Banks are built for payslips. If you're self-employed, run a company, contract on an ABN or earn through a trust, the standard bank process often undervalues your income — or rejects you outright despite a healthy business. As brokers with 40+ lenders including alt-doc specialists, we structure applications around how self-employed income really works: add-backs for depreciation and one-off expenses, company profit retained in the business, and the newest year's growth. The result is borrowing power that reflects your actual position.
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Frequently asked questions
I work on an ABN — can I get a home loan?
Yes. Most lenders want your ABN registered for 12–24 months (some accept 12 months, a few less with strong industry history). Income can be verified through tax returns, or through alt-doc options like BAS statements or an accountant's declaration if your returns aren't ready or don't reflect current earnings.
Can I get a loan with only 1 year of financials?
Several lenders accept one year of tax returns for self-employed applicants, and alt-doc lenders can work from 6–12 months of BAS or business bank statements. Rates on alt-doc loans are slightly higher, but refinancing to a full-doc loan once you have two years of figures is a common and effective strategy.
What are add-backs and why do they matter?
Add-backs are legitimate expenses lenders add back to your taxable income when assessing you — like depreciation, one-off costs, interest on loans being refinanced, and excess super contributions. Correctly identifying add-backs can lift your assessable income substantially. It's one of the biggest ways a broker improves self-employed borrowing power.
Do self-employed borrowers pay higher interest rates?
Not if you qualify full-doc — self-employed borrowers with two years of financials get exactly the same rates as PAYG employees. Alt-doc and low-doc loans carry a rate premium, typically 0.5–1.5% depending on the lender and deposit, which is why we always check the full-doc path first.
My company keeps profit in the business — does that count?
With the right lender, yes. Some lenders will assess retained company profits or use company net profit before tax where you control the entity. This is highly lender-specific and one of the areas where broker lender-knowledge changes outcomes.