In NYC, when you rent an apartment, the building, coop owner or condo owner typically ask for two years of tax returns. They expect that at a minimum you must earn 40x the monthly rent. Some landlords will except six months security for the rent on top of the one month for the apartment. Others will just turn you down. It can be a problem if you can't show earning. Btw, if you can find a family member to guarantee the rent, they have to make 80x the monthly rent to be acceptable.
Start an LLC or an S-Corp and pay yourself through a W2. Now you're an employee of XYZ Inc. Problem solved.
Hi the1, I would like some clarification about LLC or S-corp setup if you do not mind. Would getting a w-2 triggering collection of social security/medicare tax? njrookie