Grossing Up Non-Taxable Income for VA Loans

Lenders consider your gross monthly income when evaluating how much of a VA mortgage you can afford. In other words, they’re looking at your major monthly debts in relation to your pre-tax income. But what happens when you receive non-taxable income? How is your effective income calculated for a VA loan?

Grossing Up and Debt-to-Income Ratio

Lenders can gross up your income when calculating your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). This key metric looks at the relationship between your gross monthly income and your major monthly debts. VA lenders typically want your DTI to be at or below 41%, so grossing up non-taxable income can prove a big benefit for prospective buyers.

Example of Grossing Up Income

Let’s say the only income you receive is tax-exempt. If your monthly non-taxable income is $2,000 and your major monthly debts are $900, that’s a 45 percent DTI ratio (900/2,000).

Grossing up the income by 25 percent hikes the monthly income figure to $2,500. In turn, that lowers your DTI ratio to 36 percent -- which is a big deal in this example, because buyers whose DTI ratio exceeds 41 percent have to meet a higher benchmark for residual income.

Grossing Up & Residual Income

Residual income is another key guideline for VA lending. VA borrowers must have a minimum amount of discretionary income remaining each month after paying major expenses. That minimum cushion varies by family size and where you’re buying.

VA lenders cannot gross up non-taxable income when calculating your residual income. The VA and lenders want a clear look at your remaining discretionary income each month, in large part because that surplus helps ensure Veterans are well-positioned to weather financial storms.

Tax Returns & Non-Taxable Income

Just like with our example, it’s possible to obtain a VA loan if the only income you receive is non-taxable. Depending on the nature of your tax-exempt income and other factors, lenders may want to see a letter from the IRS indicating you didn’t file tax returns.

Talk with a Veterans United VA Loan Expert if you have any questions about how your non-taxable income can help you get a VA home loan.