Renter resources
Income Verification Letter for an Apartment: Template and Guide
Free templates for employed and self-employed renters, what landlords actually want to see, options for gig income, and a bank verified letter when a traditional letter is not an option.
One time payment. No subscription. No SSN and no credit check for letters.
What an income verification letter is
An income verification letter is a written document that confirms how much money a rental applicant earns and where that money comes from. Landlords use it to check that an applicant can cover rent before signing a lease.
For renters with a traditional job, the letter usually comes from an employer and looks similar to an employment verification letter. For renters who are self-employed, freelance, retired, or receive non-wage income, the letter format is different and more flexible.
Income verification letters are different from pay stubs. Pay stubs show gross and net pay for a specific period. An income verification letter is a statement that the income is real, current, and has been verified by the person or organization that knows the applicant best. For more on proof of income documents generally, see proof of income letter and proof of income for an apartment.
What landlords expect the letter to include
Requirements vary by landlord. The two most common formats are an employer letter (for salaried or hourly workers) and a CPA or accountant letter (for self-employed applicants). Both are covered below.
Employer income verification letter (salaried or hourly)
- ✓Employer name on official letterhead with address and phone
- ✓Date the letter was written
- ✓Your full legal name
- ✓Your job title and employment status (full-time or part-time)
- ✓Annual salary or hourly rate and average weekly hours
- ✓Employment start date
- ✓Contact name and phone number for verification
- ✓Authorized signature (HR or manager)
CPA or accountant letter (self-employed)
- ✓CPA or accountant name and firm on official letterhead
- ✓Date and your full legal name
- ✓Statement of income amount for the period covered
- ✓Reference to the specific tax year(s) or records reviewed
- ✓CPA license number (many landlords require this)
- ✓Contact information for the accountant or firm
- ✓CPA signature
Free income verification letter templates
Two templates below: one for employed renters to send to their employer, and one for self-employed renters to bring to their CPA. Replace each bracketed placeholder before sending.
For employed renters (send to your employer)
[Company Letterhead] [Company Name] [Company Address] [City, State ZIP] [Phone] | [Email] [Date] To Whom It May Concern, This letter confirms that [Employee Full Name] has been employed with [Company Name] since [Start Date] and currently earns an annual salary of [Annual Salary] (or hourly rate of [Hourly Rate], working approximately [X] hours per week). [Employee Full Name] is currently employed on a [full-time / part-time] basis. If you have questions, please contact [Contact Name] at [Phone Number] or [Email]. Sincerely, [Authorized Signature] [Name] [Title] [Company Name] [Date]
For self-employed renters (bring to your CPA)
[CPA or Accountant Name] [Firm Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP] [Phone] | [Email] CPA License No. [License Number] [Date] To Whom It May Concern, I am writing on behalf of my client, [Client Full Name], whose tax and financial records I have reviewed. Based on [his / her / their] [federal tax returns / financial statements] for [Tax Year(s)], [Client Full Name] earned a gross annual income of approximately [Annual Amount]. This income is derived from [describe income source: sole proprietorship, freelance work, rental properties, etc.]. Please contact me with any questions. Sincerely, [CPA Signature] [CPA Name] [Firm Name] [Date]
For a fillable version with auto-formatting, use the free letter template generator.
Filled-in example (employed renter)
Here is what the completed employer letter looks like with real details filled in.
Meridian Health Group 4800 Main Street, Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75201 (214) 555-0193 | hr@meridianhealth.com November 10, 2026 To Whom It May Concern, This letter confirms that Casey Morales has been employed with Meridian Health Group since January 7, 2025 and currently earns an annual salary of $74,000. Casey Morales is currently employed on a full-time basis, working approximately 40 hours per week. If you have questions, please contact Angela Torres, HR Director, at (214) 555-0194 or a.torres@meridianhealth.com. Sincerely, [Signature] Angela Torres HR Director Meridian Health Group November 10, 2026
Generate your letter template
Fill in the fields below to get a formatted income verification letter ready to copy or download. Send it to your employer or accountant to sign.
Employer
HR contact
Employee
Letter preview
About employer-issued letters: A letter you fill out here is an employer statement that a landlord may still call to verify by phone. It is not independently verified. For stronger proof, Settl’s Income Letter ($29) is verified directly from your bank or payroll system and includes a secure link your landlord can check online. See a sample verified letter.
Income verification when you are self-employed
Self-employed applicants do not have an employer to write a letter, so landlords typically request one or more of these instead:
CPA letter
A letter on CPA letterhead referencing your tax returns and stating your average annual income. Many landlords require this for self-employed applicants because it is prepared by a licensed professional who can be contacted. The CPA template above covers what to bring to that meeting.
Federal tax returns (Schedule C)
Two years of complete federal returns showing your net profit from self-employment. Line 31 of Schedule C shows net profit after business expenses. Some landlords average the two years to arrive at an income figure. A single good year with a poor prior year can raise questions.
