Can I get a home loan if I'm self employed?

Yes, and on standard rates if you qualify for a full doc loan. The difference is how your income gets verified, not what it costs you. Most lenders want two years of tax returns, but plenty will work with less.

Will my tax-minimised income hurt what I can borrow?

It can, but less than people expect. The add-backs recover a lot of it. What matters more is which lender you go to, because a bank will only apply its own rules and won't tell you another lender's are better.

Do I need full tax returns, or will BAS do?

Depends on the path. Full doc needs lodged returns and notices of assessment. Low doc runs on BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's letter. We'll tell you which one your file qualifies for before you gather anything.

Can I get a home loan with less than two years self employed?

Yes. Some lenders accept one full year of returns, and low doc options work off BAS and an accountant's declaration. Fewer lenders will look at you, but the ones who do don't automatically charge more.

How much deposit do I need?

The same as any borrower. A 20% deposit avoids LMI (Lenders Mortgage Insurance) and opens up the widest range of lenders, and full doc applications can generally go to a higher LVR (loan-to-value ratio) than low doc ones. Deposit size isn't where being self employed costs you.

How do lenders work out my income if I'm self employed?

Most take your taxable income and add back things that reduced it on paper but not in reality. Depreciation, additional super, one-off expenses, and interest on refinanced debt. Lenders don't agree on which of these count, which is why the same file can produce very different borrowing figures.

Which lender is best for self employed borrowers?

There isn't one. The right lender depends on your structure, how long you've traded, and which add-backs matter most to your figures. That's the comparison we run before anything is lodged.

Self employed home loans

Your accountant minimises your taxable income. We know the 50+ lenders who look past that figure to what your business actually earns.

50+ lenders, including the big four
No fee to you, the lender pays us
Sole traders, company directors and contractors

Based on 250+ reviews

Elite Broker Winner 2024 & 2025

Self employed business owner reviewing home loan options with a Stryve Finance broker

We compare your rates with 50+ lenders

Couple taking a selfie among moving boxes in their new home

Why Stryve for self employed lending

The number on your tax return isn't the number you can borrow on

You've spent years making your taxable income as small as legally possible. Your accountant has done exactly what you asked. Then you apply for a home loan and that same figure, the one you worked hard to shrink, is the one sitting at the top of the assessment.

The frustration is that most of what you took off is still money you have. Lenders add a lot of it back, but they don't agree on how much, and a bank will only ever apply its own policy. We compare which lender's add-back rules suit your structure, then take your file to that lender rather than hoping the first one says yes.

Add-backs applied properly

Depreciation, one-off expenses, additional super, interest on refinanced debt. Not every lender counts all four, and the gap is worth tens of thousands.

One year of figures, sometimes

Most lenders average your last two years and use the lower. Some will use your most recent year alone. If your business is growing, that difference decides what you can buy.

Your structure taken as it comes

Sole trader, company, trust, or a mix. We work out how your income actually flows before anyone touches an application.

How lenders assess self employed income

There isn't one self employed home loan. There are three ways a lender can verify what you earn, and which one you use depends on how long you've been trading and what paperwork exists. Most people qualify for more than they expect on the first.

Full docMost common

Who it suits: Two or more years trading, returns lodged.
What you provide: Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment.
Rate impact: Standard rates, same as a PAYG borrower.

Low doc

Who it suits: Trading under two years, or returns not yet lodged.
What you provide: BAS (business activity statements), business bank statements, or an accountant's declaration.
Rate impact: Usually higher, varies by lender.

Alt doc

Who it suits: Returns lodged but they understate a recent jump in income.
What you provide: Recent BAS plus accountant's letter confirming current trading.
Rate impact: Close to standard with the right lender.

Features

Full docMost common

Low doc

Alt doc

Who it suits

Two or more years trading, returns lodged.

Trading under two years, or returns not yet lodged.

Returns lodged but they understate a recent jump in income.

What you provide

Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment.

BAS (business activity statements), business bank statements, or an accountant's declaration.

Recent BAS plus accountant's letter confirming current trading.

Rate impact

Standard rates, same as a PAYG borrower.

Usually higher, varies by lender.

Close to standard with the right lender.

Most people are told low doc is the only option because the first lender they asked doesn't do anything else. Before you accept a higher rate, it's worth checking whether a full doc lender would take your file as it stands.

Which self employed borrower are you?

Self employed covers a lot of ground, and lenders treat each situation differently. Find the one that matches how you earn.

Business owner home loans

Company, trust or partnership, and how your structure changes what a lender counts as income.

Sole trader home loans

Your business income is your personal income, so add-backs do most of the heavy lifting.

Contractor home loans

Paid per invoice through your own ABN, and which lenders assess that closer to PAYG.

Self employed under two years

One tax return, or none yet. The lenders who will still look at your file.

Low doc home loans

BAS and an accountant's declaration in place of lodged tax returns.

Refinancing your home loan

Already own, and your rate hasn't been reviewed since you went out on your own.

What you'll need, and what lenders do with it

Most document checklists tell you what to gather and nothing about why. The why matters here, because two applicants with identical paperwork can get different answers depending on what the lender reads into it.

Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment

Income history, and whether the trend is up, flat or down. A declining second year is the single most common reason a file stalls.

Recent BAS or business bank statements

The business is still trading now, not just last financial year.

Profit and loss statement and balance sheet

Where the add-backs come from. Without these, nothing gets added back.

ABN and GST registration details

How long you've been trading, which decides whether full doc is open to you.

Personal and business bank statements

Living expenses, existing commitments, and how you actually run your money.

Accountant's letter on unusual expenses

Turns a one-off cost into an add-back rather than a permanent reduction in your income.

	Document	What it proves
	Two years of tax returns and notices of assessment	Income history, and whether the trend is up, flat or down. A declining second year is the single most common reason a file stalls.
	Recent BAS or business bank statements	The business is still trading now, not just last financial year.
	Profit and loss statement and balance sheet	Where the add-backs come from. Without these, nothing gets added back.
	ABN and GST registration details	How long you've been trading, which decides whether full doc is open to you.
	Personal and business bank statements	Living expenses, existing commitments, and how you actually run your money.
	Accountant's letter on unusual expenses	Turns a one-off cost into an add-back rather than a permanent reduction in your income.

The last one is worth chasing. A single letter explaining a one-off equipment purchase or a bad debt can change what a lender assesses you on, and most people don't know to ask for it until we do. For a deeper breakdown, see the full document checklist, the tax return requirements, and the general home loan eligibility and requirements.

How we get self employed borrowers approved

Every application you lodge leaves an enquiry on your credit file. We only lodge once we know the lender's policy fits your file, not to find out whether it does.

From first call to settlement, you deal with the same broker who structured your file.

Discovery

A short call to understand how you earn, how you're structured, and what you want to buy. Nothing gets pulled or lodged at this stage.

Strategy

We test your figures across 50+ lenders and find the ones whose add-back rules suit your structure. You see what you can borrow before anything is submitted.

Preparation

We package your documents the way the lender you've chosen reads them, and go back to your accountant for anything that needs explaining.

Application

We lodge with the lender whose policy already fits and handle their questions so you don't have to, and keep it moving until you have an answer.

Review

We check your rate every six months and move you if a better one has opened up.

Why self employed borrowers choose Stryve

A bank can only offer you its own policy. We compare the whole market and take your file to the lender it already fits.

The whole market, not one bank

Your own bank has one set of add-back rules. We compare 50+ lenders and find the one whose rules suit how you're structured.

Complex income is what we do

Trusts, retained earnings, distributions and reinvested profit. We know how to present a full financial picture rather than a single line from a tax return.

Lenders you haven't heard of

The big four, Macquarie, ING and the specialist lenders whose entire business is borrowers like you. The right policy matters more than the brand on the door.

You don't pay us, the lender does

We're paid on settlement by the lender, not by you. So if now isn't the right move, we'll tell you rather than talk you into one.

What our customers
say about us

Don't just take our word for it. See what hundreds of satisfied clients across Sydney say about their experience with Stryve Finance.

“Dylan and his staff have been fantastic, they have made the process very easy and stress free. They walk through everything with you from start to finish and guide you to the best options. Thank you guys much appreciated”

Paul Coleiro

Google review, 22 Sept 2026

“Dylan and the Stryve Team have been so amazing during our search for a first home. Dylan was so communicative, patient and knowledgable and kept us updated throughout the whole process. I can’t recommend them enough!”

Michael O'Malley

Google review, 30 Aug 2026

“My partner & I have had a fantastic experience with Stryve Finance. Dylan and Douglas were incredibly helpful, responsive and supportive throughout the entire process. We’re very grateful for their help and would highly recommend Stryve to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable mortgage broker.”

Tanvi Mara

Google review, 19 Aug 2026

“Dylan and the team at Stryve are exceptional. He made the process so easy to understand and helped secure the loan I was after. A special mention to how efficient the team are and can move things really quickly when needed. Can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done. Strongly recommend if you’re looking for a first class mortgage broker!”

JAMES HARVEY

Google review, 18 Aug 2026

“Dylan and the team at Stryve made the pre approval process feel exciting and easy as it should! Cannot recommend them enough”

Alexia

Google review, 18 Aug 2026

“Dylan and the team from Stryve are absolutely incredible. So grateful we have Dylan as our broker, he explains things very clearly, and has always been very reliable and dependable if we have ever had any questions - incredible customer service where you feel really taken care of, heard and supported. Stryve have their finger on the pulse when it comes to their knowledge of the current market and the lenders to go with. I highly recommend going with these guys as your brokers, especially with navigating the current climate!”

Hollie

Google review, 12 Aug 2026

“Dylan has done a sensational job in helping me achieve my dream of purchasing a property. He has always been prompt in responding to my numerous enquiries, supporting me and guiding me through the whole process. Dylan and the stryve team have conducted themselves very professionally with brilliant results, I would recommend them to anyone in need of a broker. Dylan has been a pleasure to deal with, Thank you for everything.”

Deborah Chouart

Google review, 12 Aug 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Ready to find out what you can actually borrow?

One call and we'll tell you which lenders suit your structure and what they'd lend you. No credit check, nothing lodged, no obligation to go ahead.

Family unpacking moving boxes in their new home

Self employed home loans