:

1. Go to Settings > Firm settings from the sidebar menu.
2. In the Signatures section, enable/disable the Require login for e-signature toggle.

Note! If you add non-clients as signers when requesting signatures, they don't need to log in to sign, disregarding this setting. 

Enable/disable knowledge-based authentication (KBA)

Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) adds an extra layer of security to e-signing by verifying the signer's identity using their answers to knowledge-based questions (for your US clients only). By default, it is enabled for all US firms and disabled for non-US firms. However, if you provide services to US customers, you can turn it on or off, regardless of your firm's location.  

To do so:

1. Go to  Settings > Firm settings from the sidebar menu.

2. In the Signatures section, enable/disable the Show KBA verification toggle.

When this toggle is enabled, you can require KBA when requesting the signature.

Note! After toggling on the Show KBA verification toggle, you will need to add funds to your firm balance, as each KBA attempt will be charged (here are the prices per attempt in different currencies). To do so, go to Settings > Firm balance from the left menu bar. Here, you can check the balance history/audit trail. For details, go to the article on Firm balance.   

Enable/disable qualified electronic signature (QES/AdES)

Qualified and advanced electronic signatures (QES/AdES) ensure compliance with the highest standards of electronic signatures (for your EU clients only), meeting the requirements set forth by European regulatory bodies (eIDAS). By default, it is enabled for all EU firms and disabled for non-EU firms. However, if you provide services to EU customers, you can turn it on or off, regardless of your firm's location.

To do so:

1. Go to Settings > Firm settings from the sidebar menu.
2. In the Signatures section, enable/disable the Show QES/AdES verification toggle.

When this toggle is enabled, you can activate QES/AdES when requesting the signature.

Note! After toggling on the Show QES/AdES verification toggle, you will need to add funds to your firm balance, as each QES/AdES signature will be charged (here are the prices per signature). To do so, go to Settings > Firm balance from the left menu bar. Here, you can check the balance history/audit trail. For details, go to the article on Firm balance.  

QES/AdES providers

Once you turned on the QES/AdES options in the Signatures section of your Firm settings page, you can select providers available for you clients to proceed with QES/AdES. Your clients will be able to choose one of the providers you selected. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Edit QES/AdES providers link under the Show QES/AdES verification as option toggle. You will see the list of QES/AdES providers with countries coverage and price per e-signature.

2. Select providers and click Save. We recommend selecting only those providers available in your clients' location.

Note! Editing providers will not impact QES/AdES signatures you have already requested. To change providers for the sent QES/AdES signature request, cancel it first, then edit the providers and request the QES/AdES signature again.

Change your default date format for e-signatures

You may need to select a specific date format for e-signatures (excluding the QES/AdES signature) in documents for various legal reasons. In TaxDome, you have the flexibility of choosing the default date format that will be applied to all e-signatures.

To change the default date format, follow these steps:

1. Go to  Settings > Firm settings from the sidebar menu.

2. In the Signatures section, select the date format in the Default date format for e-signature drop-down.

You can select one of the following date formats:

• MMM-DD-YYYY — this format is selected as default for all firms
• MM-DD-YYYY
• MM.DD.YYYY
• DD-MM-YYYY
• DD/MM/YYYY
• DD.MM.YYYY
• YYYY/MM/DD
• YYYY/DD/MM

After selecting the default date format, it will be automatically displayed for all new signature requests.

Note! Changing the default date format doesn't affect date formats previously selected in your signature templates.