How to Show Income If You’re Paid Under the Table (Legal Ways Only)
Millions of people in the U.S. get paid “under the table” — which usually just means paid in cash. House cleaners, mechanics, barbers, servers, babysitters, movers, yard workers, and tradespeople all earn cash regularly. But when it’s time to prove income for an apartment, car loan, or anything important, most people freeze.
Here’s the truth: You can legally show your income, even if you’re paid in cash — as long as the money is real, documented, and deposited.
The legal way to show under-the-table income is to document it properly through deposits, logs, receipts, bank statements, and a self-employed pay stub. It’s 100% allowed as long as the income is truthful and actually earned.
Is getting paid under the table illegal?
Being paid in cash is NOT illegal. Millions of legitimate workers are paid in cash every day.
What matters is how you document it.
If you earn money, deposit it, and report it when required, you’re fine. Cash itself is not the problem — lack of documentation is.
The 5 legal ways to show income if you’re paid under the table
1. Deposit your cash consistently
When you deposit cash into your bank account, it instantly becomes verifiable, documented income.
Lenders want to see patterns like:
- weekly cash deposits
- biweekly deposits
- consistent monthly income
It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just needs to look like income instead of random lump sums.
2. Use bank statements as your income trail
Bank statements show:
- where your money goes
- how often you get paid
- your average monthly income
If you’re not sure how to structure this, read our guide: Bank Statements as Proof of Income
3. Create a self-employed pay stub (clean + professional)
A pay stub is the single easiest way to make your income look clean, organized, and credible. Even if you’re paid cash.
This is how gig workers, barbers, lawn crews, cleaners, and mechanics get approved for rentals and auto loans every day.
Create a professional self-employed pay stub in minutes. Instant PDF download — simple, fast, legitimate.
Generate My Pay Stub →4. Keep a simple income log
You don’t need a fancy system. A basic log like this works:
- date
- how much you earned
- type of work
- who paid you (first name only is fine)
Think of it like a work diary. Lenders rarely ask for it, but it proves your consistency if they do.
5. Write a self-employed income letter
A short, simple letter explains:
- what you do
- how long you’ve done it
- your average monthly income
We have a full template here: Self-Employed Income Letter Template (2025)
How much income should you show?
It depends on what you’re applying for:
- Apartments: 2–3 months of consistent deposits
- Car loans: enough income to cover the payment
- Small loans: 1–2 months of deposits
- Mortgages: more documentation (taxes, P&L)
When in doubt, deposit weekly — it creates the strongest pattern.
How to calculate your income when paid under the table
Use this simple method:
Step 1 — Add up your deposits
This includes cash you deposit from work.
Step 2 — Divide by the number of months
This gives your average monthly income.
Step 3 — Use that number to generate your pay stub
This keeps everything consistent so lenders trust your documents.
The SelfEmployedDocs generator formats everything for you — fast, accurate, and ready for approval.
Create My Pay Stub →What NOT to do (seriously, avoid this)
Here’s where most people mess up:
- Depositing one big lump sum at the end of the month
- Leaving long gaps with no deposits
- Writing unrealistic income numbers
- Using someone else’s pay stub or info
Keep it simple and truthful. Lenders can smell fake numbers a mile away.
FAQ: Showing Income When You’re Paid Under the Table
Want help turning your cash income into clean, organized documentation? Visit the homepage or create a self-employed pay stub in minutes. More info is on the About Us and Contact pages.