Bank statements
Three to six months of full bank statements downloaded as unedited PDFs directly from your bank. For gig or freelance work where deposits are labeled by the platform (Stripe, PayPal, Uber, DoorDash), highlight consistent recurring deposits so a landlord can see the pattern without having to review every line.
Profit and loss statement
A simple P&L covering the past twelve months. Some landlords, especially in professional or executive rental markets, ask for this in addition to tax returns. A bookkeeper or accountant can prepare one; a one-page spreadsheet you prepared yourself carries less weight unless combined with tax returns or bank records.
If getting a CPA letter takes longer than your move-in timeline allows, or your accountant is not available, a bank verified Income Letter is an alternative that confirms income directly from your bank deposits rather than through a third party. See the section below.
When a traditional income letter is not an option
Common situations where a traditional letter is difficult or impossible to get:
- ·Your employer has a strict no-letter policy or routes all verifications through a third-party service.
- ·You are self-employed and your CPA is not available on a short timeline.
- ·Your income comes from multiple gig platforms and no single employer can account for all of it.
- ·You are an ITIN holder and do not have a SSN to provide to third-party verification databases.
- ·You are a recent immigrant or visa holder with limited US credit or employment history.
- ·Your income is real and current, but it does not appear neatly on a tax return because you are paid in cash.
Settl's Income Letter connects read-only to your bank via Plaid (12,000+ banks and credit unions) and verifies your identity with a government ID and live selfie. The landlord receives a secure link to a verified summary at settlhome.com/verify. They see a rent ceiling, an income consistency rating, and cash reserves expressed in months of rent. Account numbers and individual transactions are not shared. No SSN, no credit check for letters. See a sample at /sample-letter/income_letter.
Income Verification Letter
Bank income verified via Plaid. Quick government ID check. No SSN, no credit check. Share a secure link with your landlord. 12,000+ banks and credit unions supported.
Questions
Common questions
What should an income verification letter include for an apartment?
Most landlords expect: the source of income clearly identified, the gross monthly or annual amount, how long the income has been received, your full legal name, a date, and a contact for verification. The format differs depending on who is writing it. An employer letter looks like an employment letter. A CPA letter is on the accountant letterhead and references the tax return or financial records it was drawn from. Bank statements are numbered and unaltered.
What is the difference between an income verification letter and an employment verification letter?
An employment verification letter confirms you work somewhere and what you earn. An income verification letter confirms what you receive, which can come from many sources beyond a job: freelance work, rental income, retirement distributions, Social Security, child support, or bank deposits from gig work. If your income is a traditional salary, the letters overlap significantly. If your income is non-traditional, an income verification letter is broader and more flexible.
What if I am self-employed and do not have an employer to write a letter?
Self-employed applicants typically use one of three documents: a CPA or accountant letter on official letterhead referencing their filed tax returns, two years of federal tax returns (Schedule C for sole proprietors), or bank statements showing consistent deposits over three to six months. Some landlords ask for all three. The section above covers each option in detail.
Can bank statements serve as income verification?
Many landlords accept bank statements as supplemental proof of income, especially for self-employed or gig workers. Provide three to six consecutive months of unaltered PDF statements directly from your bank. Highlight recurring deposits if gig or freelance income is not labeled clearly. Statements printed at a branch or downloaded from your bank portal are generally considered authentic.
What is a bank verified Income Letter and how is it different from a CPA letter?
A CPA letter is prepared and signed by a certified public accountant who has reviewed your tax or financial records. A bank verified Income Letter from Settl connects read-only to your bank via Plaid, verifies your identity with a government ID check, and produces a summary landlords can check at settlhome.com/verify. It shows a verified rent ceiling and income consistency rather than individual transactions or account numbers. It is not a CPA letter and is not prepared by an accountant.
Will my landlord see my bank account numbers or transactions?
No. The Settl Income Letter uses a read-only Plaid connection. Account numbers and individual transactions are never shared with the landlord. They see verified summaries: a rent ceiling, an income consistency rating, and cash reserves expressed in months of rent.
What if my income varies month to month?
Variable income is common for gig workers, freelancers, and commission-based earners. An income verification letter for variable income should cover a longer time window (six to twelve months) so the landlord can see the pattern rather than a single month. The Settl Income Letter calculates consistency across the period Plaid returns, which helps show that irregular income is nonetheless real and recurring.
What if I have multiple income sources?
List each source separately: salary from one employer, freelance income from a second source, rental income from a property, and so on. Each source should be documented separately if possible. For the Settl Income Letter, all deposits flowing through the connected bank account are included in the verification calculation.
Get a bank verified income letter
Bank income verified via Plaid and matched to your government ID. No SSN, no credit check. Share a secure link your landlord can check at settlhome.com/verify. One time payment.
Get my Income Letter, $29