What is a net worth certificate?
A net worth certificate is a document signed by a practising Chartered Accountant that states the net worth of a person or business as on a specific date. Net worth is total assets minus total liabilities.
The formula is simple. What gives the certificate weight is the CA's check of the underlying documents, the stated basis of valuation and the UDIN, which lets the reader confirm that a real CA issued it.
A certificate is a point-in-time statement. It says what your assets and debts were worth on the reference date, not what they are worth today, so the date matters as much as the figure.
Who can issue a net worth certificate?
Only a Chartered Accountant who is a member of ICAI and holds a Certificate of Practice can issue it. The certificate carries the CA's signature, membership number and firm details, plus a UDIN.
CAs issue such certificates under ICAI's Guidance Note on Reports or Certificates for Special Purposes (Revised 2016), which sets out how a CA plans the work, what evidence to check and how to word the certificate. A statement you prepare and sign yourself is a declaration, not a certificate, and most institutions will not accept it in place of one.
UDIN: the 18-digit number that makes it verifiable
UDIN stands for Unique Document Identification Number. It is an 18-digit, system-generated number that the CA creates on the ICAI UDIN portal for each document signed.
ICAI made UDIN mandatory for all certificates signed by practising CAs from 1 February 2019, for GST and tax audit reports from 1 April 2019, and for all other attest functions from 1 July 2019. A net worth certificate without a UDIN does not meet ICAI's requirement. The same rule covers all CA certificates, not only net worth.
The CA should generate the UDIN when signing, and ICAI's FAQs allow up to 60 days from the date of signing. There is no fee to generate a UDIN, and no charge to verify one.
How to verify a UDIN on udin.icai.org
Banks, embassies and tender officers verify the UDIN themselves. You can do the same before you submit.
- Open udin.icai.org and choose the option to verify a UDIN.
- Enter the 18-digit UDIN printed on the certificate.
- Enter your name, mobile number and email, fill in the captcha and accept the declaration.
- Enter the OTP you receive. The portal shows the document type, the date and the CA's details.
No registration is needed to verify. The CA gets an email and SMS alert each time a third party checks the UDIN.
When you need a net worth certificate
You need one whenever an institution wants independent proof of financial strength. The requesting institution decides the format, the reference date and how recent the certificate must be.
| Purpose | Who usually asks | What they look for |
|---|---|---|
| Bank loan or credit facility | Banks and NBFCs | Repayment capacity and the assets behind a guarantee |
| Government or corporate tender | Tender authority, PSU, large buyer | Net worth at or above the minimum set in the tender document, as on the date it specifies |
| Visa or study abroad | Embassy, consulate or visa centre, where the checklist asks | Funds of the applicant or sponsor, often shown in the destination currency |
| Franchise or dealership | Brand or principal company | Capacity to invest and run the outlet |
| Director, partner or promoter proof | Lenders, counterparties, regulators | Financial standing of the individual behind the business |
| Court or family matters | Courts, lawyers, other parties | A certified snapshot of assets and liabilities on a date |
For a bank credit facility, the lender may ask for CMA data alongside the net worth certificate.
For visa applications, the format and the currency questions are different enough that we cover them on a separate page.
Choose the right certificate
Pick the page that matches your case. Each covers the specific format, documents and pitfalls for that use.
| If you need it for | Go to |
|---|---|
| A visa, study permit or proof of funds for an embassy | Net worth certificate for visa |
| A government or PSU tender | Net worth certificate for tenders |
| A sole proprietor, combining personal and business assets | Sole proprietorship net worth certificate |
| A partnership firm or its partners | Net worth certificate for a partnership firm |
| A private limited company or its directors | Private limited company net worth certificate |
| Property or investments held jointly | Net worth certificate for joint owners |
| Advice on format and presentation before you apply | Net worth certificate advisory |
| A certified turnover figure rather than net worth | Turnover certificate |
| Any other certificate signed by a CA | All CA certificates |
Individual and business certificates: what changes
An individual's certificate lists personal assets and debts. A business certificate is built from the entity's balance sheet and shows net worth as share capital plus reserves, or partners' capital, less losses.
| Point | Individual | Business (company, LLP, firm) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Bank, investment, property and loan records | Latest audited or provisional balance sheet |
| Net worth means | Total personal assets minus personal liabilities | Paid-up capital plus free reserves (or partners' capital), less accumulated losses |
| Typical users | Visa, personal loans, franchise, court | Tenders, bank credit limits, dealership, vendor registration |
| Reference date | Any date the institution asks for | Often the last balance sheet date, or a date named in the tender |
| Extra documents | Property papers, demat statements | Audited financials, ITR of the entity, loan sanction letters |
A proprietor sits between the two: the proprietorship has no separate legal identity, so the certificate usually combines personal and business assets, with the business shown as capital in the business.
What goes into the certificate
A certificate names the person or entity, lists assets and liabilities by category with the basis of value for each, states the net worth on the reference date and ends with the CA's signature, membership number and UDIN.
Assets and the value we use for each
The value basis must be stated for every line, so the reader knows whether a figure is a balance, a market value or a valuer's estimate.
| Asset | Basis we normally use |
|---|---|
| Bank balances and fixed deposits | Balance as on the reference date, from statements or bank certificates |
| Listed shares, mutual funds, bonds | Market value or NAV as on the reference date, from demat and fund statements |
| Residential or commercial property | A registered valuer's report, or the stamp duty value or cost if the institution accepts it; the basis is stated |
| Gold and jewellery | A valuer's report or purchase value, as stated |
| Vehicles | Depreciated value or insurer's declared value, as stated |
| Insurance policies | Surrender value where available |
| PF and PPF | Balance as per the latest statement |
| Business capital or shareholding | Capital account or book value from the latest financial statements |
We do not certify a property value we cannot support. For high-value property we ask for a registered valuer's report and state that the CA has relied on it.
