You make $200K.
The bank thinks
you make $60K.
Self-employed income looks great until it hits your tax return. Find out your real mortgage-qualifying income — and exactly what to do about it — in 2 minutes.
No account. No credit card. No BS.
43%
Max DTI ratio lenders allow
2 yrs
Of tax returns lenders average
0.5–2%
Higher rate on Non-QM loans
The Problem
Why self-employed people struggle to get mortgages
You did everything right — wrote off your expenses, minimized your tax bill. Now it's working against you.
Write-offs shrink your income
Lenders use your Schedule C net income — after every deduction. A $200K freelancer with $120K in expenses looks like they make $80K.
Tax returns are the only proof
Conventional lenders average your last 2 years of 1040s. No bank statements. No invoices. Just the 1040.
Non-QM loans exist for you
Bank statement loans look at 12–24 months of deposits — not your tax return. Higher rate, but you can actually qualify.
There's a path — you just need to model it
This calculator shows you exactly how your tax deductions impact your mortgage qualification, what the gap is, and whether a conventional or Non-QM loan makes more sense for you. Fill in your numbers below and download a PDF to share with your broker.
Your Numbers, Right Now
Fill in your details below — results update in real-time.
Your Info
Total income before any deductions
Schedule C expenses — office, equipment, mileage, etc.
Target Home
Schedule C Income
$80,000
What lenders see
Max Mortgage (Today)
$430,883
At 43% DTI, 7% rate
Est. Tax Bill
$18,347
22.9% effective rate
Max Monthly Payment
$2,867
Principal + interest (PITI may vary)
Deduction Gap: $16,546
You'd need to claim $16,546 less in deductions to qualify conventionally — which would increase your tax bill by $5,893.
Recommendation
You don't currently qualify at your target price on paper — but you're within reach. A Non-QM lender using bank statement income could qualify you based on your actual cash deposits ($150,000/yr gross), not your tax return.
Non-QM note: Non-QM bank statement loans use 12–24 months of average monthly deposits as income. This is a popular path for self-employed borrowers who write off large expenses.
Free — we'll email you a copy too
Who it's for