[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-277019-105":53,"doc-detail-277019-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","lenders-mortgage-brokers-still-pushing-cpas-comfort-letters-the-saga-continues","Lenders & Mortgage Brokers Still Pushing CPAs - Comfort Letters - The Saga Continues","","Guidance addresses ongoing pressure on CPAs from lenders and mortgage brokers seeking “comfort letters” that would confirm a borrower’s self-employed status and related financial attributes. It explains why CPAs should avoid providing assurances that have not been verified through appropriate procedures, especially when broker requests attempt to shift risk for loan losses. Sample response letter language is provided to clarify engagement scope, limits on audit or verification, and authorization requirements for releasing tax work product.",{"@graph":63,"@context":122},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/lenders-mortgage-brokers-still-pushing-cpas-comfort-letters-the-saga-continues/277019/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/lenders-mortgage-brokers-still-pushing-cpas-comfort-letters-the-saga-continues/277019.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Theodora","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-28","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":25},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114,118],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"Why do lenders and mortgage brokers keep requesting CPAs to provide verification letters?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"They seek a CPA-provided letter to support claims that the client is self-employed, financially sound, profitable, creditworthy, or similar attributes for loan decisions.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How should a CPA respond when requested to confirm information that has not been verified?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Respond in a manner commensurate with services rendered and avoid assurances on information not verified by procedures appropriate to that level of assurance.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What should a CPA include in a response letter about the scope of their engagement?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"The letter should state that services were limited to preparing tax returns based on client-provided information, and that the CPA has not audited, reviewed, or otherwise verified the information for lending purposes.",{"name":119,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Can a CPA provide tax work product to a lender or broker, and what condition applies?",{"text":121,"@type":109},"Yes, if the taxpayer signs an authorization allowing the CPA to release the tax work product; the CPA should still state they are not confirming or verifying the accuracy of the information.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":124,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":56},277019,1790060657,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":25,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":47,"language":139,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":143,"read_time":73},687197207919,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/a000253d6f5f7c60be?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779446848396160552","Lenders & Mortgage Brokers Still  \nPushing CPAs . . .  \nComfort Letters  \nThe saga continues … CAMICO’s advisory hotlines have not stopped buzzing with a steady stream of calls regarding lenders and loan brokers pressing CPAs and their clients to provide a letter from the CPA verifying that the client is self-employed, financially sound, profitable, creditworthy, or a combination of such attributes.  \nAs we know, the pressure on CPAs to help their client can be considerable as many clients are informed by brokers that they potentially will not qualify fora loan to buy a house, or for a mortgage refinance, unless the CPA provides a letter to confirm or verify certain types of information.  \nThe primary motive is simple…lenders and mortgage brokers are hoping to find a “deep pocket”. We have seen an ongoing attempt to shift onto the CPA the burden of responsibility for assessing the information supplied by the borrower in the event the borrower defaults on the loan and the lender incurs a loss.  \nSo how should a CPA respond to such requests when pushing back and saying “no” to the request is not considered to be a prudent option given your relationship with your client…?  \nSample Response Letter Language  \nCAMICO’s advice is that you respond in an appropriate manner commensurate with the services you have rendered to your client. What this means in “plain English” is that we strongly encourage you to not provide assurances on information that you have not, in fact, verified by performing the procedures necessary for that level of assurance.  \nFor example, assume that you have a tax client that is asking you, their longtime CPA, to confirm to the broker that they are self-employed and have the future ability to repay the loan. The “million dollar question” of course is how to delicately balance the desire to provide your valuable client with the assistance they need without taking on the risks that should instead rest with the broker.  \nIn this scenario the CPA, after first receiving written consent from the client to respond to the broker, should consider writing a letter similar to the below example that addresses in clear and simple language the facts for the broker. It is then up to the broker to make their own conclusions and perform, if they deem necessary, their own independent procedures which may include requesting copies of the tax work product prepared the CPA.  \nSample Response Letter Language \\# 1  \nDate:  \nTo Whom It May Concern:  \nWe were engaged to prepare the tax returns for [insert client's name ] for [insert year(s)] . The engagement was limited to the preparation of tax returns from information that was provided to us by the client. The information the client provided to us represented he/she was self employed and/or a sole proprietor. Accordingly, we prepared for our client the following tax schedule(s) for the [insert year(s)]:  \n[Identify the tax schedule(s)]  \nHowever, since we have not audited, reviewed or otherwise verified the information provided by the client, we are not in a position to make any conclusions or assurances regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, nor the future ability of the client to repay any loan.  \nFor a copy of any tax work product prepared by our office, we require a signed document from the taxpayer(s) authorizing such product to be provided to you. If you have any questions, please let us know.  \nSincerely,  \n[Insert your Firm Name]  \nSample Response Letter Language \\# 2  \nCAMICO has prepared sample letter language for responding to requests from lenders and loan brokers, as follows. This letter can be modified as appropriate and sent to your client:  \nDear [Bank]:  \nYou have asked me to provide your bank with certain information on [Client Name] for your use in deciding whether to extend credit to [Client Name] . My services to [Client Name] were and remain limited to the preparation of [year] federal and state income tax returns from information provided to","cbCaisZ2XMnUywvh","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaisZ2XMnUywvh","pdf",343943,"English","# Sample Response Letter Language\n## Sample Response Letter Language # 1\n## Sample Response Letter Language # 2\n## Example Response To Lender’s Request For Verification Of Client’s Self-Employed Status","[{\"question\":\"Why do lenders and mortgage brokers keep requesting CPAs to provide verification letters?\",\"answer\":\"They seek a CPA-provided letter to support claims that the client is self-employed, financially sound, profitable, creditworthy, or similar attributes for loan decisions.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a CPA respond when requested to confirm information that has not been verified?\",\"answer\":\"Respond in a manner commensurate with services rendered and avoid assurances on information not verified by procedures appropriate to that level of assurance.\"},{\"question\":\"What should a CPA include in a response letter about the scope of their engagement?\",\"answer\":\"The letter should state that services were limited to preparing tax returns based on client-provided information, and that the CPA has not audited, reviewed, or otherwise verified the information for lending purposes.\"},{\"question\":\"Can a CPA provide tax work product to a lender or broker, and what condition applies?\",\"answer\":\"Yes, if the taxpayer signs an authorization allowing the CPA to release the tax work product; the CPA should still state they are not confirming or verifying the accuracy of the information.\"}]","Lenders & Mortgage Brokers Still Pushing CPAs - Comfort Letters - The Saga Continues | PDF",1789497173]