Proof of address: what documents count and how to verify them

Proof of address is a document that shows your name and the street address where you live, usually issued by a third party such as a utility company, bank, landlord or government agency. In the U.S., the most common examples are utility bills, bank or credit card statements, a lease or mortgage statement, government mail, voter registration, vehicle registration or insurance, and pay stubs.

There is no single national list. The organization asking for proof — a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a bank, the Post Office, a landlord — decides which documents it accepts and how recent they must be. This guide covers what usually counts, what to do if nothing is in your name, and, for businesses, when you actually need proof of address and how to check it.

What counts as proof of address in the U.S.?

If you’re asking what can be used as proof of address, start with documents that came from someone else, show your full name and show your current street address. These are the types that appear again and again on official lists:

• Utility bills. Electric, gas, water, phone or internet. California’s DMV lists a home utility or cell phone bill as “Preferred” among its residency documents on its REAL ID checklist.
• Bank and credit card statements. The Colorado DMV’s proof of address page lists bank statements and computer-generated bills, including credit card bills.
• Lease, rental or mortgage documents. Colorado accepts mortgage, lease or rental contracts. California asks that a rental or lease agreement carry the signature of both the landlord and the tenant.
• Government letters. Colorado accepts “first-class mail from a government agency,” which can include a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Social Security Administration. California accepts a document issued by a U.S. government agency and an IRS or California Franchise Tax Board tax return.
• Voter registration. California accepts a voter registration confirmation letter or postcard from the Secretary of State or a county elections officer. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) lists a “voter or vehicle registration card” among the IDs it accepts for a PO Box.
• Vehicle registration, title or insurance. Colorado lists vehicle registration or title and homeowners, renters or auto insurance policies. USPS lists a “home or vehicle insurance policy.”
• Pay stubs and employment documents. Colorado lists pay stubs; California lists employment documents.

Some things are commonly turned away. Colorado’s list rules out junk or bulk mail, handwritten documents, documents that show only a P.O. box, and documents with labels, corrections or alterations to the name, address or date (Colorado DMV).

How recent does a proof of address document need to be?

It depends on who is asking. The Colorado DMV, for example, says each document must “be dated within the last year with full date visible” (Colorado DMV). A bank, landlord or employer may set a shorter window or none at all.

Format rules vary too. Colorado accepts documents that are “physical or electronic/digital.” California’s REAL ID checklist asks for two different “printed documents” (California DMV). So before you go, check the exact list from the organization you’re dealing with, and bring the newest copy you have.

What if you don’t have bills in your name?

This is common for people who live with family, rent a room, have just moved or are experiencing homelessness. Some agencies have a set route for it. California’s DMV is a good example (California REAL ID checklist):

• Use a relative’s document plus a link to them. If your name isn’t on any residency document, you can bring a birth certificate, marriage license or domestic partner registration certificate that traces your relationship to the person whose name is on it. If names differ because of a name change, you’ll need name-change documents too.
• Get a letter. California accepts a letter saying you live in California from a homeless shelter, a shelter for abused women, a nonprofit, a faith-based organization, an employer or a government agency.
• Use the DMV’s own form. California also accepts a completed and signed DL 933 form (No Fee Identification Card Eligibility Verification).

Other states handle this differently, and not every state offers a self-certification or affidavit for everyone. Colorado’s affidavit, for instance, is described for applicants who are not lawfully present, not as a general substitute (Colorado DMV). Check your own state DMV’s page. Outside the DMV, the easiest fix is often to add your name to an account at your address — a phone plan, renters insurance or a bank account — so that future statements come to you.

When does a business need proof of address?

Many businesses ask for proof of address by habit. It helps to know where a rule actually requires it and where it’s a choice.

Banks and credit unions: the CIP rule asks for an address, not a document

The Customer Identification Program (CIP) rule for banks, 31 CFR 1020.220, requires a bank to obtain, before opening an account, the customer’s name, date of birth, an identification number and an address. For an individual, the address is “a residential or business street address.” If the person has none, the rule allows an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) box number, or the street address of next of kin or another contact person.

The rule then requires the bank to verify the customer’s identity, using documents, non-documentary methods or both. Its example of a document for an individual is an unexpired government-issued ID with a photo, such as a driver’s license or passport. Non-documentary methods include comparing what the customer gave with information from a consumer reporting agency or public database. The section does not itself require a separate proof-of-address document. A bank may still choose to ask for one in its written procedures, for example when the address on an ID is out of date. For a fuller walk-through, see our guide to CIP basics for remote account opening, and confirm your own procedures with your compliance team.

