Confirm a former or existing employee's salary: Salary Verification Letter

A Salary Verification Letter, also called an income verification letter or proof of income letter, is used to verify the salary and other compensation received by an employee. A Salary Verification Letter can be drafted by an employer or an employee, and then delivered to the person who requested it once signed. 

In some cases, a potential employer may request a Salary Verification Letter from the previous or current employer of an employee to confirm that the employee worked for the previous employer(s) for the salary stated in the application or resume. An employee can use this letter as proof of representations made in his or her resume. A Salary Verification Letter may also be used to secure a loan from financial institutions as it serves as proof of the applicant's ability to repay. 

Following is some of the information typically included in a Salary Verification Letter and some legal points you may want to consider when making your own letter.

What to include in a Salary Verification Letter

Proof and verification of income is usually provided by an employee’s current employer. The employer will provide the information in the form of a Salary Verification Letter, which may include the following information: 

• Current employer’s name and the name of the individual who will sign the letter on behalf of the employer.
• The date the letter will be sent.
• The name and address of the recipient of the letter.
• The employee’s name.
• The date the employee was hired.
• The employee’s current position (title).
• The employee’s current base salary.
• Average number of hours worked by the employee per week.
• Any other compensation received by the employee.
• Employee’s gross salary for the most recent pay period.

In some cases, it may be prudent to include a statement with regard to the employee's future potential to remain employed, especially if the person has only recently joined the company. For example, "based on the employee's performance review, continued employment seems highly probable." However, if this has not explicitly been requested, then you may not need to include it.

Employee Consent

It's important to note that it's not always appropriate or legal to ask for or disclose someone's salary or income information. Many states have privacy restrictions regarding the kinds of data that employers are authorized to disclose to third parties. Before verifying someone's income, make sure you have a legitimate reason for doing so and obtain the employee’s consent if necessary. A Rocket Lawyer network attorney can help clarify the income verification laws in your state.

Printing, Signing and Delivering

Like any formal business correspondence, the Salary Verification Letter may be printed on official letterhead with the company's logo. After completing the Salary Verification Letter, the employer (or the employer’s representative) signs the letter and sends it to the person or entity that requested the information.