Free Income Verification Form – Fillable Online | Verify Tenant Income

Income Verification Form

Verify All Income Sources for Rental Qualification

💰 Fill Online • 📥 Download PDF • ✅ All Income Types

💡 Why Income Verification Matters

Income verification confirms applicants can afford rent by documenting ALL income sources—employment, self-employment, government benefits, investments, child support, and more. This form captures complete financial picture beyond just employment.

Section 1: Applicant Information

Section 2: Employment Income

Section 3: Self-Employment Income

Section 4: Additional Income Sources

Include ALL income sources: Social Security, disability, retirement/pension, child support, alimony, investment income, rental income, government assistance, etc.

Section 5: Income Summary & Documentation

📎 Required Documentation: Attach copies of recent pay stubs (2 months), tax returns (2 years if self-employed), Social Security/benefit award letters, or other income verification documents.

Section 6: Authorization & Signature

Certification: I certify that all information provided above is true and accurate. I understand that false statements may result in denial or termination of tenancy. I authorize verification of all income sources listed above.

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Complete Guide to Income Verification

Income verification is the foundation of tenant qualification. While credit reports show if tenants pay bills, only income verification confirms they can afford rent. This guide explains what income to verify, how to calculate qualifying income, documentation requirements, common fraud schemes, and legal considerations.

Why Employment Verification Isn’t Enough

Many landlords only verify employment income and miss significant portions of applicant finances. Modern households often have multiple income streams—side businesses, investments, government benefits, child support, retirement income. Verifying only employment income gives incomplete picture and may cause you to reject qualified applicants or miss red flags in others.

Types of Income to Verify

Include ALL income sources in your verification:

  • Employment income: Salary, wages, tips, commissions (use base salary only, not variable)
  • Self-employment income: Net profit from business (average over 2 years from tax returns)
  • Social Security: Retirement or disability benefits
  • Retirement/pension: 401k distributions, pension payments
  • Disability benefits: SSI, private disability insurance
  • Child support/alimony: Court-ordered payments (if reliable)
  • Investment income: Dividends, interest, capital gains
  • Rental income: Income from other properties owned
  • Government assistance: Housing vouchers, TANF, unemployment (handle carefully)
  • Trust/inheritance: Regular distributions from trusts

Calculating Total Qualifying Income

Not all income is created equal. Here’s how to calculate qualifying income:

Count at 100%:

• Salary/wages from full-time employment
• Social Security benefits
• Pension/retirement (verified distributions)
• Disability benefits (long-term)

Count at 75%:

• Part-time employment income
• Self-employment (averaged over 2 years)

Don’t Count:

• Bonuses (too variable)
• Overtime (not guaranteed)
• Commissions (unless base salary meets requirements)
• Unemployment (temporary by nature)
• Informal income (cash work, side gigs without tax documentation)

Required Documentation by Income Type

  • Employment: 2 recent pay stubs + employment verification letter
  • Self-employment: 2 years tax returns (with Schedule C) + recent bank statements
  • Social Security: Award letter or benefit verification letter from SSA
  • Disability: Award letter showing benefit amount and duration
  • Retirement/pension: Most recent 1099-R or pension statement
  • Child support: Court order + proof of recent payments (6 months bank deposits)
  • Investment income: Recent brokerage statements or 1099 forms
  • Rental income: Tax returns showing Schedule E + lease agreements

Common Income Fraud Schemes

Be alert for these red flags:

  • Fake pay stubs: Easy to create online—always verify directly with employer
  • Photoshopped documents: Look for inconsistent fonts, alignment, or image quality
  • Friend posing as employer: Call main company number, not number on application
  • Inflated self-employment income: Require tax returns, not just stated income
  • Temporary bonuses counted as regular income: One-time payments don’t qualify
  • Unreliable child support: Verify 6 months consistent payments before counting

Legal Considerations

Source of income discrimination: Many jurisdictions prohibit discrimination based on source of income. This means you cannot reject applicants simply because income comes from:

  • Section 8 housing vouchers
  • Social Security or disability benefits
  • Child support or alimony
  • Retirement or pension income

You CAN require that total income (regardless of source) meets your 3x rent requirement. You cannot reject someone who meets income requirements just because income comes from benefits rather than employment.

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