Self-employed borrowers who are unable to provide traditional income verification but have a proven 2-year history of managing their credit and finances responsibly can still buy a property.
Eligible borrowers typically own a small size business for a minimum of two years, which can be confirmed via a third-party arms length document. In addition, the borrower is required to declare their annual income, which should be reasonable based on the industry, length of operation and type of business.
A self employed borrower must own one of the following:
Sole Proprietorship
- A one-owner operation where the owner directs all the activities of the business, assumes all authorities and obligations, and is liable for its business debts. The sole proprietor income is reported to revenue Canada on the standard tax return (T1 General) together with Revenue Canada's required statement of business or professional activities.
- Partnerships are businesses owned by two or more individuals who share the profits or losses of the business operation. The partnership income is reported to Revenue Canada on the standard tax report (T1 General) together with Revenue Canada's required statement of business or professional activities, which reflects the percentage of the NET income or loss for each partner of the enterprise.
- A limited company or corporation is a legal entity, separate from the persons (all shareholders) who own it. The business can own assets, enter into contracts and conduct business transactions in its own capacity. The company is called limited because the liability of the shareholders is limited to their investment. All provincial Corporations must obtain articles of incorporation from the province in which they are registered or may be federally incorporated. The applicant's personal income will be reported by T4 from the corporation.