Payslip fraud is more common than landlords realise. A 2023 survey found that 12% of rental applicants in Australia had submitted falsified or doctored financial documents. Here's what to look for.
1. Name Mismatch
The name on the payslip should exactly match the name on the photo ID. Even minor differences — a middle initial included in one but not the other, or a hyphenated surname — deserve a follow-up question.
2. Inconsistent Income Across Payslips
If you request two payslips and the gross income varies by more than 20% without explanation (e.g. overtime, commission), that's a flag. Legitimate salaried employees have consistent pay.
3. Employer Name Doesn't Match ABN/NZBN Records
You can look up any NZ business at companies.govt.nz and any Australian business at abr.business.gov.au. If the employer on the payslip doesn't appear in the register, something's wrong.
4. PDF Fonts Look Wrong
Many payslips are generated by payroll software with consistent formatting. If you open a PDF and the font changes mid-document, or figures appear in a slightly different size or weight, it may have been edited.
5. Round Numbers Only
Real payslips contain odd figures — $1,847.63 after tax, $234.12 KiwiSaver contribution. A payslip where every figure is a round number ($2,000 gross, $300 tax, $1,700 net) is suspicious.
6. Pay Period Doesn't Add Up to Annual Salary
If a payslip claims $3,000 per fortnight but an annual salary of $50,000, the maths doesn't work ($3,000 × 26 = $78,000). Always check.
7. Missing Deductions
Every NZ employee pays PAYE tax and has the option for KiwiSaver. A payslip showing gross pay and net pay with no deductions listed in between is a red flag.
The Fastest Way to Check
Going through this checklist manually takes time and expertise most landlords don't have. RentVetted's AI checks all of these automatically and returns a risk grade in under 60 seconds.