VA Residual Income Calculator
See whether your income left over after taxes, housing and debts meets VA’s residual income guideline for your region and family size. Uses VA’s published tables and method.
VA Residual Income Calculator
VA tables · Region · Family size · DTI check
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How to Use the VA Residual Income Calculator
- Choose your state, family size and loan amount, and check the military box if it applies.
- Enter your gross monthly income and your monthly taxes.
- Enter your housing costs and the home’s square footage.
- Enter other monthly debts and child care costs, then click Calculate Residual Income.
The VA residual income calculator compares your result with VA’s guideline and shows your VA debt-to-income ratio. Use the tax amounts from your pay stubs for the most accurate VA residual income calculator estimate.
How VA Residual Income Works
VA looks at two numbers when it reviews your income: your debt-to-income ratio and your residual income. Residual income is what is left of your gross monthly income after federal, state and local income taxes, Social Security and Medicare, your housing costs, your monthly debts, and child care or job-related costs.
Housing costs include principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, and an estimate for maintenance and utilities. VA’s Lender’s Handbook sets that estimate at 14¢ per square foot of the home’s gross living area.
Your residual income is then compared with VA’s guideline for your region, family size and loan amount. Everyone in the household counts toward family size.
VA Residual Income Tables
| Family size | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $390 | $382 | $382 | $425 |
| 2 | $654 | $641 | $641 | $713 |
| 3 | $788 | $772 | $772 | $859 |
| 4 | $888 | $868 | $868 | $967 |
| 5 | $921 | $902 | $902 | $1,004 |
Over 5 members: add $75 for each additional member, up to a family of seven.
| Family size | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $450 | $441 | $441 | $491 |
| 2 | $755 | $738 | $738 | $823 |
| 3 | $909 | $889 | $889 | $990 |
| 4 | $1,025 | $1,003 | $1,003 | $1,117 |
| 5 | $1,062 | $1,039 | $1,039 | $1,158 |
Over 5 members: add $80 for each additional member, up to a family of seven.
VA Regions
- Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
- Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
- South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
- West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
VA Residual Income FAQ
What happens if my DTI is above 41%?
VA’s standard ratio is 41% or less. Above 41%, the loan can still be approved with a supervisor’s justification. If your residual income is at least 20% above the guideline, VA does not require that second-level review.
What if my residual income is below the guideline?
Not meeting one standard does not automatically disqualify you. If your DTI is 41% or less, the loan may still be approved with a supervisor’s justification.
Does the DTI ratio include maintenance and utilities?
No. VA’s ratio uses principal, interest, taxes and insurance, HOA dues or special assessments, and long-term debts, divided by gross monthly income. Maintenance and utilities count only in residual income.
