With AccreditedNow, most investors receive their attorney or CPA verification letter within 3–5 business days of submitting their documents. Professional plan customers get 2–3 day priority turnaround. Same-day rush is available for an additional $75.
How long accredited investor verification takes depends almost entirely on which method you use. A self-assessment quiz takes 3 minutes. An online verification service like AccreditedNow takes 3–5 business days. Going through your personal attorney or CPA can take 1–2 weeks or more.
The bottleneck is almost never the reviewer — it's how quickly you gather and upload your supporting documents. Investors who have their tax returns and account statements ready before they start get verified significantly faster than those who have to track documents down mid-process.
| Method | Typical Turnaround | Legally Recognized? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free self-assessment quiz | Instant (3 min) | ✗ No | Free |
| AccreditedNow — Standard | 3–5 business days | ✓ Yes | $199 |
| AccreditedNow — Pro 10-Pack | 2–3 business days | ✓ Yes | $149/letter |
| AccreditedNow — Same-Day Rush | Same business day | ✓ Yes | $199 + $75 |
| Your personal CPA | 3 days – 2 weeks | ✓ Yes | $250–$500+ |
| Your personal attorney | 1–3 weeks | ✓ Yes | $300–$600+ |
| Broker-dealer verification | 1–4 weeks | ✓ Yes | Varies |
Your personal attorney or CPA isn't optimized for this specific task — accredited investor verification may be a once-a-year request for them, not a core service. They may need to research the current SEC rules, coordinate scheduling, and work this into their existing client queue. AccreditedNow's licensed professionals handle these verifications daily, which is why turnaround is faster and the cost is lower.
Here's exactly what happens after you pay for the $199 verification letter and what to expect at each stage:
You receive a confirmation email with a link to your secure document upload portal. No sensitive documents are sent via regular email.
Log into the portal and upload the required documents for your qualification pathway — tax returns, account statements, or license confirmation. This step is entirely in your hands and is the biggest variable in total turnaround time.
An independent licensed attorney or CPA is assigned to your case. They review your documents against current SEC accredited investor criteria.
Your assigned professional reviews all submitted materials. If anything is missing or needs clarification, they'll contact you directly through the secure portal — typically within 24 hours of spotting an issue.
Your signed, attorney or CPA verification letter is delivered to your portal and emailed to you as a PDF. The letter is dated the day it is issued and valid for 90 days from that date.
AccreditedNow automatically sends you a renewal reminder 15 days before your letter expires so you're never caught off guard before a closing.
The single most effective thing you can do is gather your documents before you start. Investors who upload complete documents on Day 1 consistently receive their letters 1–2 days faster than those who upload documents piecemeal.
Depending on which qualification pathway applies to you:
You do not need original paper documents. PDFs downloaded directly from your bank, brokerage, or the IRS website are fully acceptable. Make sure statement PDFs show your name, account number, and the date clearly.
Most delays are preventable. Here are the most common issues and how to avoid them:
| Cause of Delay | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Incomplete document upload | Use the document checklist in your portal before submitting |
| Documents are too old (statements older than 90 days) | Download fresh statements the same day you apply |
| Name on documents doesn't match the name on your application | Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your tax return |
| Income was above threshold only one of the past two years | Qualify under net worth instead — both pathways are checked automatically |
| Slow response to reviewer follow-up | Check your email and portal daily during the review period |
| Applying on Friday afternoon | Apply Monday–Thursday for fastest same-week turnaround |
Many investment sponsors have a hard deadline for receiving your verification letter before the closing date. If your closing is in 5 days, apply today — not tomorrow. Even standard 3–5 day turnaround leaves no buffer if documents are incomplete or a follow-up is needed.
Once issued, your accredited investor verification letter is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. This is the standard safe harbor period established by the SEC under Rule 506(c).
Within that 90-day window, you can typically use the same letter with multiple investment sponsors — just confirm with each sponsor that they accept third-party verification letters and check whether they have any additional requirements.
After 90 days, you'll need a new verification letter for any new investments. AccreditedNow sends a renewal reminder 15 days before your letter expires so you have time to renew without rushing.
If you're actively investing in multiple Reg D offerings, consider timing your verification so the 90-day window covers as many closings as possible — or plan to renew at the start of each quarter.
Licensed attorney or CPA review. Secure document portal. SEC-compliant letter accepted by all Reg D sponsors. 100% refund if we can't verify your status.
Get My Letter — $199 →Yes — AccreditedNow offers a same-day rush option for an additional $75. Documents must be submitted and complete before noon ET on a business day. Your letter will be issued by end of business day.
Contact us at info@accreditednow.org as soon as possible. For truly urgent situations, we can often accommodate expedited review. Give us as much notice as you can — last-minute requests received after 2pm ET may push to the next business day even with rush service.
The 90-day validity period starts on the date the letter is issued — not when you apply. So if your review takes 4 days, your letter is still valid for a full 90 days from the issuance date.
Yes, in most cases. The SEC's safe harbor applies to each sponsor that receives verification — so you can share your letter with multiple sponsors within the 90-day validity window. Always confirm with each sponsor that they accept third-party verification letters.
If our licensed professional determines that your documentation does not support accredited investor status, you receive a full refund. You will not receive a verification letter.
Digital files are fine — PDFs downloaded directly from your bank, brokerage, or the IRS portal are fully acceptable. There's no need to mail, fax, or scan physical documents.