Quick answer
What is a net worth certificate?
A net worth certificate is a document signed by a practising chartered accountant that states total assets, total liabilities and the difference between them for an individual, firm or company on a stated date. It is attest work reserved for CAs, and ICAI has required a UDIN on every CA certificate since 1 February 2019.
- Net worth = total assets minus total liabilities on one date
- Only a practising chartered accountant can sign it
- Used for visas, tenders, loans, dealerships and court matters
- Each certificate needs a UDIN you can check on udin.icai.org
What is a net worth certificate and who can issue it?
It is a certificate, usually one page plus annexures on the CA's letterhead, that lists assets and liabilities with values and states the resulting net worth in figures and words. Only a chartered accountant holding a certificate of practice from ICAI can sign it, because certification is reserved attest work.
A tax consultant, company secretary, bank officer or online platform cannot sign one. The certificate is also different from a solvency certificate: in Delhi that is issued by the SDM office or a bank, not by a CA. See our page on the solvency certificate for how the three documents differ.
ICAI's Code of Ethics 2026 does not allow CA firms to list on aggregators for reserved services such as certificates. This page is information only. The certificate must be issued and signed by a practising chartered accountant with a UDIN.
How is net worth calculated for individuals and companies?
For an individual, net worth is the value of everything owned minus everything owed on the certificate date. For a company, the Companies Act 2013 gives a statutory definition in section 2(57) built from paid-up capital and reserves, taken from the audited balance sheet.
Section 2(57) counts paid-up share capital, reserves created out of profits, securities premium and the profit and loss balance, then deducts accumulated losses, deferred expenditure and miscellaneous expenditure not written off. Reserves from revaluation of assets, write-back of depreciation and amalgamation are excluded. A tender or lender can define net worth differently, so its definition prevails for its own form.
| Applicant | Formula used | Where the figures come from |
|---|---|---|
| Individual or sponsor parent | Movable assets + immovable assets minus loans and dues | Bank, demat and loan statements, deeds, valuation reports |
| Sole proprietor | Personal assets + capital in the business minus personal and business liabilities | Proprietor's balance sheet and personal records |
| Partnership firm or LLP | Partners' capital and current accounts, adjusted for losses | Latest audited or certified accounts |
| Private or public company | Paid-up capital + eligible reserves minus accumulated losses and unamortised expenditure (s.2(57)) | Latest audited balance sheet |
Company definition: Companies Act 2013, section 2(57), as amended with effect from 9 February 2018. Checked October 2026.
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When do you need a CA net worth certificate?
You need one when an outside body wants independent comfort that you have the means you claim: visa officers, tender committees, lenders, brands appointing dealers, and courts asking for surety. The requesting body decides the format, the date and sometimes the definition.
| Purpose | Who asks | What they look for |
|---|---|---|
| Student, tourist or business visa | Applicant or sponsor files it as supporting evidence | That funds and assets back the bank statements |
| Government and PSU tenders | Tender committee or GeM buyer | Net worth at or above the minimum stated in the bid |
| Business loans and overdrafts | Banks and NBFCs | Capacity of the borrower and any guarantor |
| Franchise or dealership | Brand or manufacturer | Financial standing of the proposed partner |
| Court surety and bail bonds | Court or SDM | Means to stand surety; Delhi courts may ask for an SDM solvency certificate instead |
| Licences and registrations | Some regulators | A minimum net worth set by the regulation |
For visa use, read our net worth certificate for visa guide with country rules.
What documents are needed for a net worth certificate?
You need identity proof, your last two or three income tax returns, and a document for every asset and liability you want included, dated on or close to the certificate date. A CA can only certify what the papers support.
| Item | Supporting document | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | PAN, Aadhaar and passport (for visas) | Name must match exactly across papers |
| Income | ITR acknowledgments and computation | Assets far above declared income raise questions |
| Savings and current accounts | Bank statement or balance certificate on the date | Use the same date for every account |
| Fixed deposits, RDs | FD receipts or bank certificate | Include accrued interest if the CA allows |
| Shares, mutual funds, bonds | Demat holding statement, CAS from CAMS or KFintech | Values on the certificate date |
| PPF, EPF, NPS | Passbook or statement | Locked-in funds are still assets; some embassies treat them as illiquid |
| Life insurance | Surrender value letter from the insurer | Premiums paid are not the same as surrender value |
| House, flat, plot, shop | Sale deed or allotment letter, and valuation report if market value is used | Joint property shown at your share |
| Gold and jewellery | Valuation report from a registered valuer | Bills alone rarely support current value |
| Vehicles | RC and insurance policy | Insured value is a common basis |
| Loans and card dues | Lender statements showing outstanding balance | Never leave out a loan visible in your bank statement |
Companies and firms give audited financial statements plus documents for later changes.
