Tax advisory without printer-induced panic
We are Müller & Reinhardt Steuerberater PartG mbB from Wuppertal, a small team (two partners and two staff) with a strong affinity for digital processes. Whenever something needs signing, we expect it to work just like the rest of our firm: fast, clean, traceable, and without any printer-induced panic.
We work paperlessly, except when forging knives. This year, between the holidays, we not only had time to write about inSign, but also captured what we consider a rather untypical image for a tax advisory firm, namely a knife-forging course as our Christmas event. But now, a few thoughts on the inSign signature solution.
Why we chose the electronic signature solution inSign
At the time, we were looking for a solution that could do three things at once:
- GDPR-compliant (because “data protection” is not an accessory for us)
- A provider based in Germany (short distances, clear responsibilities, peace of mind)
- User-friendly, not just for us, but above all for our clients
One more point: we genuinely like DATEV. But we also think it is important not to be entirely dependent on a single software ecosystem in certain areas. Especially for signatures, we wanted a solution that works independently and integrates smoothly into our day-to-day operations.
Has inSign met our expectations?
Yes, and sustainably so. inSign met our expectations from the outset and has even exceeded them over the years. You can see how the product has evolved: interfaces have become more refined, processes simpler, and features sensibly expanded.
What do we like most?
Quite unspectacular, but immensely valuable in daily use: it just works. Stable, logical, no frills. And sometimes that is the best feature of all.
Quite unspectacular, but immensely valuable in daily use: it just works. Stable, logical, no frills. And sometimes that is the best feature of all.
Thorsten Müller
Managing Partner and Tax Advisor at Müller & Reinhardt Steuerberater PartG mbB
Which documents do we most often sign with inSign?
Most frequently, we use inSign for approval documents relating to tax returns. Yes, DATEV also offers solutions for this, but not in all scenarios, for example individual tax assessments for spouses or capital gains tax filings.
We also regularly use inSign for:
- Powers of attorney for representation in tax matters
- Fee agreements
- Formation and onboarding documents, especially for new clients
A typical workflow...
- Prepare the document, for example approval, power of attorney, agreement
- Upload it to inSign or start directly from a template for standard processes
- Define recipients and set signature fields, often done in just a few clicks with templates
- Send via email, clients sign conveniently on their PC or smartphone
- In certain cases, for example standardised processes such as fee agreements or previously ZUGFeRD in onboarding, we also use weblinks so clients can initiate the process themselves.
- We keep an eye on the status, reminders are sent automatically via inSign, and once completed we have clean documentation.
The result is fewer queries, fewer media disruptions, and no more “I’ll just drop by to sign”.
Our most-used features
- Email delivery, the classic that works reliably
- Templates for well-standardised processes
- Weblinks for selected standardised workflows such as onboarding
- Status overview and reminders so nothing gets overlooked
- Traceability and documentation, which is essential in a tax advisory environment
What has changed since introducing inSign?
The biggest shift: signatures are no longer an appointment-driven topic. In the past, signing often involved printing, scanning, visits, or post. Today it happens on the side, often faster than you can say “PDF”.
Client acceptance is now very high. Less tech-savvy clients occasionally need support the first time, but usually only once. The process is so intuitive that after that everything runs smoothly. And that is exactly how it should be.
Would we recommend inSign to other tax advisors?
Unreservedly, yes. inSign has noticeably simplified our daily work and consistently strengthened our digital setup.
One aspect was particularly important to us, namely something that long remained the “last analogue remnant”, identification under the German Money Laundering Act. For over a year now, we have been using the qualified electronic signature (QES) for this as well, primarily for AML processes. For standard procedures such as approvals, tax returns, and financial statements, we continue to use the regular signing process in inSign, straightforward, fast, and client-friendly.
This blog article is a guest contribution by Thorsten Müller, Managing Partner and Tax Advisor at Müller & Reinhardt Steuerberater PartG mbB.
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