Payroll tools and source-backed guidance
Mortgage Income Documents: Prepare Your Records
Build an organized mortgage document packet from original pay statements, tax records, and bank statements.
Best Paystub Generator creates simulated earnings documents for lawful personal record-keeping. It does not verify employment or income and does not replace records issued by an employer or payroll provider.
Create the lender’s application packet
The CFPB’s mortgage preparation checklist includes recent paystubs, W-2s, tax returns, bank statements, and evidence of other income. Use that as a starting point, then follow your lender’s current request for your circumstances. Keep all requested pages and years together rather than substituting a newly formatted draft.
Explain changes across documents
Compare employer name, pay frequency, current earnings, and year-to-date totals. Keep documentation of a job change, a one-time bonus, or reduced hours beside the affected statements. Identify transfers and split deposits so money moving between your own accounts is not counted as additional income.
Keep source records authoritative
A personal earnings draft can make a reconciliation easier to read. It does not authenticate payroll, calculate qualifying mortgage income, or replace verification by the lender. If a statement is missing, request it from the payroll provider; if a tax transcript is requested, use the IRS record service.
What this guide covers
- Track the lender’s checklist
- Explain bonus and overtime changes
- Reconcile deposits to issued pay
Frequently asked questions
Will a paystub draft replace a W-2 or tax return?
No. They are different records with different issuers and reporting periods. Supply the document type the lender requests.
Should I average bonuses myself?
You may make a clearly labeled personal comparison, but do not present it as the lender’s qualifying income calculation. Keep the underlying bonus records for its review.