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CPA Comfort Letters

Verified Financial Information Your Lender Will Accept

A CPA comfort letter confirms specific financial information for a third party, signed by a licensed CPA. We prepare letters lenders and financial institutions trust.
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Letters issued since 2021
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CPA
Licensed & signed
Verified Financial Information Your Lender Will Accept

Starts at $199 · 2-hour express delivery available

A reviewed figure, not a repeated claim

Why Lenders Request a Comfort Letter

What a Lender Is Actually Asking For?
Your lender wants an independent professional to confirm specific facts — that your business exists and operates, or that your reported income matches your records.

The exact request varies. Some lenders send a specific list of items to confirm others leave the scope open.

Tell us what your lender asked for when you contact us — a letter that misses the requested scope often comes back for revision.
You could write your own letter explaining your finances. Your lender wouldn’t accept it — they need confirmation from someone independent, with professional accountability attached.
A licensed CPA carries that accountability through their license, which your recipient can verify. This independence is the entire reason comfort letters exist.

What a CPA Can and Cannot State

This distinction matters more than most people expect — understanding it protects you.
Can Confirm
  • Business existence and how long it has operated
  • Reported income figures from tax returns
  • Business structure and ownership percentage
  • Which documents were reviewed to reach these conclusions
  • The time period the review covers
Cannot State
  • An opinion on your creditworthiness
  • A prediction or guarantee of future income
  • A promise that your business will keep performing at current levels
  • Assurance of records the CPA never reviewed
CPAs operate under professional standards from their state licensing board. A CPA who overstates their assurance risks their license — and that restraint is exactly what makes the confirmation credible. No licensed CPA can issue a letter that guarantees approval or endorses creditworthiness.

Comfort Letter vs. Audit Opinion

Most lenders requesting a comfort letter don’t need a full audit — they need specific facts confirmed by a licensed professional.
Document
Scope
Assurance Level
Comfort Letter
Complete financial overview
Confirms what the CPA reviewed
Audit Opinion
Complete financial statements
Follows a formal audit process
If your lender requires a full audit instead, tell us upfront — that’s a different service with a different process and timeline.

Comfort Letter vs. Standard CPA Letter

A comfort letter is one type of CPA letter — many lenders use the terms interchangeably. A standard CPA letter often focuses on one specific fact, like your income; a comfort letter may cover a broader set of items your lender listed.

The assurance level stays identical between the two. Your CPA confirms reviewed facts either way, under the same professional standards — only the scope changes. Tell us what your lender requested, and we’ll prepare the right version.
Comfort Letter vs. Audit Opinion

Who Requests a CPA Comfort Letter

Lenders & Banks

They want independent confirmation before approving a loan or account, within professional limits.

Transaction Parties

A buyer reviewing your business, or a partner entering an agreement, may want financial facts confirmed.

Regulatory Agencies

A licensing body or regulatory filing may require a licensed professional's statement.

Key Use Cases: Mortgage & Self-Employed

The scope varies more than most people expect — one lender may want three facts confirmed, another a detailed list covering your full business picture. Tell us who requested your letter and what they need confirmed.

For Mortgage Applications

Mortgage lenders sometimes use the term “comfort letter” broadly, asking for one when they need standard income verification. Your CPA confirms what your specific underwriter requires.

Underwriters at different institutions use different terms for similar documents — sending us your lender’s written request clears this up right away.

For Self-Employed Borrowers

Self-employed applicants encounter this request more than anyone else — your income doesn’t appear on a standard W-2, and a lender wants a licensed professional to confirm what your records show.
A tax return showing heavy deductions raises questions for an underwriter. A comfort letter gives that underwriter a reviewed, confirmed picture instead.

Comfort Letter or Income Verification Which Do You Need?

Income Verification Letter
Fits when your recipient only needs your income figures confirmed — a simpler, single-item request.
Comfort Letter

Fits when your recipient listed several items to confirm — the broader scope suits a multi-item request.

