Described herein is a fax processing system for the improvement of efficiency and reliability of fax transmissions over any communications network, specifically for retransmitting an incomplete transmission. Fax images are encoded with an embedded digital bit signal by a fax software program on the originating fax that indicates the number of pages in the document where such bit signal is recognized by fax software at a fax service for the purpose of monitoring the page count of the transmission, and in the case of a failed transmission, using the embedded digital data to notify the recipient that more pages will be transmitted, and further transmitting the remaining pages on the next facsimile phone call.