You've confirmed you likely qualify as an accredited investor. Now a real estate syndicator or private equity fund is asking for a verification letter — and you're not sure where to start or what it costs. (If a platform or portal is the one asking, start with verifying accredited status for a platform.)
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about getting an accredited investor verification letter in 2026, including what documents you need, who can sign it, how long it takes, and how much it should cost. If you'd rather skip straight to getting verified, see our accredited investor verification service.
Quick Answer: An accredited investor verification letter from a licensed attorney or CPA typically costs $99–$500 and can take anywhere from a day to two weeks depending on the provider. You'll need tax returns or financial statements as supporting documentation. AccreditedNow's service costs $99, with letters typically delivered within 24 hours.
What Is an Accredited Investor Verification Letter and Why Do You Need One?
An accredited investor verification letter is a signed document from a licensed professional — typically an attorney, CPA, SEC-registered investment adviser, or registered broker-dealer — confirming that you meet the SEC's criteria for accredited investor status. See a sample accredited investor letter for what one looks like.
Under SEC Regulation D Rule 506(c), investment sponsors who market their offerings to the general public (through websites, social media, or other public channels) are required to take "reasonable steps" to verify that each investor is actually accredited. A self-certification or checkbox on its own is generally not sufficient — the sponsor reviews your documents itself or, more often, relies on a third-party verification letter. (A narrow exception for very high minimum investments is described in our guide to what changed in 2025-2026.)
Important: A self-assessment quiz or printable certificate — including AccreditedNow's free certificate — is NOT accepted by investment sponsors as proof of accredited status. You need a signed letter from a licensed professional for actual investing purposes.
The verification letter serves as that third-party confirmation. It protects the investment sponsor from SEC enforcement risk and protects you by confirming you actually meet the criteria before you invest.
Who Can Issue an Accredited Investor Verification Letter?
Rule 506(c)(2)(ii)(C) lists the professionals whose written confirmation an issuer can rely on:
- Licensed attorneys in good standing
- Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) — can verify income and net worth from tax documents
- SEC-registered investment advisers (state-registered advisers are not on the list) — can verify based on their knowledge of your financial situation
- Registered broker-dealers — can verify based on their review of your accounts
The professional must actually review your supporting documentation — they cannot simply take your word for it. They sign the letter based on their review of your tax returns, financial statements, or account records.
Need a CPA-signed verification letter?Licensed CPA review, typically within 24 hours.
Get Verified — $99What Documents Do You Need?
The documents required depend on which qualification method you're using:
For Income-Based Qualification ($200K/$300K Rule)
- W-2 forms or 1099s from the past two years
- Federal tax returns from the past two years (most common)
- A letter from your employer confirming current compensation (optional but helpful)
For Net Worth Qualification ($1M Rule)
- Bank statements dated within 90 days showing liquid assets
- Brokerage account statements showing investment holdings
- Retirement account statements (401k, IRA)
- Documentation of any significant assets (real estate appraisals, business valuations)
- Documentation of liabilities (loan statements, credit card statements)
For Professional License Qualification
- A copy of your active Series 7, 65, or 82 license (or your CRD number)
- Confirmation from FINRA BrokerCheck or the SEC IAPD registry that the license is in good standing
Tip: For most people, the two most recent federal tax returns are the simplest and most reliable documentation to provide, especially for income-based qualification.
Step-by-Step Process
Confirm You Qualify
Take AccreditedNow's free 30-second quiz to confirm you meet the income, net worth, or license criteria before starting the verification process. This saves time and money if you don't actually qualify.
Gather Your Documents
Collect your W-2s or tax returns from the past two years (for income verification) or recent account statements (for net worth verification). Have digital copies ready to upload.
Choose a Verification Service
You can hire your own attorney or CPA directly, or use a third-party verification service like AccreditedNow. Third-party services are typically faster and significantly less expensive than hiring professionals directly.
Submit Your Documents
Upload your documents securely. All documents submitted through AccreditedNow are encrypted and only accessible by your assigned licensed professional.
Professional Review
A licensed CPA reviews your documents and issues your letter — typically within 24 hours once complete documentation is received, or a business day or two if the CPA needs to follow up on something.
Receive Your Letter
Your signed verification letter is delivered by email as a PDF. The letter includes the professional's credentials, their review methodology, the qualification basis, and the date of issue.
Submit to Investment Sponsor
Forward the letter to the investment sponsor or upload it to their investor portal. Most sponsors accept the letter immediately upon receipt.
How Much Does an Accredited Investor Verification Letter Cost?
The cost varies significantly depending on how you obtain the letter:
| Option | Cost | Turnaround | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AccreditedNow | $99 | Typically 24 hours | Licensed CPA, fully compliant |
| Your personal CPA | Often several hundred dollars | 1–2 weeks | Depends on relationship and availability |
| Your personal attorney | Often several hundred dollars | 1–2 weeks | Hourly billing adds up quickly |
| DIY (self-certification) | Free | Instant | NOT accepted for 506(c) offerings |
AccreditedNow's $99 service sits in the sweet spot — significantly less than hiring your own CPA directly, with a professional turnaround time and full SEC compliance.
How Long Is an Accredited Investor Verification Letter Valid?
Rule 506(c)(2)(ii)(C) lets a sponsor rely on a written confirmation from a CPA, attorney, registered broker-dealer, or SEC-registered investment adviser that they took reasonable steps to verify you within the prior three months. That is the rule's window. An AccreditedNow letter is dated and marked valid for 90 days from issue - our policy, set to sit inside that window.
If you're planning to invest in multiple offerings within a short period, a single letter can often be used for multiple sponsors while it is valid. Check with each sponsor to confirm their specific requirements.
After that you'll need a new verification letter - a renewal is $79.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an accredited investor verification letter and why do you need one?
It is a signed document from a licensed professional — typically a CPA or attorney — confirming you meet the SEC's accredited investor criteria. Under Regulation D Rule 506(c), sponsors who publicly market an offering must take reasonable steps to verify each investor, and a self-certification or printable certificate on its own is generally not enough, so many ask for this third-party letter (the issuer can also review your documents itself).
Who can issue an accredited investor verification letter?
Rule 506(c)(2)(ii)(C) lists four: a licensed attorney in good standing, a CPA in good standing, an SEC-registered investment adviser, or a registered broker-dealer. The professional must actually review your supporting documentation — tax returns, financial statements, or account records — not simply take your word for it. AccreditedNow's letters are signed by a licensed CPA.
What documents do you need for accredited investor verification?
It depends on your qualification method. For income: W-2s or 1099s and federal tax returns from the past two years. For net worth: recent bank and brokerage statements, retirement account statements, and documentation of significant assets and liabilities. For a professional license: a copy or registry record of your active Series 7, 65, or 82 license and confirmation it is in good standing.
How much does an accredited investor verification letter cost?
Costs range from about $99 to $500 depending on the provider. Hiring your own CPA or attorney directly is typically the most expensive; third-party services are faster and less expensive. AccreditedNow's letter is $99, typically delivered within 24 hours.
How long is an accredited investor verification letter valid?
Rule 506(c)'s written-confirmation method covers a professional's confirmation that they took reasonable steps to verify you within the prior three months, so a sponsor relying on that method needs a letter whose review falls within that window. An AccreditedNow letter is dated and marked valid for 90 days from issue, and one letter can often be used for several offerings in that period - check with each sponsor. After that, you will need a new letter.
Get Your Accredited Investor Verification Letter
Licensed CPA review. Typically 24-hour turnaround. Rule 506(c) letter accepted by Reg D investment sponsors. If we can't complete your verification on our end, you don't pay.
Get My Letter — $99 →