You do not always need tax returns to get business funding. A large share of products underwrite on bank statements instead, which is good news if your returns are dated or complicated.
Bank statements can stand in for returns
Many revenue-based and short-term funding companies base their decision on recent business bank statements rather than filed tax returns. They want to see current cash flow, not last year's paperwork.
The Broker Shop is a broker, not a lender, so we route your file to the companies that skip returns, instead of sending you to a bank that will insist on them.
Which products usually skip returns
Revenue-based funding, short-term working capital, and some lines of credit commonly approve on statements alone. Bank term loans and SBA programs, by contrast, almost always require tax returns.
If speed matters and your returns are not ready, the statement-based products are your fastest realistic path.
What you will need instead
Expect to provide the last three to six months of business bank statements, a government-issued ID, and basic business details. Clean statements with steady deposits carry the application.
Fewer negative days and consistent revenue in those months do more to earn approval than any single document.
Know the trade-off
Statement-based funding is fast and light on paperwork, but the lowest-cost options, like bank and SBA loans, still ask for returns. If you can wait and want the cheapest capital, gathering returns may pay off.
A broker can lay both paths side by side so you choose speed or cost with clear eyes.
See what you qualify for
One 2-minute application is matched to the lenders whose guidelines you meet. It's free, and checking your options won't affect your credit score.
See What I Qualify For →The bottom line: Plenty of funding approves on bank statements without tax returns; it is faster, though the lowest-cost loans still ask for returns.