TL;DR Summary
Your accountant's letter must be on firm letterhead, signed by a CPA or CA with their registration number, include your ABN, business type, years operating, net profit with add-backs itemised, and a statement that income is sustainable. Missing the registration number or letterhead are the two most common causes of rejection. Send your accountant the checklist in this article.
When Is an Accountant's Letter Required?
For ABN home loan specialist applications, an accountant's letter is required in most lending scenarios — both full doc and low doc:
- Full doc loans — the letter supports and corroborates the income figures on your tax returns. Lenders use it to confirm the business is ongoing and the income is sustainable.
- Low doc loans — the letter is often one of the primary income verification documents, alongside BAS statements and bank statements. Read the full low doc guide for more detail.
- Complex income scenarios — trust distributions, company director income, partnership income — all situations where lenders want an independent professional to confirm the income picture.
Even if not strictly required by a specific lender, a strong accountant's letter can significantly improve the quality of your application and reduce the risk of the lender requesting additional documentation mid-assessment.
What the Letter Must Include
Below is the complete list of what every accountant's letter for a home loan application must contain. Think of this as a non-negotiable checklist — missing any of these items can result in the lender rejecting the letter and requesting a replacement, delaying your application.
Accountant's Letter Checklist
Accountant's full name and title
First and last name, plus CPA or CA designation
Accounting firm name and address
Must be on official letterhead — not a Word document
Firm phone number and email
Lender may call to verify the letter
CPA or CA membership/registration number
Most common reason for rejection when missing
Client's full name and ABN
Must match what's on your tax return exactly
Business type
Sole trader / company / partnership / trust
Confirmation business is operating and trading
Statement that the business is currently active
Years in business
How long the ABN has been active and trading
Most recent year's net profit (after tax deductions)
With add-back items itemised separately where applicable
Statement that income is sustainable
"In my professional opinion, the income is likely to continue at a similar level"
Date of the letter
Must be within 90 days of application (60 days at some lenders)
Accountant's signature
Wet or electronic — both generally accepted
For guidance on what income items can be added back to increase your borrowing power, see our article on add-backs for self-employed borrowers.
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection
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Enter your details to see the exact mistakes that cause accountant's letters to be rejected — and get a free self-employed assessment from our team.
Template Questions to Send Your Accountant
Most accountants will write a correct letter if you send them specific instructions. Copy and paste the following into an email to your accountant:
Email Template for Your Accountant
Hi [Accountant name],
I'm applying for a home loan and require an accountant's letter. Please include the following on your firm's official letterhead:
- 1. Your full name, firm name, address, phone, email, and your CPA/CA registration number
- 2. My full name and ABN
- 3. My business structure (sole trader / company / trust / partnership)
- 4. Confirmation the business is currently operating and trading
- 5. How long the business has been operating
- 6. My net profit for the most recent financial year, with any add-backs (depreciation, super, one-off expenses) itemised separately
- 7. A statement that in your professional opinion, the income is likely to continue at a similar level
- 8. Today's date and your signature
The letter needs to be provided as soon as possible as we are in the process of submitting our home loan application. A PDF is fine. Thank you.
Timing Matters
Get the accountant's letter last, after all your other documents are gathered. That way it's as fresh as possible when you submit the application. If your application takes longer than expected, check whether the letter needs to be updated. Also use our loan repayment calculator to check your numbers before you go to your accountant.
Frequently Asked Questions
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