Ask your recipient what they need confirmed before ordering anything — we’ll help you choose the right one once you share the request.
What's Included

What your CPA expense ratio letter will include

See the full Notarized CPA Letter guide

01

Official letterhead with your CPA’s name and firm

02
A statement of your CPA’s license and credentials
03

Confirmed income, stated as annual or monthly figures

04
The specific time period the letter covers
05
A signed attestation from your CPA
We don’t publish a generic template as a stand-in for a real letter — your specific revenue and expenses shape the final document. It certifies your calculation at one point in time; your underwriter still reviews your complete file before making a decision.
Pricing

Two Packages

Standard

$199

one-time

2-Hour Express Delivery

For self-employed individuals or business owners who need a CPA letter for a mortgage lender.

Choose Standard
Service includes
  • A licensed CPA letter prepared for your lender
  • Certification by a tax authority
  • A format approved by all state lenders
  • Unlimited revisions until your loan is approved
  • Income & self-employment verification
  • Ownership percentage confirmation
  • Comfort / mortgage letter format

CPA Letter Plus

$349

one-time

24-Hour Express Delivery

For business partners and self-employed individuals who need a CPA letter with notarization included.

Choose Plus
Everything in Standard, plus
  • Everything in the CPA Letter package
  • Notarized CPA letter (third-party notarization)
  • Financial statement on official letterhead
  • 24-hour express delivery
The Process

How to get a CPA expense ratio letter

1

Tell us your revenue

We also need to know who requested this letter and why, to confirm the right approach for your situation.

2

Send your records

Usually your Schedule C and profit and loss statement, plus any specific request from your lender.

3

Scott Harrison, CPA, calculates

He reviews your actual expenses against your provided revenue, then drafts your letter from that calculation.

4

We format for your recipient

Every lender expects a specific format and level of detail. We match those before sending your letter.

5

You receive your letter

It arrives as a digital PDF. We add notarization if your situation requires it.

6

We revise on follow-up

Lenders sometimes ask for clarification. We turn most revisions around the same day.

Documents you'll need

Tax returns (1–2 years)

Confirms your reported income and filing history

Financial statements

Supports business performance confirmations

Business registration documents

Confirms your business exists and its structure

Recipient's written request

Defines the scope your CPA needs to address

What Happens If Your Recipient Asks for More

Your CPA reviews whether additional items fall within professional limits. Many do, and we add them without issue.

Some requests fall outside what a CPA can confirm — your CPA will explain which items they can’t address and why. Both of our packages include unlimited revisions until your recipient approves your letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers before you ask

What is a CPA comfort letter?
It’s a signed document from a licensed CPA. It confirms specific financial information for a lender or institution.
Lenders want independent confirmation of your financial facts, from someone with professional accountability — not from you.
Send us your recipient’s request and your supporting documents. Scott Harrison, CPA, reviews and prepares your letter.
Your letter needs a licensed CPA’s signature and license details, plus a clear scope statement covering what your CPA reviewed.
Your lender or institution requests one when they need specific facts confirmed — most often during loan applications and business transactions. No law requires one; the request comes from your recipient.
Facts they reviewed in your records — including business existence, reported income, and ownership details.
No. A comfort letter confirms specific reviewed information; an audit follows a formal, structured process and costs much more.
A comfort letter is one type of CPA letter. The assurance level stays the same, but the scope may be broader.
It includes your CPA’s letterhead, credentials, and a scope statement, plus the confirmed information and a signature.
No. A CPA cannot guarantee approval or opine on your creditworthiness — your lender still reviews your complete file.
Our standard package starts at $199. Notarized letters are available at $349.
Our standard package delivers in 2 hours. Our notarized package delivers in 24 hours.
Most recipients expect a letter within 60 to 90 days. Check with your specific recipient for their exact requirement.
It needs to be a licensed CPA. Most lenders and institutions don’t accept letters from unlicensed preparers.

Send Us Your Recipient's Request

That one document tells your CPA exactly what to confirm — and prevents most revision cycles before they start.
Email Your Request