Yes. Most self-employed borrowers use a standard full-doc loan, backed by their tax returns and notices of assessment, and can access the same rates as an employee. The right lender depends on how long you’ve traded, how your business is set up and how your income has changed.

Add-backs are expenses in your accounts that don’t affect your ability to repay a loan, such as depreciation, interest on debts being paid out, super above the compulsory amount and one-off costs. Lenders add them back to your profit to work out the income they’ll assess. Each lender has its own list, which is why borrowing power varies so much between them.

Lenders start with the taxable income on your tax returns and Notices of Assessment, usually for the last one or two years. Many then add back expenses that don’t affect your ability to repay, such as depreciation, interest on debts being paid out and extra super contributions. These are called add-backs, and each lender treats them differently. Read our full guide to how lenders assess self-employed income →

Many do, which helps if you had one quiet year. If your income is rising, some lenders will use your latest year on its own, and if it has dropped, most will use the lower figure. We’ll match you with the lender whose approach suits your numbers.

Two years of tax returns is the standard, but it isn’t the only option. Several lenders will consider one year of returns, and specialist lenders may consider less if you’ve worked in the same industry before. See your options if you’ve been self-employed less than two years →

Not necessarily. If you can provide tax returns and qualify for a standard full-doc loan, you can generally access the same rates as an employee. Rates are usually higher for low-doc and specialist loans, where the lender relies on less formal evidence of income. Once your returns are lodged, refinancing to a full-doc loan may lower your rate.

Sometimes. If you’re a company director, lenders always count the wages the company pays you. Some lenders will also consider your share of the company’s profit, as long as you own and control the business and the full company financials support it. Policies vary a lot, so this is one of the areas where choosing the right lender makes the biggest difference.

Yes, distributions you actually receive from a family or business trust can usually be counted, and they should appear on your personal tax return. Some lenders also want a history of distributions, may reduce the figure they use, or will look at profit left in the trust if you control it. Income distributed to other family members generally can’t be counted as yours.

Some lenders will accept recent financial statements prepared by your accountant while the return is being lodged. If that isn’t possible, a low doc loan can use BAS, business bank statements or an accountant’s declaration instead.

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