Documentation
Standards (continued)
o Paystubs that are issued electronically, via e-mail, or downloaded from the Internet are acceptable and must include the following information:
Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL Internet address) identifying the source of the information.
Date and time printed.
Verbal verification of employment.
Information identifying the place of origin and/or the author of the documentation, all of which must be confirmed on the verbal verification.
Documents downloaded directly from the Internet to a Word document or Excel spreadsheet are not acceptable.
Written Verification of Employment
Written verification of employment must contain the following information: Dates of employment.
Position.
Prospect of continued employment, when available.
o Probability of continued employment must be verified as good or better and evaluated based on the following:
Past employment record.
Qualifications for the position.
Previous training and education.
Employer's confirmation of continued employment.
Base pay amount and frequency: for employees paid on an hourly basis, the verification must state the hourly wages, including the number of hours worked each week.
Additional salary information, which includes itemized bonus, overtime, tip, gratuity, or commission income, if applicable. If the commission income represents 25% or more of the borrower's income, personal income tax returns with all schedules are required.
A paystub and W-2 form must support all written verifications of employment. Written verifications of employment are not acceptable as standalone
documentation to substantiate the borrower's current employment/income regardless of the automated underwriting requirements.
A written verification of employment must be mailed directly to the employer to the attention of the personnel department. Verifications of employment must never be mailed to a Post Office Box or to a particular person's attention. If the borrower indicates this is necessary, the file must contain verification that the employer was independently contacted and verified this requirement. The hand carrying of verifications is strictly prohibited.
Electronic verification systems are acceptable however the information received must contain the same level of information, per standard FHA guidelines.
Documentation Requirements and Standards (continued)
DocumentationStandards (continued)
Verbal Verification of Employment
Verbal verification of employment must contain the following information: Date of verification
Borrower's date of employment
Borrower's employment status and job title Name, phone number and title of verifier Name and title of associate making the call
To comply with a verbal verification of employment (or telephone confirmation) requirement, the phone number and address for the borrower's employer must
independently be obtained via a telephone book, directory assistance, or by contacting the applicable licensing bureau.
The employer must be contacted within 10 Business Days of the closing date to confirm the borrower's current employment status.
If using a third party service to verify employment (e.g., The Work Number, Quick Confirm, etc.), the date of request shown on the form must be within 10 business days of the Note date (or funding date for escrow states). The date that the employment was verified must be within 35 calendar days of the Note date.
Income Tax Returns
The following standards apply with using Income Tax Returns to verify income. CMS may request additional information such as business licenses, business tax returns, profit and loss statements, and/or balance sheets if it is necessary to further support the determination of the stability of the borrower's income.
Documentation Requirements and Standards (continued)
DocumentationStandards (continued)
Personal Income Tax Returns must be:
o Complete with all schedules and W-2 forms, IRS Forms 1099, K-1 schedules, etc.
o Signed and dated
o Borrower’s copy filed with the IRS
Year-to-date Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet must be: Prepared by an accountant
Required if the loan application is taken beyond 90 days of the end of the business tax year
Business Income Tax Returns must be: Complete with all schedules Signed and dated
Borrower’s copy filed with the IRS
Income Tax Returns not filed for prior year:
Borrowers that do not have the prior year's tax returns and have filed an extension must have the following:
o Copy of the filing extension
o Year-end profit and loss for last year
o Year-to-date profit and loss for the current year
o Prior two year's income tax returns
o W-2 forms
o Prior two year's business tax returns, if applicable
o Cancelled check for estimated taxes due
o A 4506t must be processed confirming no returns filed
Documentation Requirements and Standards (continued)
DocumentationStandards (continued)
Amended Tax Returns
Tax Returns Filed Prior to the Loan Application Date
o Tax returns filed prior to application are acceptable for underwriting purposes. Both the original filed return and the amended return are required. If the file was amended 60 days or less prior to the application, evidence of payment must also be provided. Tax Returns Filed After the Loan Application Date
o Tax returns filed after the application date may be acceptable when accompanied by the following:
o A letter of explanation regarding the reason for the re-file
o Evidence of filing
o Payment and the ability to pay the tax if the check has not cancelled The original tax return and the amended tax return must be closely reviewed for consistency with previous filings to determine whether the use of the amended return is warranted. In addition, if the borrower requires the amended income for qualification, an exception must be submitted and approved for the use of the amended income. A copy of the original and amended tax returns must be submitted with the exception. When using an amended return after application the underwriter must provide justification and commentary on the Transmittal Summary (form 1008) regarding its use.