Updated for 2025 • SelfEmployedDocs

How to Prove Income If You’re Paid in Cash (2025 Guide)

If you get paid in cash, proving your income can feel impossible. Landlords, lenders, car dealerships — everyone wants “official” documents.

But here’s the good news:

You can absolutely prove income if you’re paid in cash — and there are several legal, widely accepted ways to do it.

And none of them require traditional employer pay stubs.

The best ways to prove income when paid in cash

Companies mainly want to confirm one thing:

“Do you make enough money to afford this?”

Here are the most common documents they accept:

self-employed pay stubs
bank statements
cash deposit logs
income letter
invoices/receipts

Let’s break each one down.

1. Self-employed pay stubs (fastest & most effective)

This is by far the easiest and most trusted way to show income when you’re paid in cash. A pay stub clearly lists:

your name
your business or service
your pay rate
hours or income amount
net pay

And landlords/lenders instantly recognize the format.

Real talk: Cash workers get approved MUCH faster when they submit a clean pay stub instead of a handwritten note or a messy bank statement.

Need income proof right now?

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2. Bank statements

If you deposit your cash earnings — even partially — your bank statements become income proof.

Just highlight your deposits and show your monthly average income.

3. Cash deposit logs

If you deposit cash regularly (even small amounts), you can use:

ATM deposit receipts
branch deposit slips
mobile banking deposit confirmations

This shows consistent, legitimate income.

4. A signed income letter

If you’re self-employed and paid cash, you can create a simple letter explaining your:

type of work
monthly income
how you get paid

Many small landlords accept this alone.

5. Invoices or receipts

If you do work like:

landscaping
cleaning
childcare
construction
repair services
beauty services

Your invoices or receipts count as proof of income.

The strongest option? A pay stub + bank statement combo.

If you want near-instant approval, this combo is gold:

Pay stub – shows official, structured income
Bank deposits – show real money received

This is the exact combo many rental managers prefer.

Ready to get approved?

Create your cash-income pay stub now — fast, clean, professional.

Create My Pay Stub →

FAQ: Proving Income When Paid in Cash

Is it legal to make a pay stub for cash income?

Yes — as long as the numbers are real and match your actual earnings.

Will landlords accept cash income?

Most will, as long as the documentation looks clean and professional.

What if I don’t deposit my cash?

You can still use a pay stub or income letter based on your real income.

Do I need multiple months of proof?

Some places ask for 2–3 months, but many accept a single current pay stub.

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