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§7.3.2

E-Signature Tags

A SIGN HERE tag on a blank line—a signature or an instruction?

✅ NormativeSettled. The requirement holds as written.📄 Page ruleCan be applied from the page alone.Read §7.3.2 in the RFC ↗

The requirement

A field that carries only an e-signature tag is unsigned and MUST be rendered as a blank, [blank]. A tag that prints a word — SIGN, INITIAL — MUST be rendered as that word, separately beside the field, and MUST NOT be rendered as a signature or as the field's value.

When it applies

Electronic signing tools print a small coloured tab beside each field the signer must complete — "SIGN", "INITIAL", an arrow. The tab is not a signature and not part of the form; it is an instruction to a future signer, often left in the exported file.

Sketch of the printed page — layout, not output
QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN'S   │ QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN'S   │ DATE
SIGNATURE                       │ PRINTED NAME                    │
▸SIGN                           │                                 │

Reading the examples. Each one pairs a source page with the output the rule expects. ✅ Sample: the rule applies. ❌ Counter-sample: it looks like it applies and does not, or a rendering got it wrong. A non-conforming output, in red, is shown only for contrast. … marks content left out of an excerpt.

Requirements

  • The field MUST be rendered as unsigned: [blank], as for any blank field — see Fill-Ins (§10.4.4).
  • A tag's printed word MUST be kept, verbatim, beside the field and outside the field's value. The samples below place it on its own line directly after the field.
  • A tag that prints no word adds nothing to the text.
  • A page on which the signature fields carry only tags is unsigned. [signature] MUST NOT appear for such a field — see Signatures (§7.3.10).
01

✅ SampleThe rule applies

signature cells with signing tabs

Two signature blocks, each a three-cell row. A small red tab reading SIGN▸ sits under "SIGNATURE" in the first cell of each; every cell is otherwise empty.

Source page
E-Signature Tags — signature cells with signing tabs. Source page.
Expected output · excerpt, first block

…

  • QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN’S SIGNATURE: [blank] SIGN▸
  • QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN’S PRINTED NAME: [blank]
  • DATE: [blank]
Markdown
<!-- … -->


    

  • QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN’S SIGNATURE: [blank]
SIGN▸
    • 

  • QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN’S PRINTED NAME: [blank]
    • 

  • DATE: [blank]
E-Signature Tags · Source page

signature cells with signing tabs

E-Signature Tags — signature cells with signing tabs. Source page.
02

✅ SampleThe rule applies

a tag beside a name line

A small red tab sits at the start of the Name**: line in the signature block, ahead of an otherwise blank ruled line. The tab prints no word, so nothing is added for it; every field in the block is blank.

Source page
E-Signature Tags — a tag beside a name line. Source page.
Expected output · excerpt, signature block

…

  • Name**: [blank]
  • Title**: [blank]
  • Signature: [blank]
  • Date of Certification (mm/dd/yyyy): [blank]
  • Email**: [blank]
  • Phone Number**: [blank]

**An individual executive or financial officer of the consultant’s or subconsultant’s organization at a level no lower than a Vice President, a Chief Financial Officer, or equivalent, who has authority to represent the financial information used to establish the indirect cost rate.

…

Markdown
<!-- … -->


    

  • Name**: [blank]
    • 

  • Title**: [blank]
    • 

  • Signature: [blank]
    • 

  • Date of Certification (mm/dd/yyyy): [blank]
    • 

  • Email**: [blank]
    • 

  • Phone Number**: [blank]
    • 


**An individual executive or financial officer of the consultant’s or subconsultant’s organization at a level no lower than a Vice President, a Chief Financial Officer, or equivalent, who has authority to represent the financial information used to establish the indirect cost rate.

<!-- … -->
E-Signature Tags · Source page

a tag beside a name line

E-Signature Tags — a tag beside a name line. Source page.

More

Rule id text-e-signature-tags · text marks forms