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What documents are needed for accredited investor verification?

The short answer. It depends on how you qualify. Under the income test you provide tax returns or W-2s for your two most recent years; under the net-worth test you provide statements of your assets and liabilities plus a recent credit report; under the professional-license path you provide proof of an active Series 7, 65, or 82. In every case you also upload a government-issued photo ID for the required identity check. You only need the documents for the one path you qualify under.

Accredited investor verification for a Rule 506(c) offering is a document review: a licensed professional confirms you meet one of the SEC's qualification tests, then issues a letter. You do not need to satisfy every test — just one. Here is what each path asks for.

1. Income path

Qualifies you if your income was over $200,000 individually (or $300,000 jointly with a spouse or spousal equivalent) in each of the last two years, with a reasonable expectation of the same this year.

  • IRS forms showing income for the two most recent years — federal tax returns (Form 1040), or W-2s and 1099s.
  • A brief written statement that you reasonably expect to reach the threshold again this year.

2. Net-worth path

Qualifies you if your net worth exceeds $1,000,000, excluding the value of your primary residence.

  • Assets: recent bank, brokerage, and retirement account statements; if applicable, documentation for other holdings.
  • Liabilities: a recent credit report so debts can be netted against assets.
  • Because your home is excluded, related mortgage details may be needed so the calculation is done correctly.

3. Professional-license path

Qualifies you if you hold an active FINRA Series 7, 65, or 82 license — no income or net-worth documents required.

  • Proof the license is active (a current record is publicly confirmable through FINRA's BrokerCheck).

Required in every case: a photo ID

Whatever path you use, you upload a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID. This is the identity (know-your-customer) check the CPA performs on every file, separate from your qualification documents.

You may redact non-essential identifiers — full account numbers, Social Security numbers — before uploading. The review depends on the income and asset figures, not those identifiers. Your documents are seen only by your assigned CPA, are never sold or shared, and are permanently deleted 90 days after your letter is issued.

Entities and trusts

An entity provides its formation and ownership documents (operating agreement or trust agreement, plus a cap table or ownership list) and evidence for its accreditation basis — either that all equity owners are themselves accredited, or, for the $5 million asset test, an entity balance sheet with a signed affidavit that all assets and liabilities are disclosed. The exact set depends on the entity type. See entity verification for details.

Not sure which path is yours?

Take the free 30-second quiz to find the qualification path that fits, then use the toolkit to gather the right documents before you start.

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Common questions

What documents do I need to verify as an accredited investor?
It depends on how you qualify. For the income test, provide your IRS forms (tax returns, W-2s, or 1099s) for the two most recent years. For the net-worth test, provide statements showing your assets and liabilities (bank, brokerage, and retirement statements plus a recent credit report). For the professional-license path, provide proof of an active FINRA Series 7, 65, or 82. In every case you also provide a government-issued photo ID for the required identity (KYC) check.
Do I have to share my tax returns?
Only if you qualify under the income test — that is what the income path relies on. If you qualify by net worth, you provide asset and liability statements instead, and if you qualify by professional license, you provide proof of the license and generally no financial documents. You may also redact non-essential identifiers such as full account numbers and Social Security numbers before uploading; the review depends on the income and asset figures, not those identifiers.
Who sees my financial documents?
Only the assigned licensed CPA reviewing your file. Documents are encrypted in transit and at rest, are never sold or shared, and are permanently deleted 90 days after your letter is issued. The sponsor receives only the signed verification letter — never your underlying financials.
What documents does an entity or trust need?
An entity typically provides its formation and ownership documents (operating agreement or trust agreement and a cap table or ownership list) plus evidence for its accreditation basis — either that all equity owners are accredited, or, for the $5 million asset test, an entity balance sheet with a signed affidavit that all assets and liabilities are disclosed. The specific set depends on the entity type and the basis being used.

This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. The exact documents a licensed professional requests can vary with your situation. AccreditedNow is not a law firm.