Create a bespoke document in minutes,聽or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership聽of your information
Letter of Authority
I need a letter of authority to authorize my colleague to act on my behalf in financial matters related to my bank account while I am traveling abroad, including the ability to deposit and withdraw funds, with the authority valid for a period of three months.
What is a Letter of Authority?
A Letter of Authority empowers someone to act on behalf of another person or organization in specific legal or business matters in India. It's similar to a power of attorney but typically more limited in scope and duration - perfect for tasks like filing GST returns, handling bank transactions, or representing a company during tax proceedings.
The document must clearly state the authorized person's details, their specific powers, and any time limits. While not as formal as a power of attorney, it still needs proper signing and witnessing to be valid under Indian law. Many businesses use these letters to delegate routine tasks to their employees or representatives, especially when dealing with government departments or financial institutions.
When should you use a Letter of Authority?
Use a Letter of Authority when you need someone to handle specific business tasks on your behalf in India. Common situations include authorizing an employee to file tax returns, represent your company at government offices, or manage banking transactions. It's particularly valuable when you can't personally attend to time-sensitive matters or need to delegate routine administrative work.
The letter proves especially useful during GST compliance periods, customs clearance procedures, or when dealing with regulatory bodies like SEBI or RBI. Many businesses create these letters at the start of each financial year or when onboarding key administrative staff who'll handle official documentation. Having it ready prevents operational delays and ensures smooth business continuity.
What are the different types of Letter of Authority?
- Letter Of Authorization: The standard format used for general business purposes, covering most routine delegations of authority.
- Authorization Letter For Collection Of Documents: Specifically for retrieving official papers from government offices or institutions.
- Authority Letter For Passport Collection: A specialized version for passport-related matters at passport offices.
- Authorization Letter To Represent On Behalf Of Company: Corporate format authorizing employees to represent the organization officially.
- Authorization Letter As Representative: Used for broader representational duties across multiple transactions or meetings.
Who should typically use a Letter of Authority?
- Business Owners: Frequently issue Letters of Authority to delegate tasks like tax filing, banking operations, or regulatory compliance to trusted employees.
- Corporate Directors: Grant authority to senior managers for representing the company in official meetings, negotiations, or legal proceedings.
- HR Departments: Draft and maintain these letters for employees who handle administrative tasks with government agencies or financial institutions.
- Authorized Representatives: Use the letter as proof of their right to act on behalf of the organization or individual.
- Government Departments: Accept and verify these letters when dealing with company representatives for various official procedures.
- Banks and Financial Institutions: Rely on these letters to validate the authority of persons conducting transactions on behalf of account holders.
How do you write a Letter of Authority?
- Basic Details: Gather full names, addresses, and contact information of both the authorizing person/company and the authorized representative.
- Scope Definition: List specific tasks, transactions, or decisions the representative can make, including any financial or time limits.
- Identity Proof: Keep copies of valid government IDs for both parties ready for verification purposes.
- Company Information: Include registration numbers, GST details, and official letterhead if it's a business authorization.
- Time Period: Specify the duration of authority - start date and end date (if applicable).
- Witness Details: Arrange for two witnesses with their identification details for proper attestation.
- Document Format: Use our platform's templates to ensure all legal requirements are met and properly structured.
What should be included in a Letter of Authority?
- Header Information: Full names, addresses, and contact details of both authorizing and authorized parties on company letterhead if applicable.
- Purpose Statement: Clear description of the specific powers being granted and their limitations.
- Duration Clause: Explicit start and end dates of the authorization period.
- Powers Granted: Detailed list of authorized activities, transactions, or decisions the representative can make.
- Limitations: Any restrictions on financial authority, geographical scope, or specific exclusions.
- Governing Law: Statement specifying Indian law as the governing jurisdiction.
- Signature Block: Space for both parties' signatures, dates, and witness attestations with their details.
- Authentication: Company seal (if corporate) and notarization requirements if needed.
What's the difference between a Letter of Authority and an Authorization Letter?
A Letter of Authority often gets confused with a Authorization Letter, but they serve distinct purposes in Indian legal practice. While both documents delegate powers, their scope and application differ significantly.
- Legal Weight: Letters of Authority typically carry more formal legal weight and are often required by government bodies or financial institutions, while Authorization Letters are more commonly used for simpler, one-time tasks.
- Duration: Letters of Authority usually have longer validity periods and can cover multiple transactions, whereas Authorization Letters are often for specific, time-bound actions.
- Formality Requirements: Letters of Authority frequently need notarization and witness signatures, while Authorization Letters may not require such strict verification.
- Scope of Powers: Letters of Authority can grant broader decision-making powers, including financial transactions, while Authorization Letters typically limit authority to specific tasks like document collection or representation at a single meeting.
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
骋别苍颈别鈥檚 Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here鈥檚 how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; 骋别苍颈别鈥檚 AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a 拢1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.