Liabilities
Every loan and outstanding amount reduces net worth, and leaving one out is the fastest way to get a certificate questioned. We include home, vehicle, personal, education and business loans at the outstanding balance, credit card dues where significant, and guarantees or other amounts payable where the institution asks for them.
Net worth certificate format: a sample
This is an example layout with made-up figures, shown only to explain the structure. Your certificate follows the format your institution asks for.
Example only (illustrative figures):
| Particulars | Basis of value | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| A. Assets | ||
| Savings and current accounts | Bank balance as on 31 August 2026 | 4,50,000 |
| Fixed deposits | Principal plus accrued interest | 6,00,000 |
| Listed shares and mutual funds | Market value or NAV as on 31 August 2026 | 8,25,000 |
| PPF and EPF | Latest statements | 5,40,000 |
| Residential flat, Kolkata | Registered valuer's report dated 25 August 2026 | 72,00,000 |
| Gold jewellery | Valuer's report | 3,10,000 |
| Car | Insured declared value | 4,20,000 |
| Total assets | 1,03,45,000 | |
| B. Liabilities | ||
| Home loan outstanding | Lender's statement | 28,60,000 |
| Car loan outstanding | Lender's statement | 2,15,000 |
| Credit card dues | Card statement | 35,000 |
| Total liabilities | 31,10,000 | |
| Net worth (A minus B) | 72,35,000 |
Below the table, the certificate records the reference date, the purpose, the documents examined, any reliance on a valuer, and the CA's signature, place, date, membership number and UDIN.
Documents required
We ask only for what supports the figures on your certificate. The list below covers most cases.
Individuals
- PAN and an identity proof; address proof
- Bank statements and fixed deposit receipts or certificates as on the reference date
- Demat holding statement and mutual fund statements
- PF, PPF and insurance statements
- Property documents (sale deed or allotment letter) and, for high-value property, a registered valuer's report
- Loan statements for every outstanding loan, and credit card statements
- Latest income-tax return acknowledgement, if the institution asks for income alongside net worth
Businesses
- Certificate of incorporation, LLP or partnership deed, or proprietorship registration
- Latest audited balance sheet and profit and loss account, or provisional accounts up to the reference date
- Latest income-tax return of the entity
- Loan sanction letters and statements
- The tender document or bank letter that sets out the required format
Net worth certificate fee
Our professional fee for a net worth certificate is from ₹1,499. There is no government fee.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Regikart professional fee, net worth certificate with UDIN | From ₹1,499 per certificate |
| Government fee | No government fee |
| UDIN generation and verification | Free (ICAI portal) |
Professional fees exclude GST at 18%. Government fees, where they apply, are paid at actuals to the department and are shown separately. Fees verified on 21 September 2026.
The final fee depends on the number of assets, whether it is an individual or a business certificate, and whether you need a second currency or a specific tender format. A registered valuer's fee, where a property valuation is needed, is separate and paid to the valuer. We confirm the fee in writing before we start.
How we issue your certificate
The work takes five steps. In our usual experience it is done in 1-2 working days once documents are complete.
- Purpose and date. You tell us who wants the certificate, the purpose and the reference date. If there is a prescribed format, you share it.
- Documents. You upload statements and records for assets and liabilities. We send a short list of anything missing.
- Verification. A CA checks each figure against the documents and fixes the value basis for each asset.
- Draft for approval. You review the draft for names, dates and figures before it is signed.
- Signing and UDIN. The CA signs, generates the UDIN and sends you the signed PDF. A signed hard copy can be couriered where the institution needs one.
Property valuations by a registered valuer, where needed, can take longer than the certificate itself. We tell you at step 2 if your case needs one.
How long is a net worth certificate valid?
No law fixes a validity period. The institution decides how recent the reference date must be, so read its checklist or tender clause before you order.
Tender documents usually name the date, such as the last balance sheet date or a date close to the bid. Banks and embassies often want a recent certificate. If a certificate is refused as "old", the fix is a fresh certificate as on a newer date, not a re-signed old one.
Why certificates get rejected
Most rejections come from the date, the format or missing items, not from the CA's signature. These are the ones we check before issuing.
- No UDIN, or a UDIN that does not verify. The reader checks it on udin.icai.org.
- Wrong reference date. A tender asking for net worth as on 31 March will not accept 30 June.
- Unsupported property values. A round figure with no valuer's report or stated basis invites questions.
- Missing liabilities. An outstanding loan found later makes the whole certificate unreliable.
- Wrong person or entity. A company certificate cannot stand in for a director's personal net worth, or the other way round.
- Format mismatch. If the institution prescribes a format, we follow it word for word.
Why Regikart
Regikart is a CA and CS firm serving 250+ clients from offices in Kolkata (head office), Delhi and Bengaluru, with clients across India and abroad. Your certificate is prepared and signed by a practising Chartered Accountant.
- Fee shown upfront: from ₹1,499, confirmed in writing before we start.
- You approve the draft: names, dates and figures are checked by you before signing.
- Every certificate carries a UDIN, and we show you how to verify it.
- Remote issuance: documents by upload, signed PDF by email, hard copy by courier where needed. NRIs can use the same process.
- Related work in one place: income-tax returns, project reports for bank loans and bookkeeping if your institution asks for more than net worth.