Tax return shows $50K but business turns over $400K — how does this work?

Specialist alt-doc lenders use BAS turnover, not tax return.

How much deposit will I need?

20-30% typical. $200K deposit = $700K-$800K target home.

What documents will lenders want?

12-24 months BAS, accountant letter, business statements.

Are halal alt-doc loans available?

Yes — Islamic providers offer alt-doc.

Can I refinance to standard rates later?

Yes — after 2 years consistent BAS/tax, refinance to standard.

How To Refinancing | Mortgagefy

Who this guide is for

Cash-heavy business owners — restaurants, market stalls, retail, trades — wanting to buy a home despite low taxable income on tax returns.

Restaurant or grocer with strong cash takings
Market stall or retail owner with cash deposits
Cash trades with high turnover but low taxable income
Bangladeshi/Lebanese/Vietnamese cash businesses

The local picture

Cash-business owners legitimately have low taxable income (after wages, food costs, depreciation) but strong cash flow. Major banks see only the tax return and decline. Specialist lenders look at the full picture.

How Mortgagefy helps locally

Mortgagefy walks you through the alt-doc process — BAS turnover, accountant's letter, bank statements as income evidence. We identify the right specialist lender.

Multilingual support. Free advice.

How it works — 4 simple steps

Free cash business chat

20-minute call about your business and target home.

Compare alt-doc lenders

We identify specialist lenders for cash businesses.

Documentation strategy

We package BAS, accountant letter, bank statements.

Settle your home

You move in via alt-doc structure.

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.

Buy a house with your cash business income

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How To Buy a House With Cash Income in Australia