{"id":6081,"date":"2023-06-15T18:56:19","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T18:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/?p=6081"},"modified":"2026-03-22T14:29:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:29:17","slug":"what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do Underwriters Look for on Tax Returns?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"key_takeaways\"><h3>KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/h3><ul>\n<li>Mortgage underwriters will generally ask for one to two years of tax returns when you apply for a mortgage.<\/li>\n<li>If you are self-employed, you may be asked to provide additional documentation as proof of your income stability.<\/li>\n<li>Mortgage underwriters want to make sure that your income is stable before giving you a mortgage.<\/li>\n<li>There are some other loan types that do not require you to provide tax returns as part of your mortgage application process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Do You Need to Provide Tax Returns When Applying for a Mortgage?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, to assess your financial situation and determine whether or not they should extend credit, most lenders will require one to two years of tax returns from potential borrowers. Keep in mind that there could be some additional questions you need to answer, and the lender might ask for some additional documentation as well.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that tax returns aren\u2019t required for every loan type. Since tax returns often aren\u2019t a perfect representation of income for those such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/types-of-real-estate-investments\/\">investors<\/a>\u00a0or business owners, other mortgages allow for different methods of income verification. We discuss some no tax return mortgage options later on in this article.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:641,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;10&quot;:1,&quot;12&quot;:0}\"><div class=\"cta_banner\" style=\"background:url(https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Catbanner2.jpg)\"><h3>We accept lower credit scores.<\/h3><a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/full-page-form-quick-quote\/\/\">Get a Quote Today<\/a><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Why Do Lenders Need Your Tax Returns for a Mortgage?<\/h2>\n<p>Lenders ask for tax returns because they want to assess your ability to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/qualifying-a-mortgage\/\">qualify for the mortgage<\/a>\u00a0and repay the loan. By looking at W-2s and other income statements associated with filing taxes, lenders can verify a borrower\u2019s earnings and determine whether they\u2019ll be able to keep up with their\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/when-is-first-mortgage-payment-due\/\">mortgage payments<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Not having verifiable tax returns can raise questions regarding reliability and responsibility\u2014so if you\u2019re facing this issue right now while applying for financing options like mortgages or refinance loans, then getting current on those filings is essential. There are many\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/types-of-home-loans\/\">types of home loans<\/a>\u00a0available, but the process can become complicated if you don\u2019t have up-to-date tax returns or you owe money to the IRS.<\/p>\n<h2>How Many Years of Tax Returns Are Needed for a Mortgage?<\/h2>\n<p>So how many years of tax returns for mortgage? Most lenders will require 1-2 years of both personal and business (if applicable) tax returns when assessing your income level. This is because a mortgage loan is a long-term commitment, so they want to be certain that whatever monthly payment amount is agreed upon fits nicely into an affordable budget over time.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not you must submit tax returns for a mortgage depends on your employment status and type of mortgage you\u2019re applying for:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li><strong>Salaried employees<\/strong> are typically required to provide two years of personal tax returns.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/bank-statement-loans\/mortgage-for-self-employed\/\">Self-employed applicants<\/a><\/strong> should prepare to submit at least two years of business tax returns and possibly a year-to-date. <a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/pl-loans\/\">P&amp;L statement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Real estate investors<\/strong> may need to submit two years\u2019 worth of Schedule E forms to demonstrate rental income.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On top of these typical requirements, it doesn&#8217;t hurt to prepare yourself further by gathering additional documentation relevant only for special circumstances, such as substantial interest income or rental property profits.<\/p>\n<h2>What Exactly Are Underwriters Looking for in Your Tax Returns?<\/h2>\n<p>Underwriters look at elements such as your income, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, and financial consistency when reviewing your tax returns and use these to determine whether you can afford a mortgage:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6083\" src=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image3-6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image3-6.png 1999w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image3-6-300x113.png 300w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image3-6-1024x385.png 1024w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image3-6-768x289.png 768w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image3-6-1536x577.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Your income<\/h3>\n<p>Tax documents can give lenders a more accurate picture of your finances, including income sources and amounts that are eligible for loan applications:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Tax returns should demonstrate consistent and sufficient income over the past one to two years. Earnings should remain steady or grow over time.<\/li>\n<li>Non-recurring revenue such as bonuses, vehicle sales, or lottery wins typically won\u2019t be counted towards qualifying earnings, so it\u2019s important to consider how you\u2019re reporting these types of funds.<\/li>\n<li>Self-employed individuals need to pay extra attention when calculating their income for mortgage purposes\u2014particularly if they operate through partnerships or corporations\u2014since underwriters will average two years\u2019 worth of net profits minus depreciation in order to come up with an estimated monthly figure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Your DTI<\/h3>\n<p>Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the key to accessing the best mortgage options. It gives lenders an idea of whether you can handle a monthly mortgage payment without having trouble meeting other financial obligations and commitments:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Your DTI = Monthly Debts \/ Gross Monthly Income<\/li>\n<li>Example: Let\u2019s say you have a total of $2,000 in bills every month and have an average gross income of $5,000 per month. In that case, your DTI comes out at 40%.<\/li>\n<li>Lenders will usually approve applications from creditworthy applicants who have a maximum DTI of 43-50%. Having a lower DTI ratio opens up more mortgage opportunities and the chance to secure a better rate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Your level of risk<\/h3>\n<p>In reviewing your tax returns, underwriters are evaluating your overall level of risk. Mortgage lenders want to minimize risk and thus take care to verify that an applicant meets at least the minimum financial requirements for the loan they\u2019re applying for:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Red flags for underwriters include a decline in income, job changes, or big tax write-offs.<\/li>\n<li>If there are changes in pay structure or fluctuations in income, additional documentation may be required. Self-employed borrowers might consider applying for bank statement loans or asset-based loans to avoid being penalized for large tax deductions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"cta_banner gold_cta\" style=\"background:url(https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gold-background-1.png)\"><h3>Download the Griffin Gold app today!