Kempt
In short
Without payslips, you prove income with your last two tax returns (with Schedule C in the US), your 1099 forms, three months of bank statements and a year-to-date profit and loss statement, ideally signed by an accountant.Lenders usually want two years of self-employment history. Kempt finds each of these papers on your Mac from the landlord’s or lender’s email and tells you which one is missing.
Without any app
Tax returns first
Your last two years of returns are the strongest proof, because they show what the IRS saw. Include Schedule C (or Schedule SE) and keep them as PDFs from your tax software.
Forms from clients
1099-NEC and 1099-K forms show who paid you. Put the year’s forms in one folder so you can send them together.
Recent bank statements
Two or three months of business account statements show the money arriving now. Download them as PDFs from your bank.
A profit and loss statement
For the current year, a simple P&L (income minus expenses, month by month) fills the gap since your last return. A letter from your accountant (CPA) confirming it carries more weight.
Answer the 3× question
Many landlords look for an income around three times the rent. Say it in one line at the top of your email: “Average monthly income over 12 months: $X.”
With Kempt
- 1
From their email to a checklist
Drop the landlord’s or lender’s email on the notch, or use Prepare the papers: Kempt lists what they asked in their words and marks each paper Ready, Outdated or Missing.
- 2
The right years, found
Kempt reads your papers on your Mac, so “2025 Form 1040” and last quarter’s statements are found by what they say, not by their file names.
- 3
Send less
Copies hide what the requester doesn’t need, and Reply in Mail opens a draft with the papers attached, for you to check before you send.
$27 once, 14 days freeRuns on every Apple silicon MacA question? Ask a person
Questions people ask
What counts as proof of income if you’re self-employed?
Tax returns with Schedule C, 1099 forms, bank statements, a profit and loss statement, and a letter from your accountant. Landlords and lenders weigh tax returns the most.
How do I prove income for an apartment as a freelancer?
Send your last two tax returns, three months of bank statements and a year-to-date profit and loss statement, with a one-line summary of your average monthly income.
How many years of self-employment do lenders want?
Usually two years of returns. Some loan programs accept one year when you worked in the same field before; ask your lender.
Can I write my own proof of income letter?
You can, but a landlord trusts it more when your accountant signs it or when it matches your tax return and bank statements.
Is a 1099 enough on its own?
Rarely. It shows what one client paid, not what you earn overall. Pair it with your tax return or bank statements.