Proof of income without pay stubs is easier than most people expect. Landlords, lenders and government offices accept a range of other documents, as long as they show regular, verifiable income.
This guide lists the documents that work, sorted by situation: renting, borrowing, self-employment, cash income and no income at all. It also explains when a notarized income letter or affidavit is the right tool.
Why pay stubs are not the only proof of income
A pay stub shows one thing: what an employer paid you in one period. Freelancers, contractors, business owners, retirees, students and people paid in cash never get one.
What the person asking for proof actually wants is evidence that the income is real, regular and likely to continue. Any document that shows those three things can do the job.
12 documents that work as proof of income without pay stubs
1. Tax returns
Your most recent tax return is the strongest single document, because a tax authority has already received it. In the US that is Form 1040; in the UK it is the SA302 tax calculation and tax year overview from HMRC.
Lost your copy? The IRS lets you download a tax transcript online, and HMRC lets you print the SA302 from your Self Assessment account.
2. W-2, 1099 or P60 forms
Year-end tax forms summarise a whole year of income in one page. Employees in the US receive a W-2 and contractors a 1099; employees in the UK receive a P60 after each tax year.
3. Bank statements
Two to six months of bank statements showing regular deposits work in almost every situation. Highlight the income deposits and, if you are self-employed, use the business account.
4. Employment verification letter
An employment verification letter on company letterhead confirms your position, start date and salary. Many landlords accept it in place of pay stubs, and some ask for it alongside them.
5. Offer letter or employment contract
Starting a new job? A signed offer letter with your salary and start date proves income you have not been paid yet.
6. Benefit or award letters
Social Security, disability, unemployment and pension income all come with an official letter. In the US you can download a benefit verification letter from your Social Security account.
7. Court-ordered payments
Child support or alimony counts as income when it arrives regularly. Use the court order together with bank statements that show the payments coming in.
8. Pension and annuity statements
Retirees can use the annual pension statement or the monthly payment advice from the pension provider.
9. Profit and loss statement
Self-employed? A profit and loss statement for the last 12 months, prepared by you or your accountant, shows income after expenses. Attach invoices or bank statements as backup.
10. Invoices and payment records
For freelancers and gig workers, invoices matched to payments received, or the earnings summary from the platform you work through, show a pattern of income.
11. Rental or investment income statements
If you earn from property or investments, lease agreements plus the bank deposits, or brokerage and dividend statements, prove that income.
12. Notarized income letter or affidavit of income
When you have no paperwork at all, for example with cash income, you can write a statement of your income and swear to it before a notary. A notarized affidavit of income carries weight because you declare the figures under oath and the notary confirms your identity.
Read our guide on how to write a notarized letter, or create the affidavit online and have it notarized within 24 hours.
Which proof of income to use in each situation
Renting an apartment
Most landlords want to see the last two or three months of income. Bank statements plus a tax return or an employment letter cover it, and a signed offer letter works if you are relocating for a new job.
Applying for a loan or mortgage
Lenders look for stability over time. Two years of tax returns, year-end tax forms and recent bank statements are the usual set, and self-employed applicants add a profit and loss statement.
Self-employed or gig work
Combine a profit and loss statement, invoices or platform earnings summaries, and business bank statements. A tax return makes the package convincing.
Paid in cash
Deposit the cash regularly so your bank statements show a pattern, and keep a simple ledger of what you earn. Back it up with a notarized affidavit of income and, if possible, a signed letter from whoever pays you.
No income at all
If you have no income, you need proof of that instead. Our guide on how to prove you have no income covers the affidavit of no income and the letters that agencies accept.
How to make your proof of income easy to accept
Send documents that cover the same period, so the numbers match. Black out account numbers but leave names, dates and amounts visible.
Add a short cover note listing what you enclose and your total monthly income. If any document is informal, offer a notarized statement alongside it.
The same documents are used to prove the income requirement for the Spain digital nomad visa, currently 200 percent of the Spanish minimum wage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I show proof of income if I am paid in cash?
Use bank statements that show regular cash deposits, a signed letter from the person or business paying you, and a notarized affidavit of income stating your average monthly earnings. Together they replace pay stubs for most landlords.
Can bank statements alone be used as proof of income?
Often, yes. Two to six months of statements with regular deposits are accepted by many landlords, but banks and mortgage lenders usually ask for a tax return or a year-end tax form as well.
How do I prove income when I just started a new job?
A signed offer letter or employment contract stating your salary and start date is accepted as proof of future income. Add an employment verification letter once you have started.
Does a proof of income letter need to be notarized?
Not by law. Notarization becomes useful when the letter is self-written or based on cash income, because the notary verifies who signed and you declare the amounts under oath. Some agencies and landlords ask for it explicitly.
What can be used instead of pay stubs for an apartment?
Tax returns, W-2 or 1099 forms, bank statements, an employment verification letter, an offer letter, benefit letters and a notarized affidavit of income. Most landlords accept any two of these that cover the same period.
Need the affidavit or letter notarized? Upload it to NotaryPublic24, verify your identity online and receive the notarized document within 24 hours.