Low doc home loan rates for the self-employed
Specialist lenders that take BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter in place of tax returns. Rates by LVR and the documents each lender asks for, read from each lender's own site on 8 November 2026.
The short answer
If you're self-employed and can't show two years of tax returns, specialist lenders will still lend at up to 80% of the property's value, and today their lowest low-doc rates start at about 7.0 to 7.3%. That's roughly one point above the cheapest bank variable rates in our bank rate table. On a $600,000 loan over 30 years, the gap between a 6.29% bank loan and a 7.24% low-doc loan is about $379 a month.
Run any rate here through the mortgage repayment calculator, and check what lenders may let you borrow with the borrowing power calculator.
Low-doc home loan rates by lender, 8 November 2026
Each lender name links to the lender's own page. LVR is your loan as a share of the property's value. Interest-only and investor loans cost more; we note the loading where the lender publishes it.
| Lender and product | Lowest rate | At 80% LVR | Above 80% LVR | What you'll need to show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom LoansLow-doc home loan, as advertised on freedomloans.net.auRate basis, fees and maximum LVR not published; ACL 547274 (FLA Group Pty Ltd) | From 6.24%* comparison 6.48% | Not shown by LVR | Not published | Not published on the lender's page |
| FirstmacAlt Doc, owner-occupier P&IRates from Firstmac's broker rate page; no comparison rate published there | 6.99% (70% LVR) comparison not shown | 7.09% comparison not shown | Not offered above 80% | 6 months of lodged ATO BAS (per Firstmac's launch announcement) (source) |
| ThinktankMid Doc residential, loans $100k to $3mRates effective 6 Oct 2026; investment P&I +0.20 loading | 7.18% (50% LVR) comparison 7.30% | 7.33% comparison 7.45% | Not offered above 80% | Self-certified income plus one of: accountant's letter, last 2 BAS, 6 months' trading bank statements, or 1 year's tax return and NOA or financials (source) |
| Pepper MoneyPrime Alt Doc variable, owner-occupier P&I, under $2.5mRate card effective 9 Oct 2026; investor P&I at 80% LVR 7.59% (comparison 7.77%) | 7.19% comparison 7.47% | 7.39% comparison 7.57% | 9.49% (85 to 90%) comparison 9.67% | 6 months' ABN and GST registration, a declaration of financial position, plus one of: 6 months' business bank statements, 6 months' lodged BAS, or a Pepper accountant's letter (source) |
| LibertyLow doc home loan | From 7.24% comparison 7.51% | Not shown by LVR | Up to 85% LVR | Flexible income verification. The page doesn't list the documents or a minimum ABN age |
| La Trobe FinancialSelf-Employed Lite Doc, variable P&I | 7.24% comparison 7.51% | 7.24% (one rate up to 80% LVR, no LMI) | Not offered above 80% | Accountant's letter, trading statements or BAS. Minimum loan $100,000 |
| BluestoneFlexible income verification, P&IInvestor from 7.59% (comparison 7.81%). Variable +0.25 announced | From 7.29% comparison 7.51% | Not shown by LVR | Max 90% LVR | Flexible income verification. The page doesn't list the documents or a minimum ABN age |
| ResimacAlt Doc | Not read. Resimac's rate page didn't load its rates when we checked, so we haven't shown a figure. | |||
Low doc, alt doc, lite doc: what lenders will take instead of tax returns
The names change from lender to lender, but the idea is the same. You still prove your income. You prove it with recent business records in place of two years of tax returns. Across the lenders above, that means one or more of these:
- BAS: usually your last 2 quarters, or 6 months, lodged with the ATO.
- An accountant's letter: your accountant confirms your income. Some lenders, like Pepper, have their own form.
- Business bank statements: commonly 6 months of trading statements.
- ABN and GST history: Pepper asks for at least 6 months' ABN and GST registration. Some lenders want longer, so check before you apply.
- A signed declaration of your income or financial position.
Banks mostly don't offer low-doc loans for new borrowers any more, which is why this market belongs to non-bank lenders. Most are only available through a mortgage broker.
How we check these rates
We read each lender's own rate page or published rate card each week and record the lowest owner-occupier principal-and-interest rate, plus the 80% LVR rate and the document rules where they're published. Where a figure is only on a lender's broker rate card, we link to it. If a page won't load, we say so rather than guess. Nobody pays to be listed. The cash rate is the RBA's published target, 4.85% from 4 November 2026, and some lenders here have announced rises that their pages don't show yet.
Questions people ask
Can I get a home loan if I'm self-employed without tax returns?
Yes. Specialist lenders such as Pepper Money, La Trobe Financial, Liberty, Bluestone, Thinktank and Firstmac offer low-doc or alt-doc loans that accept BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's letter in place of tax returns. Expect a higher rate than a standard bank loan.
How much more does a low-doc loan cost?
On 8 November 2026, the lowest low-doc rates we read started at about 7.0 to 7.3% at up to 80% LVR, roughly one percentage point above the lowest bank variable rates. The gap widens fast above 80% LVR.
How long do I need an ABN for a low-doc loan?
It varies by lender. Pepper Money asks for at least 6 months' ABN and GST registration for its Alt Doc loans. Other lenders don't publish a minimum on their rate pages, so confirm it with the lender or a broker.
General information only
This page is general information, not financial or credit advice, and it doesn't take your objectives, finances or needs into account. AusCalcs isn't a lender or a broker, and no lender paid to appear here or to be placed in any order. Rates change without notice and the rate you're offered depends on your circumstances and the lender's credit checks. Check the lender's own page and its Target Market Determination before you apply, and consider speaking to a licensed mortgage broker or adviser.
Comparison rate warning: WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Unless a lender says otherwise, comparison rates are based on a secured loan of $150,000 over 25 years.