A CPA income letter for your apartment application
A CPA income letter is a signed letter from a licensed CPA that states the income you reported on your tax returns, addressed to your landlord. Self-employed renters, freelancers and guarantors use it when they can't show a pay stub. We prepare it from your returns for $99, typically within 24 hours.
- Signed by an independent licensed CPA
- Typically within 24 hours
- Verifiable Letter ID
Letters are signed by Christopher A. Smith, CPA, Indiana license CP12600077. Verify the license by searching that number.
Who needs a CPA letter to rent
Landlords want to see that your income meets their requirement. If your income doesn't come from a single employer, a CPA letter puts it in a form they recognize.
Self-employed renters
Sole proprietors and 1099 contractors whose income is on Schedule C.
Business owners
Owners paid through partnerships or S corporations, with income on a K-1.
Freelancers
Creatives and consultants with income from many clients and no employer letter.
Guarantors
A parent or relative guaranteeing a lease who is asked to document their income.
How it works
Everything happens online. No appointments and no account to create.
Tell us about the rental
The landlord or management company, the apartment, and who needs a letter.
Pay securely
Pay on a secure payment page. Nothing is uploaded until you have paid.
Upload your returns
Use your private upload link to add a photo ID and your last two federal tax returns.
Receive the signed PDF
The CPA prepares and signs your letter, and we email it to you, ready to send to the landlord.
What your letter says
- Addressed to your landlord or management company, for your application
- Your total income for each of the last two tax years
- Your adjusted gross income, and net business income if you are self-employed
- That the returns agree with IRS records, if you add IRS transcripts and they match
- Year-to-date income, if you add a profit and loss statement or bank statements
- The CPA's signature, name, firm and license number
- A Letter ID and QR code the landlord can check online
What you'll need
- A photo ID (driver's license or passport)
- Your federal tax returns (Form 1040 with all schedules) for the two most recent years
- Optional: IRS tax return transcripts, free from your IRS online account. They make the letter stronger.
- Optional: a year-to-date profit and loss statement or recent bank statements
A letter the landlord can check
Every letter carries a unique Letter ID and a QR code. The landlord or management company can look it up on our lookup page to see who it was issued for, the date, and the signing CPA's name, firm and license number. They can also confirm their copy is the original, unaltered file. The lookup never shows your income figures.
Good to know before you order
The letter reports the amounts shown in the documents you provide. It is not an audit or a review. Whether a landlord accepts it is their decision, so check what the leasing office needs, including any form of their own. The letter is prepared by an independent CPA, not your own accountant.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CPA letter for an apartment?
It is a letter signed by a licensed CPA that states the income an applicant reported on their federal tax returns, so a landlord or management company can check it against their income requirement. It is most often used by renters who cannot show a standard pay stub or employer letter.
Who needs a CPA income letter?
Self-employed renters, freelancers, business owners and people paid through partnerships or S corporations usually cannot show an employer letter, so landlords often ask for a CPA letter instead. Guarantors are sometimes asked for one too. A common landlord rule, especially in New York City, is annual income of about 40 times the monthly rent, and the letter shows yours in one place.
How much does it cost?
$99 per applicant. Add Rush for $29 more per applicant. Roommates or co-applicants each get their own letter. You pay before any work begins.
How long does it take?
Most letters are issued within 24 hours of receiving all of your documents. Add Rush and it is issued within 6 hours. Turnaround starts once every document is in, so upload everything at once.
What documents do I need?
A photo ID and your federal tax returns (Form 1040 with all schedules) for the two most recent years. IRS tax return transcripts are optional but make the letter stronger, because the CPA can confirm the returns match the IRS records. If your landlord wants current-year income, you can also add a year-to-date profit and loss statement or recent bank statements.
What does the letter say?
It states your total income, adjusted gross income and, if you are self-employed, your net business income for each of the two years, as shown on your returns. If you provide IRS transcripts or year-to-date documents, it says so. It is addressed to your landlord or management company for your application.
Is the letter from my own accountant?
No. It is prepared and signed by an independent licensed CPA through AccreditedNow, based on the documents you upload. You do not need an existing accountant.
Can the landlord check that the letter is genuine?
Yes. Each letter carries a Letter ID and a QR code. The landlord can look it up on our site to confirm who it was issued for, the date and the signing CPA's license, and that their copy has not been altered. The lookup never shows your income figures.
Will my landlord accept it?
That decision is theirs. CPA letters are a common way for self-employed applicants to show income, but some landlords have their own form or ask for specific documents, so check with the leasing office before you order.
Self-employed? Read our guide: how to prove income to a landlord when you're self-employed.
Need something else? Co-op and condo boards usually ask for a CPA net worth statement instead. If an investment sponsor asked you to prove you are an accredited investor, start here.
Get your letter started
Order online, pay, upload your returns, and the CPA does the rest.
Order your letter