How are assets valued in a net worth certificate?
Each asset is valued on a stated basis: market value for listed investments, a registered valuer's figure or cost for property and gold, and outstanding balances for loans. The basis must be written into the certificate so the reader knows what the number means.
| Asset | Common basis | Evidence the CA keeps |
|---|---|---|
| Immovable property | Registered valuer's market value, or cost, or circle rate where the recipient asks | Deed plus valuation report |
| Listed shares | Closing price on the certificate date | Demat statement |
| Mutual funds | NAV on the certificate date | Consolidated account statement |
| Bank balances and FDs | Balance plus accrued interest | Bank statement or certificate |
| Gold and jewellery | Weight and purity per valuer at that day's rate | Valuer's report |
| Vehicles | Insured declared value or written-down value | Insurance policy, RC |
| Unlisted shares, business interest | Book value or a valuation report | Accounts or valuation report |
The CA chooses and discloses the basis. Recipients may reject market values not backed by a valuer's report.
How do you get a net worth certificate: step by step
The process has six stages and most of the time goes into collecting documents. Confirm the recipient's format before anything else.
- 1
Get the recipient's format
Ask the embassy checklist, tender annexure or bank for its template, the date of net worth and any currency.
- 2
Fix the certificate date
Pick one date and collect every statement and valuation as on that date.
- 3
Send documents to a practising CA
The CA checks each asset and liability against original records and asks questions about large or recent items.
- 4
Agree the valuation basis
Property, gold and unlisted holdings are valued on a basis the CA can support and disclose.
- 5
Review the draft
Check names, PAN, passport number, totals in figures and words, and any foreign currency line.
- 6
Signature and UDIN
The CA signs with membership number, generates a UDIN on ICAI's portal and writes it on the certificate.
What does a net worth certificate format look like?
A standard format has a heading, an addressee, the applicant's details, a summary of assets less liabilities, schedules for each asset class, a basis paragraph and the CA's signature block with UDIN. There is no single government template; the recipient's format comes first.
We have built an illustrative layout for individuals and companies, with the certificate wording and line notes, on our net worth certificate format page. Treat it as a guide to what the CA will need, not a document to fill in yourself.
What is UDIN and how do you verify a net worth certificate?
UDIN is the Unique Document Identification Number a practising CA generates on ICAI's portal for each certificate. Per an ICAI announcement dated 24 January 2019, it has been mandatory for all certificates from 1 February 2019. It ties the document to the member who signed it.
- To verify: open udin.icai.org, choose the verify option and enter the UDIN; the portal asks for the checker's details and an OTP (screens may change).
- Match the record: the CA's name, membership number, document type and date should match the paper.
- Revocation: ICAI limited revocation of a UDIN to 48 hours from generation (announcement of 23 June 2023), so a valid UDIN should stay live.
- Check the member: confirm the CA's practice on ICAI's CA Connect.
How long is a net worth certificate valid?
No law gives a net worth certificate a validity period; it speaks only for the date printed on it. Freshness is set by whoever receives it, so check their checklist before you fix the date.
Official examples, checked October 2026: the UK visitor guide lists bank statements or letters issued more than 1 year before the application as less useful, the German Embassy in New Delhi asks for bank statements for the last 3 months, and GeM bids measure turnover over the last three years ending 31 March. Tenders that ask for net worth on the last balance sheet date expect audited figures, not a fresh date.
How is net worth shown in foreign currency for a visa?
The CA states each figure in rupees and, where the visa file needs it, in the destination currency, naming the exchange rate, its source and its date. We found no official embassy rule on which rate to use, so disclosure matters more than the choice.
Many CAs use the RBI reference rate or the bank's card rate on the certificate date. Keep the same rate across the summary and schedules, round consistently, and make sure the converted total does not contradict the bank statements filed with the same application.
Why do embassies, banks and tenders reject net worth certificates?
