Low Doc & Alt Doc Home Loans for Self-Employed Australians
Can't provide two years of tax returns? You're not alone — and you're not out of options. Low doc and alt doc loans are specifically designed for self-employed borrowers who verify income through alternative means.
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Income Verification Without the Traditional Paperwork
A low documentation (low doc) loan is a type of home loan designed for borrowers who cannot provide the standard income verification documents — typically two years of personal and business tax returns — required by mainstream lenders.
Instead of tax returns, low doc and alt doc lenders accept alternative forms of income verification such as Business Activity Statements (BAS), business bank statements, or a letter from your accountant. This makes them ideal for self-employed borrowers, business owners, and investors whose tax returns don't accurately reflect their current income.
At New Vision Financial, we have access to a wide panel of low doc and alt doc lenders — including specialist non-bank lenders not available through most brokers — giving you more options and better outcomes.
Ways to Verify Your Income Without Tax Returns
BAS Statement Loans
Use your Business Activity Statements (BAS) to verify income. Typically 12 months of BAS required.
Bank Statement Loans
Lenders assess your actual cash flow using 6–12 months of business bank statements.
Accountant's Letter
A letter from your registered accountant confirming your income and business viability.
Signed Income Declaration
You declare your income and the lender verifies it against other supporting documents.
What Low Doc Loans Offer
Common Questions
What is the difference between Low Doc and Alt Doc?
Low doc loans traditionally required minimal documentation — typically just a signed income declaration. Alt doc (alternative documentation) loans use alternative income verification such as BAS statements or bank statements. Today, the terms are often used interchangeably, but alt doc loans tend to offer more flexibility and better rates.
What LVR can I borrow to with a low doc loan?
Most low doc and alt doc lenders will lend up to 80% LVR without Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). Some lenders will go higher with LMI. The maximum LVR depends on the lender, the property type, and your financial profile.
Are low doc loan rates higher than standard rates?
Low doc loans can carry a slightly higher interest rate than full doc loans due to the additional risk for the lender. However, with the right broker and the right lender, the difference can be minimal — and refinancing to a full doc loan is always an option once you have two years of tax returns available.
Can I use a low doc loan to buy an investment property?
Yes. Low doc and alt doc loans are available for both owner-occupied and investment properties. Investment property loans may have slightly different LVR limits depending on the lender.
"We'd been self-employed for 18 months and our accountant had minimised our tax so much that the banks wouldn't touch us. New Vision found us an alt doc lender and we settled within 6 weeks. Couldn't recommend them more highly."
— Mark & Sarah T., Business Owners