Why can't banks just accept my cash income?

Lenders need documented income — undeclared cash can't be verified.

What if I declare all cash income going forward?

12-24 months declaration enables alt-doc loan. Pay more tax, get home.

Can my partner's declared PAYG income carry the loan?

Yes — if partner's income alone supports the loan amount.

Will declaring income increase my tax bill?

Yes — but enables home ownership. Talk to accountant.

Are halal loans available for cash workers?

Yes — same principle: declare to qualify.

Can I Refinancing | Mortgagefy

Who this guide is for

Australians paid in cash wanting to know how this affects home loan eligibility — including hospitality workers, tradies, construction, hairdressers, drivers.

Hospitality workers paid partly in cash tips
Tradies and construction workers with cash jobs
Hairdressers and beauticians with cash income
Cash-business sole traders

The local picture

"Working for cash" creates a fundamental issue: lenders need documented income to assess borrowing. Undeclared cash income can't be proven and can't be counted. Solution involves declaring income properly going forward.

How Mortgagefy helps locally

Mortgagefy walks through the realistic options — declaring income properly, using a partner's declared income, or building 12-24 months of declared business income for alt-doc.

Free advice.

How it works — 4 simple steps

Free cash worker chat

20-minute call about your situation.

Map options

We outline declaration, alt-doc, partner-income pathways.

Build pathway

We help you build 12-24 month documentation if needed.

Settle your home

You move in with proper income recognition.

Frequently asked questions

We use offer letters and vesting schedules to value RSUs conservatively. We present current vesting value + projected future vesting as a 3-5 year income average. This gives lenders confidence in your income stability while accounting for market volatility.

Both. We work with W2 employees, 1099 contractors, and consultants. For contractors, we use 2 years of tax returns plus business financials. We have lenders who specialise in contractor income—they understand the variability.

Unvested options have zero value for refinancing. We count only vested equity. If you have a 4-year vest, we use 25% of the grant value (what's vested) plus a conservative projection of future vesting.

If you've been in your new role 6+ months, most lenders will refinance. We'll use your offer letter plus 6 months of pay stubs. If less than 6 months, it's harder but possible with specialist lenders.

Yes, if you have 2+ years of bonus history. We average the past 2 years and present it conservatively. Some bonuses get counted at 50% to be conservative with variable compensation.

ESPP is counted as deferred compensation. If your company matches or you have a discount, we value it as part of total compensation package.

Talk to us about cash income and home loans

Free 20-minute call about your real options.

Start Your Free Assessment Call 0432 634 648

Get your personalised answer in 2 minutes

Free, no obligation. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Model your scenarios: Use our free home loan calculators to estimate borrowing capacity, repayments, and savings.

Can I Get a Home Loan If I Work For Cash in Australia?