REAL ID: two proofs of residence

For a REAL ID card, the federal rule at 6 CFR 37.11(f) says a person “must present at least two documents of the State’s choice that include the individual’s name and principal residence.” That is why DMV lists vary from state to state. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that beginning May 7, 2025, anyone 18 or older flying domestically needs a REAL ID or another acceptable form of ID.

Everyone else: it’s a risk decision

Landlords, lenders, marketplaces, payment companies and others often collect proof of residency to confirm a customer is local, to match a billing address, or to support their own know-your-customer checks. If that’s you, write down which documents you accept and how recent they must be, and apply the same list to everyone. Our know-your-customer checklist covers where address checks fit in a wider onboarding process.

How to verify proof of address documents

Most of the work is careful comparison. When you review a utility bill, statement or letter, check:

1. Name match. The name should match the applicant’s ID. California, for instance, says both documents must show the person’s first and last name (California DMV). Small differences such as a middle initial are common; a different surname needs an explanation.
2. Address match. The address should match the one on the application, including the unit number. A P.O. box alone is not a residential address.
3. Date. Check the statement or issue date against your own window.
4. Issuer. Is it a real company or agency that serves that address? For IRS letters, the IRS says the CP or LTR notice number is on the right corner of the letter, and you can search for it on the IRS site. If it doesn’t appear or looks suspicious, the IRS tells the person who received it to call 800-829-1040, so ask your customer to do that.
5. Signs of editing. Look for fonts that change mid-line, misaligned text, totals that don’t add up, blurred areas around the name or address, or a template that doesn’t match other bills from the same company. Colorado rejects documents with labels, corrections or alterations to the name, address or date, which is a sensible rule to borrow.

Utility bill verification can go one step further: if something looks off, contact the issuer through a phone number or website you found yourself, not the one printed on the document. And because a real bill can belong to someone else, pair the address check with an identity verification that ties the person to a government ID. Edited documents are a broader problem; our post on document fraud detection covers common signs.

How to collect proof of address securely

Utility bills and bank statements carry account numbers, balances and spending history. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) guide Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business sets out five principles — take stock, scale down, lock it, pitch it and plan ahead — and tells businesses to “keep only what you need for your business.” It also warns that unencrypted email is not a secure way to send sensitive information.

In practice, that means:

• Don’t ask customers to email statements as attachments.
• Ask only for the pages you need, and tell customers they may cover account numbers and transactions if all you need is the name, address and date.
• Limit who on your team can open the files, and keep a record of who did.
• Delete documents when you no longer need them, under a written retention schedule.

Securely Verify’s document collection sends customers one link to upload proof of address, such as utility bills and bank statements, as photos or PDFs. Files are encrypted, organized by type for your reviewers, deleted automatically, and every view and download is logged. The documents are not automatically verified, so a reviewer still makes the call using the checks above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my proof of address?

Download a recent statement from your bank, credit card, utility or phone account online, or ask the company to mail one. If you’ve just moved, a USPS change-of-address confirmation is on both the Colorado and California DMV lists. If nothing is in your name, see the options in the section above and check your state’s rules.

Is proof of residency the same as proof of address?

Usually, yes. Agencies use both terms for documents that show where you live. California’s DMV calls them “proofs of residency,” and the federal REAL ID rule refers to the “address of principal residence.”

Can I use a P.O. box?

Usually not on its own. Colorado does not accept documents that show only a P.O. box. California lets one of your two documents show only a P.O. box if the other shows both the box and your home address.

Are electronic statements acceptable proof of address?

Sometimes. Colorado accepts electronic or digital documents, while California’s REAL ID checklist asks for printed documents. Ask the organization before your appointment.

If you collect proof of address from customers, start a 7-day free trial — 20 verifications and 10 document requests, no card required.

Related guides

• What does DD mean on a driver’s license? The document number explained
• Document fraud detection: how to tell if an ID is fake from a photo
• Enhanced due diligence (EDD): what U.S. rules require
• Merchant onboarding: how to verify a merchant and its owners

Sources: 31 CFR 1020.220, Customer identification program requirements for banks (eCFR, up to date as of October 16, 2026); 6 CFR 37.11, Application and documents the applicant must provide (eCFR, up to date as of October 9, 2026); About REAL ID (TSA, accessed October 21, 2026); Proof of Address (Colorado DMV, accessed October 21, 2026); REAL ID Checklist (California DMV, accessed October 21, 2026); PO Box help: acceptable IDs (USPS, accessed October 21, 2026); Understanding your IRS notice or letter (IRS, last reviewed May 26, 2026); Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business (FTC, October 2016). This article is general information, not legal or compliance advice.