Download signNow app
4.7 / 5 rating on

IRS Form 8950

Use a Form 8950 template to make your document workflow more streamlined.

What IRS Form 8950 is and does

IRS Form 8950 is the IRS application used to request correction under the Voluntary Correction Program for an eligible retirement-plan failure. It identifies the plan, describes the failure, and presents information supporting the proposed correction for IRS review. The form is not a general payroll or participant-enrollment document. A plan sponsor or authorized representative prepares it with relevant plan records and correction calculations, obtains required approvals, and submits the completed package through the applicable IRS process. signNow can organize review, signatures, and the resulting audit trail, but the IRS decides whether the VCP submission is acceptable.

Who works with IRS Form 8950

Plan sponsors

Retirement-plan sponsors use Form 8950 to present a Voluntary Correction Program application for an eligible plan failure, with supporting correction details reviewed by authorized representatives.

Benefits professionals

Third-party administrators and employee-benefits counsel coordinate plan records, correction calculations, approvals, and submission files before the application reaches the IRS.

Complete IRS Form 8950 accurately

Use this sequence to organize the VCP application, supporting evidence, and authorized plan-sponsor review before submission to the IRS.

  • Confirm eligibility:

    Confirm the plan correction qualifies for IRS VCP.
  • Gather records:

    Collect plan records, amendments, and correction calculations.
  • Complete the form:

    Complete Form 8950 with authorized plan information.
  • Review attachments:

    Review supporting documents before IRS submission.

How IRS Form 8950 works

IRS Form 8950 starts a Voluntary Correction Program application for an eligible retirement-plan failure and organizes the information the IRS needs to review the proposed correction.

  • Identify failure: The plan sponsor identifies an operational or document failure.
  • Design correction: The sponsor designs correction using IRS VCP principles.
  • Prepare application: Form 8950 presents the application and plan details.
  • Await IRS review: The IRS reviews the submission and issues correspondence.
be ready to get more
Get legally-binding signatures now!
  • Best ROI. Our customers achieve an average 7x ROI within the first six months.
  • Scales with your use cases. From SMBs to mid-market, airSlate SignNow delivers results for businesses of all sizes.
  • Intuitive UI and API. Sign and send documents from your apps in minutes.

Features for IRS Form 8950 workflows

Form 8950 workflows often involve plan sponsors, third-party administrators, attorneys, and reviewers. signNow organizes those handoffs without changing the IRS form’s required content.

Reusable template

Upload the IRS Form 8950 file and prepare its fields in a reusable workflow, reducing repeated setup when the plan sponsor or adviser reviews related correction applications.

Role-based routing

Route Form 8950 to plan sponsors, counsel, and administrators in a defined signing order, keeping each participant’s action visible before the application is finalized.

Audit trail

Capture signer identity, timestamps, delivery events, and completed-document history in an audit trail that supports internal review of the VCP submission.

Signer authentication

Use SMS authentication or other configured controls when authorized reviewers handle sensitive plan and participant information connected with the application.

Mobile review

Collect approvals from desktop or mobile devices when reviewers are working across offices, while preserving the same completed Form 8950 record.

Connected storage

Store the completed application and supporting files in connected repositories such as Google Drive, Box, or Egnyte for controlled retrieval.

Recommended Form 8950 workflow setup

Configure the workflow around authorized plan-sponsor review, sensitive retirement-plan information, and a reproducible record of the VCP application.

SettingRecommendation
Authentication methodEmail verification with SMS OTP
Signature typeElectronic signature with signer intent
Audit trailExport after final Form 8950 approval
Document retentionFollow underlying plan-record rules
EncryptionTLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Audit trail steps for Form 8950

The audit trail documents how authorized reviewers handled the Form 8950 package, separate from the IRS’s substantive review of the VCP application.

01

Authenticate signer:

Records the authentication method used by each Form 8950 signer.
02

Capture timestamp:

Captures the date and time of every signing action.
03

Hash document:

Associates the completed document with its signing history.
04

Seal record:

Preserves changes through a tamper-evident completion record.
05

Track activity:

Logs delivery, viewing, signing, and completion events.
06

Export evidence:

Exports the audit trail for controlled compliance retention.

Security controls for Form 8950 records

TLS encryption:

Electronic records protected in transit

At-rest encryption:

Stored records protected with AES-256

SOC 2 Type II:

Independent controls reviewed under SOC 2 Type II

ISO 27001:

Security management certified under ISO 27001

ESIGN and UETA:

Electronic signatures supported under ESIGN and UETA

Two-factor authentication:

Two-factor authentication available for reviewers

Challenges when preparing Form 8950

  • Incomplete plan-history records can prevent reviewers from confirming the affected period, failure description, and proposed correction for Form 8950.
  • Mismatched correction calculations can delay internal approval and create inconsistencies between Form 8950 and its supporting schedules.
  • Unsigned authorization or missing attachments can leave the VCP application incomplete when the plan sponsor submits it.
  • Uncontrolled copies of participant data can expose sensitive retirement-plan information during review, storage, or later retrieval.

Connect Form 8950 workflows to business systems

Connect plan-administration work with Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Drive, Box, Egnyte, or Microsoft Teams to organize approvals and completed records.

Salesforce
Procore
Zapier
Microsoft Teams
Hub spot
Box
Microsoft
ROI at a Glance

Key performance indicators that demonstrate SignNow's proven track record.

28M+Documents signed
13+Years in business
4.6/5Average G2 rating

IRS Form 8950 troubleshooting

These answers address document preparation, authorized signing, audit evidence, and the boundary between signNow workflow controls and IRS VCP review.

Upload the original PDF again and check whether the file contains selectable fields. signNow can prepare uploaded documents for field placement, but the IRS form’s required content must remain unchanged.

Confirm the signer’s email address, resend the invitation, and use SMS authentication when configured. The completed signature record should identify the authorized plan sponsor or representative who approved the application.

Business includes templates, audit trails, and mobile apps. Business Premium adds bulk send, while Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication. Select the plan based on the number of reviewers and control requirements.

Electronic signing can support intent, attribution, consent, and record reproduction under ESIGN and UETA. Confirm that the IRS submission process accepts the completed signature format and retain the final document.

Export the completed document and audit trail from signNow, then store them with the VCP file. Keep the correction rationale, supporting calculations, and IRS correspondence under the applicable plan-record policy.

Review the form against the current IRS instructions, plan records, and correction analysis. signNow manages routing and evidence of approval; it does not determine whether the proposed correction satisfies IRS VCP requirements.

BE READY TO GET MORE

Get this form now!

If you believe that this page should be taken down, please follow our DMCA take-down process.