Most rejections come from a missing or wrong UDIN, a format that ignores the recipient's template, values without evidence, or totals that do not match other documents in the file.
- No UDIN, or a UDIN for another document. Recipients can check it in minutes.
- Wrong date. A figure as on an old date, or one that does not match the bank statements.
- Market value with no valuer's report. Inflated property or gold values are the usual weak point.
- Hidden liabilities. A home loan EMI in the statement but no loan in the certificate.
- Assets out of line with income. Large holdings against small declared income in your income tax returns.
- Wrong person. The sponsor's assets certified in the student's name.
- Generic layout for a tender. A bid can treat a certificate that ignores its prescribed annexure as non-responsive.
Where can you find a CA for a net worth certificate in Delhi?
Approach a practising chartered accountant directly and verify the member on ICAI's CA Connect before sharing documents. Under ICAI rules we do not quote fees or take orders for certificates, but our factual directory of CA firms in Delhi shows who practises where.
If you are near our office, the CA in Netaji Subhash Place page covers that business district. Businesses bidding for contracts often need a turnover certificate as well, and people sending money abroad need Form 15CA and 15CB, another CA-signed document.
Frequently asked questions
Who can issue a net worth certificate in India?
Only a chartered accountant in practice, meaning an ICAI member with a valid certificate of practice. The certificate carries the CA's signature, membership number, firm registration number where relevant, and a UDIN. Nobody else can sign it on a CA's behalf.
Is a networth certificate the same as a net worth certificate?
Yes. People spell it both ways, and some call it a CA net worth certificate or a certificate of net worth. All mean the same CA-signed statement of assets minus liabilities on a date.
Is a CA net worth certificate mandatory for a visa?
Not on the official pages we checked. The UK, Canada, the US, Germany and Australia ask for evidence of funds such as bank statements, income proof and sponsor documents. A CA certificate is extra supporting evidence that summarises assets, unless your checklist asks for it.
What is a net worth certificate for a company?
It certifies the company's net worth from its latest audited balance sheet, usually on the section 2(57) basis: paid-up capital plus eligible reserves, less accumulated losses and unwritten-off expenditure. Tenders often prescribe their own wording, which the CA follows.
Can my parents' assets be shown in my net worth certificate?
No. A certificate covers one person or one jointly owned set of assets. If parents are sponsoring, the certificate is issued in the parent's name and filed with proof of relationship and a sponsor letter.
Do I need income tax returns for a net worth certificate?
Most CAs ask for them because they show the assets are consistent with declared income, and embassies compare the two. If returns are pending, file them first.
Can jointly owned property be included?
Yes, at your share as stated in the deed, or equally where no share is stated. Showing the full value of a jointly held flat is a common error that recipients notice.
Can a CA certify net worth from a list I prepare myself?
A CA can only certify figures supported by records. Your list is a starting point; the CA checks each line against statements, deeds and valuation reports and may also take a signed representation from you.
How long does it take to get a net worth certificate?
It depends on documents. A salaried person with bank and demat statements ready is usually quick; property or jewellery valuations and unusual embassy formats add days. Collect the full checklist first.
What are the net worth certificate fees or charges?
We do not quote fees for certificates, because ICAI reserves this work for practising CAs and bars aggregator offers for it. Each CA sets a fee based on the number of assets, any valuations needed, foreign currency lines and urgency. Ask for the fee in writing before you hand over documents, and remember that valuer's charges for property or jewellery are separate.
Can a net worth certificate be issued online?
Many CAs review scanned documents and issue a digitally signed certificate with UDIN. Whether a digital copy is acceptable depends on the recipient; some embassies and tender committees want a signed original or a specific upload format.
What is a net worth certificate for a bank loan?
Banks ask for one from borrowers and guarantors to judge whether they can repay or stand behind a loan. The bank's own format often asks for property details and existing borrowings in full.
Is a net worth certificate the same as a solvency certificate?
No. A net worth certificate is signed by a CA. A solvency certificate in Delhi is issued by the SDM office on income or property, or by your bank for its customer. Courts and some tenders ask specifically for a solvency certificate.
Does CA in Delhi issue net worth certificates?
No. We are a directory and information site. Certificates are reserved for practising chartered accountants, and ICAI rules do not allow them to be offered through aggregators. Approach a practising CA directly.