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Australian Lending Policy Reference

Unstable Income: Decline Conditions

What happens when income is declining year-on-year — how lenders treat a downward trend in earnings and when it leads to a reduced assessment or decline.

Vetted and updated: 2026ACL 387460 Vetted

Core Assessment Analysis

When reviewing business financials, bank calculators compare the latest tax year against the previous year. If your company's net profit has dropped by more than 10% to 20% year-on-year, standard automated credit engines will flag the file. If the drop exceeds 20%, banks will completely reject the previous year's high profit, calculating your Personal capacity based purely on the lower modern profit, or decline the application.

Why Underwriters Focus Here

A declining business revenue trend is a leading indicator of solvency stress, increasing default probability.

Key Outcome Assessment Factors

The percentage of profit drop, industry conditions, and providing a signed accountant letter detailing structural changes.

Your pathway from here
General Information Only

Declines exceeding 20% require detailed mitigants or specialist non-bank lenders.

Model Mortgages Pty Ltd | Australian Credit Licence 387460

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