What is the best way to show proof of funds?
Common types of proof of funds documents include bank statements, investment statements, and letters. These documents must be recent, formatted properly, and comply with specific requirements. Waterstone Mortgage. "Mortgage Document Checklist."
Request the letter from your bank
If your funds are all in one place, you can get your POF in 1 day. If you are moving funds from one bank to another, it can take several days. Ensure that all your contact information is up to date on your POF letter.
- An agreement in principle/mortgage in principle.
- Bank statements of your deposit amount (for mortgage buyers)
- Bank statements of your cash amount (for cash buyers)
- Evidence of you selling a property (if using the funds to buy the new property)
- Evidence if the money has been gifted.
Bank Statement: A recent bank statement is a standard way to show proof of funds. It should clearly display her name, the bank's name, and the total available funds. While fluctuations in the account balance are common, the statement should reflect the required amount of funds available.
The key thing to remember is that we are looking to establish the original SOURCE of funds being used and not the mere availability of funds in a bank account. What is NOT acceptable: Screenshots/photos of bank account statements from a mobile or similar device.
Common types of proof of funds documents include bank statements, investment statements, and letters. These documents must be recent, formatted properly, and comply with specific requirements.
Be prepared to show proof of funding.
Your cash offer won't be accepted unless you can prove you have the full amount available to purchase the home.
- The death certificate for the person whose will you are named in.
- A copy of the legal will, if such a document is available.
- A document from the estate executor or administrator explaining who they are and their relation to the estate.
Below, we explain the proof we require for the most frequently utilised source of funds. Savings are usually made up of regular small payments from your salary or other income. As proof of savings, we require a minimum of 6 months' bank statements, showing the incoming salary.
- The bank's name and address.
- An official bank statement.
- Balance of total funds in your checking or savings account.
- Signature of an authorized bank employee or notary.
- The date the money was deposited in the account.
What counts as evidence of funds?
Bank letter
You can provide a letter from your bank as evidence of your funds. The letter should normally be on the bank's official headed paper and include the name(s) of the account holder, the account number and contact details of the bank. It should also be signed by an official from the financial organisation.
Only your lender will ask you such questions and request financial documents. Your lender and real estate agent will need to be in contact with one another to ensure terms of the purchase contract are being met, but the lender should always keep the specifics of your finances (credit score, salary, net worth, etc.)

You need a bank letter
For proof, you must get official letters from any banks or financial institutions where you have an account. these details for each current banking and investment account you have with them: account numbers. date each account was opened.
“Source of funds” refers to the funds that are being used to fund the specific transaction in hand – i.e., the origin of the funds used for the transactions or activities that occur within the business relationship or occasional transaction.
Body: Your financial situation and hardships
Make sure you describe your parents' occupation, any savings (like a 529 College Savings Account), and any student jobs. You might also discuss any sudden changes in fortune (e.g. parent fell ill or lost their job) that have ruined your original financial plans.
- Mortgage statements.
- Bank account statements.
- The title to your house or car.
- Credit card statements.
- Retirement account statements (pension, 401k, IRA)
Proof of balance is a statement showing your current account balance. Recent transactions is a report showing your transactions for a specific time. You can choose 30, 90, 120 days or a custom date range (up to a year).
If proof of funds is presented as a letter, contact the author of the letter and ask them to verify the information they provided and ask any questions you may have. If proof of funds is presented via a bank statement, ask the buyer who you can contact at their bank to verify the statement is authentic.
This means that assets like stocks and bonds can't be used in a proof of funds letter. You would need to sell these assets and deposit the money from the sale into another account first. Retirement accounts or 401Ks also cannot be used for the letter.
A proof of funds letter, or POF letter, proves you have the funds to buy a home. You might need one whether you're getting a mortgage or paying for the property with cash. Many mortgage lenders allow you to provide bank statements as proof of funds. In some cases, though, you might need a formal letter.
Does the IRS know when you inherit money?
In general, any inheritance you receive does not need to be reported to the IRS. You typically don't need to report inheritance money to the IRS because inheritances aren't considered taxable income by the federal government.
While state laws differ for inheritance taxes, an inheritance must exceed a certain threshold to be considered taxable. For federal estate taxes as of 2024, if the total estate is under $13.61 million for an individual or $27.22 million for a married couple, there's no need to worry about estate taxes.
But, how do you deposit a large cash inheritance, and is there anything you should know before doing so? A financial advisor can help you put an estate plan together to protect your assets for your family. The best place to deposit the large cash inheritance is in a federally insured bank or credit union account.
- A bank account statement showing the available amount.
- A mortgage agreement, or a letter from a mortgage lender.
- Deed of gift proving the money has been gifted to you.
- Proof of your property sale, if that is your source of funds.
- An executor's letter confirming an inheritance.
- Pension statements.
- Annual Tax Return (Form 1040) This is the most credible and straightforward way to demonstrate your income over the last year since it's an official legal document recognized by the IRS. ...
- 1099 Forms. ...
- Bank Statements. ...
- Profit/Loss Statements. ...
- Self-Employed Pay Stubs.