A CPA Letter can also be referred to as a Comfort Letter. This may be required for low documented loans for self-employed borrowers.
CPA Letter for Verification of Self Employment
CPA Letter for Verification of Self Employment is a document issued by the loan applicant’s CPA or Tax Preparer who affirms that they prepared the applicant’s tax returns and that the applicant is self-employed. The primary purpose of the letter is to independently verify the self-employment status of the loan applicant(s).
Contents of the Letter
Content: The letter should contain:
-
- Applicant’s name
- Applicant’s business name, address, and phone number
- Nature of business
- Number of years the applicant has been in this business
- Percentage of ownership
- Time since when the CPA has prepared the applicant’s tax returns
- Fact that the applicant reviewed the tax returns prior to their filing by the CPA
- Signature: The letter should be signed by the CPA.
- CPA Active License Number Listed (this will be verified by the lender)
- Letterhead: The letter should be on the CPA’s letterhead.
Considerations for the Loan Applicant
The applicants should obtain a copy of the letter and ensure that it contains the elements listed above and any additional information required by the lender. Also, ensure the accuracy of the information in the letter.
Considerations for the Lender
Document Review
The review of the letter is generally performed by the processing or the underwriting department of the lender. The lender’s review of the letter may include the following.
1. Content: The letter contains information listed above and any other information that the lender requires.
2. Independent Verification: Verify the CPA License for the State in which the CPA is licensed.
3. Comparison with Tax Returns: The CPA’s information in the letter should be compared to the information in the tax returns that were provided by the loan applicant. Ideally, the CPA’s information on the two documents should match.
4. Delivery: The letter should be received directly from the CPA. Do not accept letters forwarded by the broker or the loan applicant(s).
Considerations for CPAs and Tax Preparers
Prior to issuing any letters, tax preparers and CPAs must consider the scope of their relationship with the borrower. Only affirm factual information and do not provide any forward looking statements, projections, or opinions. It is advisable to make it clear in the letter that the CPA is not providing any assurance as to the creditworthiness of the borrower. The lender assumes has to perform its own due diligence and the letter does not create any legal relationship or obligation of the CPA.
Tax Preparers and CPAs are recommended to check their professional code of conduct and standards before issuing such letters.
Read this article regarding concerns: http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2009/mar/20091528.html
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