Quick answer
Start with your employer's payroll portal, app or email, where most payslips are stored. If you cannot find them, ask payroll or HR for copies, naming the dates you need. When payslips are unavailable, an ATO income statement and bank statements showing your pay can fill gaps. Lenders usually want your most recent few.
Key points
- Most employers now deliver payslips electronically through a payroll portal, app or email.
- Ask payroll or HR in writing and name the exact pay dates you need.
- An ATO income statement in myGov backs up a year of pay when old payslips are missing.
- Bank statements that show regular pay deposits can support, but rarely replace, payslips.
- Casual, gig and self-employed borrowers have other ways to prove income.
Why do lenders ask for payslips at all?
A payslip is the closest thing to a live reading of your income. It shows what you are paid now, how often, what tax comes out and what is going into super. A lender reading it can see whether the pay you describe in an application matches what lands in your account. That match matters, because repayments are assessed against income that is steady and verifiable.
Payslips also reveal details that a summary cannot: overtime, allowances, salary packaging, unpaid leave and any deductions that reduce take-home pay. For borrowers with varied income, those details can help or hinder depending on how a lender treats each component.
Where do I find my current payslips?
Most employers now issue payslips electronically. The usual places to look are:
- A payroll or HR portal. Many workplaces use an employee self-service site. Look for a Payslips or My Pay section.
- A payroll app. Some employers use a mobile app that stores every pay run.
- Email. Payslips are often sent as PDF attachments or secure links. Search your inbox for words like payslip, remittance or pay advice.
- A printed slip. Smaller workplaces still hand out paper, so check any folder at home.
Download each payslip as a PDF rather than taking a screenshot. A lender can read a full PDF without squinting, and the dates and employer name stay visible. If your portal logs you out quickly, download several in one session.
How do I ask an employer for copies?
If the portal does not show what you need, ask payroll or HR directly. A short email works well:
- State your full name and, if you know it, your employee number.
- List the specific pay dates or the date range you need.
- Say that you need them for a loan application.
- Ask for PDF copies by return email.
Keep the email, along with any reply. If you are worried about how the employer will react, remember this is a routine request. Payroll teams field it regularly. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay slip template and guidance on what a payslip should show, which can help you judge whether what you hold looks complete.
What if I cannot get old payslips?
This happens often: a former employer closes, a system changes or someone in payroll moves on. You still have routes.
The ATO income statement in myGov shows pay and tax your employer reported for a year, and the ATO says it is the equivalent of a payment summary. Our guide on finding your group certificate or income statement explains the steps. Bank statements that show regular pay deposits can then support the story, and our guide on getting your bank statements covers that.
Neither is a perfect replacement for payslips, but together they can give a lender enough comfort in many cases. The decision is the lender’s, so ask your broker how a particular lender is likely to respond.
What do lenders look at on a payslip?
| Item on the payslip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Employer name and your name | Confirms who pays you and that the document is yours |
| Pay period and pay date | Shows recency and regularity |
| Gross and net pay | Net pay is what you actually receive |
| Year-to-date totals | Helps check consistency across the year |
| Tax withheld | Should line up with your income statement |
| Allowances, overtime, bonuses | Some lenders count only part of these |
| Super contributions | Confirms employment type and compliance |
| Deductions | Can include child support, salary sacrifice or loan repayments |
If any item looks unusual, be ready to explain it. A one-line note from you saves a question later.
Are payslips different for casual, contract and shift workers?
The document looks the same, but the way a lender reads it changes. For casual and seasonal workers, hours may swing from week to week, so lenders often want a longer run of payslips and sometimes an income statement to see the yearly total. Our page on home loans for casual and seasonal workers explains how that income is generally assessed.
Contractors and gig workers may not receive payslips at all. If that is you, our home loans for contractors and gig workers page and the guide on proving income without payslips are better starting points.
How should I organise the documents?
A tidy folder makes an application faster. A simple structure:
- One folder named for the current financial year.
- Payslips saved as year-month-day.pdf so they sort in order.
- A second folder for the previous year.
- A separate note listing employers and start dates.
Check each file opens properly before you send it. Corrupt or password-protected PDFs are a common cause of delays. If your employer’s portal adds a password, remove it or ask the broker how to handle it.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Editing a payslip. Never alter a document. Lenders verify against other sources, and tampering causes far bigger problems than a missing slip.
- Sending only one payslip. A single slip says little about regularity.
- Ignoring a new job. If you started recently, say so and include your employment contract or offer letter if you have it.
- Leaving it to the last minute. Waiting on an employer is a common cause of settlement stress.
- Assuming a missing payslip ends the application. There are usually other ways to evidence income.
What does an illustrative example look like?
This is illustrative only and not a real client. A borrower on rotating shifts has pay that shifts by a few hundred each fortnight. She downloads the last several payslips from her employer’s portal, then requests older ones from payroll by email. Payroll replies within a few days with a bundle.
She adds her income statement from myGov and a short note explaining how overtime works in her roster. Her broker presents the whole package together. The lender can see the pattern rather than a single snapshot, which is what the extra paperwork was for.
What if I am buying soon?
Timing matters when there is a contract date attached. If you are buying a home and need to line up documents, our new home loan page explains the general flow. Gather payslips as early as possible, because requests to employers can take days. If you are close to a deadline, tell your broker so they can prioritise what the lender needs first. You can also send your details through our apply page and we will tell you what to chase.
Are you ready to take the next step?
Sounds like you’re looking to get a loan, and the payslips are just the first hurdle. We’re the lending experts in making the paperwork side painless, whether you are on a steady wage or a shifting roster, so see if you qualify here. Ownright Custom Finance works Australia-wide and can look at what is available once we know your situation.
Frequently asked questions
How many payslips does a lender usually want?
Requirements differ between lenders and loan types, but a recent run is common, often the latest few pay periods, sometimes with year-to-date totals showing. Your broker can tell you what a specific lender asks for. Collecting a couple of extra payslips beyond the minimum is cheap insurance against a request for more.
Can I ask my employer for old payslips?
Yes, and it is worth asking in writing so there is a record. Say which pay dates you need and why. Many payroll systems keep an archive, so even employers you left some time ago may be able to send copies. If they cannot, an ATO income statement for the year can fill the gap.
What if my employer has stopped responding?
Check the payroll portal first, then your personal email for old payslip notifications. If that fails, the Fair Work Ombudsman publishes guidance on payslips and record-keeping, and the ATO income statement in myGov can show what your employer reported. A broker can often adapt the application around a missing document.
Do casual workers get payslips too?
Casual employees are employees, so payslips are part of the picture, though your pay may vary week to week. Lenders looking at casual income often want a longer run of payslips to see the pattern. Our page on home loans for casual and seasonal workers explains how that is usually assessed.
What can I use if I get paid in cash or by invoice?
Evidence of income can come from bank statements, invoices, tax returns and notices of assessment rather than payslips. Lenders handle these cases differently, and some specialise in them. Talk to a broker early, because the right document mix depends on how you are paid and how long you have been doing it.