Guide
Applying jointly with your spouse
Spouses may add their figures together and be accredited jointly. Here is when that helps, and when applying alone is the better choice.
Checked against SEBI’s framework and the agency’s own guidance on 06 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
In brief
A couple can be accredited on their combined figures
Spouses applying jointly may add their income and net worth; the tests are the same as for an individual, and the certificate is issued to both jointly.
A parent and child applying jointly must have one of them qualify alone. That adds nothing over a sole application, so this guide is about spouses.
We file joint applications online for couples living in India, on a 2- or 3-year certificate, and couples living outside India, on a 2-year certificate only, for now.
Jointly or alone
When applying together helps
A joint certificate covers investments you hold jointly. A sole certificate covers investments in your own name. If one of you qualifies alone, consider applying alone.
Neither of you qualifies alone, but together you do
This is what joint applications are for. Your incomes and net worths are added, figure by figure, and the total is tested exactly as an individual’s would be.
One of you already qualifies alone
Then a sole certificate is open to that person, and it covers investments in their own name. A joint certificate covers investments you hold jointly. Choose by how you intend to invest.
Documents
What a joint application provides
Shown at the longest certificate length; a 2-year certificate drops the lines for the year before. Lines marked “for each person named” are your spouse’s.
PAN card (yours)
A clear scan of the front of your PAN card, saved as a PDF.
Proof of address (yours)
Your passport, driving licence, voter ID or masked Aadhaar (the first 8 digits hidden), showing the address you enter on this form.
PAN card of your spousefor each person named
A clear scan of the front of your spouse’s own PAN card.
Photo ID of your spousefor each person named
Your spouse’s passport, driving licence, voter ID or masked Aadhaar (the first 8 digits hidden).
Income tax return — last financial year (yours)
Your ITR-V acknowledgement or the full return. If you have not filed it yet, file it first: the agency needs it.
Joint CA net-worth certificate — last financial year
One certificate from your CA covering both of you: each spouse’s net worth worked out separately, and the combined total. On the CA’s letterhead with a UDIN, dated within the last six months, showing how much of the net worth is in financial assets. Give your CA the joint format.
Income tax return — last financial year (your spouse’s)for each person namedoptional
Upload it if your spouse files income-tax returns. Leave it empty if they have no taxable income.
Income tax return — the year before (yours)3-year certificate only
The ITR-V acknowledgement or the full return for the year before last.
Joint CA net-worth certificate — the year before3-year certificate only
On your CA’s letterhead with a UDIN, for the year before last, covering both of you. Your CA can use the same joint format.
Income tax return — the year before (your spouse’s)3-year certificate onlyfor each person namedoptional
Upload it if your spouse files income-tax returns. Leave it empty if they have no taxable income. This one is for the year before last.
Signed joint undertaking
The agency’s declaration for joint holders that what you give is true. Download the format, have it signed and dated by both of you, and upload it as a PDF.
A couple applying jointly gets one joint CA certificate, but the CA works out two people’s net worth, so it is priced as two certificates. The filing fee does not change.
Worth knowing
How a joint application works
One applicant, one spouse named
The application is filed on one of you, with the other named as the joint holder. Each of you gives your own PAN, email and mobile; the address is the household’s.
Each spouse’s figures, separately
You enter your own figures and your spouse’s own figures. We add them up; the CA certificate shows each person’s net worth and the combined total.
A spouse with no taxable income
Files no income-tax return, and that is fine. Their PAN and photo ID are still needed.
Three years needs both of you, both years
A 3-year certificate needs your combined figures to meet a test in each of the last two financial years, so both of you give figures for both years.
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