ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Letter of transmittal

A letter of transmittal is like a note that you give someone when you are giving them something else, like a gift or a homework assignment.

It’s like when you give your teacher your homework and you write a note that says "Dear Mrs. Smith, here is my homework for today's class."

A letter of transmittal is a way for someone to tell the person receiving the thing what it is, why it is being given, and any other important information that they need to know.

It’s just a polite and helpful way to provide additional context and information about the thing that is being given. So if you are giving someone a report or a proposal, you might write a letter of transmittal that outlines what the report is about, why it’s important, and what the person should do with it.