> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.tahua.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.tahua.io/knowledge-base/administrator-help-guides/contracts/uploading-a-signed-contract.md).

# Uploading an already-signed Contract

If a Contract has already been signed outside Tahua, you can upload the signed PDF instead of building and signing it in the portal.

Not every Contract needs to be built and signed inside Tahua. If you already have a signed document — a Contract that was signed on paper, signed before you started using Tahua, or signed through another system — you can upload it and manage everything that follows from within the portal.

This is useful when you're moving existing Contracts into Tahua. Once uploaded, the Contract becomes Active, and Milestones, deliverables and invoice payments all work exactly as they do for a Contract built in the portal.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Upload the fully signed document.** Tahua doesn't collect any signatures for an uploaded Contract, so the file you upload needs to be signed by everyone already.
{% endhint %}

## How to upload a signed Contract

1. Create a new Contract and work through the wizard as normal: **Details**, **Milestones**, then **Funding**.
2. At the **Document** step, you'll see two options under *Select to build a Contract within the system or upload an existing signed Contract*.
3. Choose **Upload Contract** — "Upload an existing Contract that has been signed by the Admins and the Counterparty" — rather than **Build Contract**.
4. Under **Upload contract file:**, attach your signed PDF.
5. Move to the final step and activate the Contract.

You don't need to choose a Contract Template, and you don't need to set up any Signatories — both are only required for Contracts built and signed inside Tahua.

## What changes once a Contract is uploaded

**The Contract becomes Active straight away.** Based on the "start" date you have entered. There's no sending, no waiting, and no counter-signing — Tahua records the Contract as signed and moves it directly to Active.

**No emails are sent.** The Counterparty and any Verifiers/Institutions won't receive a request to sign, because there's nothing left for them to sign.

**The document can't be previewed in the portal.** An uploaded Contract has to be downloaded to be read, unlike a Contract built in Tahua which can be viewed on screen.

**Everything after signing works normally.** Milestones, deliverables, invoicing and payments — including to Xero or QuickBooks if you have an accounting integration — all behave the same as they would for any other Active Contract.

## Check the Contract start date

The start date is what determines whether Tahua treats a Contract as currently in effect. This matters most when you're uploading older Contracts that have been running for a while: set the real start date from the signed document rather than today's date, or the Contract may not behave as an active one.

## See Also

* [Signing a Contract](/knowledge-base/administrator-help-guides/contracts/signing-a-contract.md) — for Contracts built and signed inside Tahua
* [Adding Milestones to a Live Contract](/knowledge-base/administrator-help-guides/contracts/adding-milestones-to-a-live-contract.md)
* [Contract Execution & Milestone Payments](/knowledge-base/administrator-help-guides/contracts/contract-execution-and-milestone-payments.md)
* [Checklist - Contracts](https://github.com/hashbangnz/tahua-resources/tree/main/gitbook/help-center/administrator-help-guides/contracts/checklist-contracts.md)