Written and reviewed by John Pierre Saliba, Director and Senior Finance Broker, MFAA Accredited, ACL 511092. Last reviewed 8 October 2026.
Key facts
| Maximum LVR without LMI | Typically up to 90%, subject to lender assessment |
| Who qualifies | Big 4 audit, tax, advisory and consulting staff holding full CA or CPA membership |
| Bonus income treatment | Typically shaded to 50-80% of documented value; two years of history commonly requested |
| Common income threshold | Often around $150,000; several lenders count base plus shaded bonus toward it |
| Documents usually requested | Membership evidence, payslips, bonus letters for two years, employment contract |
| Typical approval timeline | 2-4 weeks; longer where foreign income or secondments are involved |
How Do Lenders Treat Big 4 Bonus Income in 2026?
Most lenders count 50% to 80% of your documented bonus toward borrowing capacity, subject to assessment. A $40,000 bonus therefore adds $20,000 to $32,000 of assessable income, which on typical servicing rates can move your maximum loan by six figures.
The evidence standard matters as much as the percentage. The common ask is two consecutive years of bonus history, shown on payslips, payment summaries or annual bonus letters, with the lower year often used. A smaller group of lenders will consider a single year for professionals in stable employment, which helps recently promoted managers whose bonus has stepped up. Where your bonus is a large share of your package, lender selection is the whole game: the difference between a lender shading at 50% off the lower year and one taking 80% of the latest year is enormous.
Big 4 pay moves in annual steps, and lenders assess what they can see on paper today. If your promotion and new bonus land in the next quarter, applying three months later can lift your borrowing power substantially. I often run the numbers both ways for clients so they can decide whether buying now or after review season gets them the better outcome.
Do Big 4 Accountants Qualify for an LMI Waiver in 2026?
Yes, typically. Big 4 professionals who hold full CA or CPA membership and meet the lender income threshold, often around $150,000, can usually borrow up to 90% LVR with LMI waived, subject to assessment.
Two Big 4 specifics work in your favour. First, several lenders count base plus shaded bonus toward the income threshold, which brings senior consultants and new managers over the line earlier in their careers. Second, employment at a globally recognised firm sits well with credit assessors, which helps at the margins of any application. The general eligibility rules are the same as for any qualified accountant; our home loans for accountants page covers those fundamentals.
How Does an Overseas Secondment Affect a Home Loan Application in 2026?
You can usually still borrow, but your lender pool shrinks and foreign income is shaded, typically to 60-90% of its value depending on the currency. Expect more documentation and a slower approval.
Common scenarios we arrange: buying in Sydney while seconded to London or New York, using foreign-currency salary; returning expats whose Australian income history has a gap; and secondees paid partly in Australia and partly offshore. Lenders differ on which currencies they accept, how much they shade, and whether they want a confirmed Australian return contract. If you are heading offshore soon, it is often cleaner to secure finance before you leave while you are still on Australian payroll, subject to your timing and circumstances.
Can I Get Approved While on Probation After a Promotion in 2026?
Usually yes. Many lenders waive probation conditions for qualified professionals, particularly where the move is an internal promotion or a step between firms in the same industry.
The reasoning is continuity: a senior auditor moving from one professional services firm to another has not changed careers, and assessors recognise that. A minority of lenders apply probation policy mechanically regardless of profession, so the fix is simply not to apply there. Tell us about any recent or upcoming role change up front and we will build the lender shortlist around it.
How Much Can a Big 4 Senior Manager Save on LMI in Sydney?
On a $1,400,000 purchase with a 10% deposit, a waiver typically saves roughly $30,000 to $40,000. The arithmetic:
- Purchase price (Sydney house): $1,400,000
- Deposit (10%): $140,000
- Loan amount: $1,260,000 (90% LVR)
- LMI normally payable at 90% LVR: approximately $30,000 to $40,000, depending on lender and insurer
- LMI with a professional waiver: $0
- Deposit required to avoid LMI without a waiver: $280,000 (20%), double the cash up front
Figures are illustrative only and vary by lender, insurer and circumstances. Test your own scenario with the LMI calculator and borrowing power calculator.
What Documents Do Big 4 Professionals Need in 2026?
Beyond the standard PAYG set, Big 4 applications usually need bonus and, where relevant, secondment evidence:
- Evidence of full CA or CPA membership
- Two recent payslips and your employment contract or latest remuneration letter
- Bonus letters or payment summaries covering the last two years, where bonus income is counted
- Secondment agreement and foreign payslips, if applicable
- ID, bank statements, and statements for existing debts including HECS-HELP
If you make partner, your income becomes distributions rather than salary and the assessment changes completely; see home loans for accounting firm partners. The full range of professions is at our professional LMI waiver hub.
Book a free 15-minute call with John Pierre Saliba
Bring your latest payslip and bonus letter. In 15 minutes you will know your borrowing power with the bonus counted properly.
