Updated for 2025 • SelfEmployedDocs

How to Prove Self-Employment Income Without Tax Returns (2025 Guide)

Here’s the situation: you’re self-employed, you’re trying to rent an apartment, buy a car, or apply for a loan, and they ask for tax returns. But maybe:

you filed late
you haven’t filed yet
your last return doesn’t reflect your current income
your income increased recently
you’re newly self-employed

If that’s you, here’s the good news:

You can absolutely prove self-employment income without tax returns.
There are at least six other documents lenders and landlords accept — and some are actually stronger than tax documents.

Why tax returns aren’t the only proof

Tax returns show last year’s income — not what you earn today. Most landlords and lenders know this.

What they really want is proof that:

your income is real
your income is consistent
you can afford the payment

They don’t care about IRS paperwork — they care about your income story.

The 6 best ways to prove self-employment income without tax returns

1. A Self-Employed Pay Stub (Fastest & Most Accepted)

A pay stub is the cleanest way to show your income because it’s formatted exactly like what employers use. It lists:

your name
your “business” name (optional)
your pay period
your weekly/monthly income
year-to-date totals

It looks familiar, credible, and is accepted almost everywhere.

Need a pay stub without tax returns?

Create a clean, professional self-employed pay stub in minutes. Just enter your income and download the PDF instantly.

Generate My Pay Stub →

2. Bank Statements

Bank statements prove your income better than tax returns because they show:

your real deposits
your cash flow
your consistency

Most places want 2–3 months.

3. Payment App Records (Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal)

These count as income if they came from work — and lenders accept them when paired with bank deposits.

Just transfer your payments into your bank account regularly.

4. Gig App Earnings Reports

If you work for DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, Lyft, Shipt, or any gig platform, your weekly/monthly earnings summary is valid income documentation.

5. A Self-Employed Income Letter

This is a short letter you write stating:

what you do
how you get paid
your average weekly or monthly income

It’s simple — and many landlords accept it.

6. A Profit & Loss Statement

A P&L lists:

total income
total expenses
your net profit (your take-home pay)

You can make one in under 5 minutes.

You don’t need an LLC, business license, or tax ID

This is the misconception that scares people.

You do NOT need an LLC, EIN, or business license to prove self-employment income.

Most self-employed people operate under their own name — and that is completely normal and accepted.

How to prove income if you get paid cash

If your work is cash-based, your two tools are:

regular cash deposits into your bank
a pay stub showing your average income

Deposit weekly or biweekly for best results.

How to calculate income when you don’t have tax returns

Use the last 2–3 months of deposits. Add them up and find the average weekly or monthly income.

Your Average Income = Total Deposits ÷ Number of Months

That’s the income you’ll put on your pay stub or income letter.

FAQ: Proving Income Without Tax Returns

Can I rent an apartment without tax returns?

Yes. Most landlords accept bank statements and a pay stub instead.

Can I get a car loan without tax returns?

Absolutely. Dealers mainly want bank statements and a pay stub.

Do I need an LLC to prove income?

No. Your personal name is fine. Self-employment is valid with or without a business structure.

What’s the easiest proof of income if I don’t have tax documents?

A self-employed pay stub paired with bank statements is the fastest and most widely accepted combo.

Need help documenting your self-employment income? Start on the homepage, generate a self-employed pay stub, or visit the About and Contact pages.