<\/h3><p>Take charge of your financial wellness and achieve your homeownership goals <br><br>\r\nUse invitation code: <b>GRIFGOLD<\/b> to register.<\/p><div class=\"stores\"><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/griffin-gold\/id6460034387\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/apple-icon.svg\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.griffinfunding.gold\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/google-store.svg\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>No Tax Return Mortgage Types<\/h2>\n<p>It can be frustrating if you need to provide tax returns for a conventional mortgage and you are subsequently turned down. Fortunately, there are plenty of mortgage options that do not necessarily require a tax return at all.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6082\" src=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-7.png 1999w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-7-300x95.png 300w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-7-1024x325.png 1024w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-7-768x244.png 768w, https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-7-1536x488.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Bank statement loans<\/h3>\n<p>Are you self-employed and in need of a loan? A <a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/bank-statement-loans\/\">bank statement loan<\/a> can be the perfect option to get you the money you need. With this type of non-qualified mortgage, lenders will use your bank statements as evidence that you have the means to pay off your debt. This way, even if taxes don\u2019t reflect all of your income, borrowers can still access home loans with ease.<\/p>\n<p>For entrepreneurs, business owners, or retirees who want an alternative form of verification, bank statement mortgages can be a great option! We also offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/pl-loans\/\">P&amp;L loans<\/a>\u00a0for business owners who want to qualify for a mortgage using their profit and loss statements, as well as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/second-mortgage\/\">self-employed home equity loans<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/self-employed-refinance\/\">cash-out refinance loans<\/a>\u00a0for those looking to tap into their existing equity.<\/p>\n<h3>Asset-based loans<\/h3>\n<p>Rather than relying on financial documents like tax returns or salaries, an <a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/asset-based-loans\/\">asset-based loan<\/a> allows lenders to build an amount known as a \u201cborrowing base\u201d which is calculated on the percentage of the total value of the assets.<\/p>\n<p>For example, 70 percent would be taken out from retirement accounts, while 100 percent of liquid cash in checking or savings accounts could also serve as collateral. It&#8217;s important to note here that terms vary depending on the lender, so make sure you specify the percentage you can borrow and the assets you want to use.<\/p>\n<h3>DSCR loans<\/h3>\n<p>Real estate investors have a unique set of needs when it comes to financing, and a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/non-qm-mortgages\/dscr-loans\/\">DSCR loan<\/a>\u00a0is an ideal solution. This type of non-QM loan helps lenders easily measure the borrower\u2019s ability to make payments without verifying income through tax returns or pay stubs.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, lenders use the applicant\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/dscr-loans\/dscr-calculator\/\">debt service coverage ratio<\/a>\u00a0(DSCR) to measure whether they have the capacity to repay a mortgage in addition to their other debts. As investors often write off expenses related to their properties, this kind of financing makes qualification simpler and provides access for those who may not qualify under conventional terms.<\/p>\n<style>\n.single_post_wrapper .cta_banner h3 {<br \/>\ncolor: #FFF !important;<br \/>\n}<br \/>\n<\/style>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:641,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;10&quot;:1,&quot;12&quot;:0}\"><div class=\"cta_banner\" style=\"background:url(https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/catbanner1.jpg)\"><h3>Having trouble qualifying with other lenders?<\/h3><a href=\"https:\/\/apply.griffinfunding.com\/#\/milestones\">Apply Online Today<\/a><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Understand What Mortgage Underwriters Look for<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re applying for a conventional mortgage or a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/traditional-mortgages\/va-loans\/\">VA loan<\/a>, there are a lot of factors involved when you apply for a mortgage. Understanding what mortgage lenders look for on tax returns can help you better navigate the lending process and determine the loan type that best suits your needs.<\/p>\n<p>You might be asked for copies of your tax returns, but you could also have other options available as well. If you want to apply for a mortgage without needing your tax returns, Griffin Funding is here for you.<\/p>\n<p>Are you ready to get started? <a href=\"#popmake-6804\">Reach out today<\/a> to schedule an appointment and let us help you finance your next home.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do You Need to Provide Tax Returns When Applying for a Mortgage? Yes, to assess your financial situation and determine whether or not they should extend credit, most lenders will require one to two years of tax returns from potential borrowers. Keep in mind that there could be some additional questions you need to answer,<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\/\">&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mortgage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Do Underwriters Look for on Tax Returns? A Checklist | Griffin Funding<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understanding what underwriters look for on tax returns can help you more successfully navigate the mortgage application process.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Do Underwriters Look for on Tax Returns?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Understanding what underwriters look for on tax returns can help you more successfully navigate the mortgage application process.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/blog\/mortgage\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Griffin Funding\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/griffinfunding\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/griffinfunding\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-06-15T18:56:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-22T14:29:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/griffinfunding.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image1-6.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1999\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Bill Lyons\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/x.com\/griffinfunding\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@griffinfunding\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bill Lyons\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/blog\\\/mortgage\\\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/blog\\\/mortgage\\\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Bill Lyons\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/83571cd7f738a7f95cae1a44ad0b7ef1\"},\"headline\":\"What Do Underwriters Look for on Tax Returns?\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-06-15T18:56:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-22T14:29:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/blog\\\/mortgage\\\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1323,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/blog\\\/mortgage\\\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/image1-6.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Mortgage\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/blog\\\/mortgage\\\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/griffinfunding.com\\\/blog\\\/mortgage\\\/what-do-underwriters-look-for-on-tax-returns\\\/\",\"name\":\"What Do Underwriters Look for on Tax Returns? 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