SA302s for a mortgage: what lenders want, and what to do if you can't get one
When you are employed, a lender reads your payslips. When you work for yourself there is no employer to vouch for you, so the lender uses HMRC's own figures instead. That is the whole reason the SA302 matters to self-employed borrowers. For what the document actually is, start with what is an SA302.
The documents, year by year
For every year the lender asks for, send a pair:
- the SA302 tax calculation, which shows your income and how the tax on it was worked out;
- the Tax Year Overview for the same year, which shows the tax due and paid according to HMRC's account.
The total on the SA302 should equal the amount due on the overview. Underwriters check this. If you are not sure what the two documents are for, SA302 vs Tax Year Overview explains the difference.
How many years do lenders want?
Two years is the usual answer. Some lenders want three. A smaller number will consider one full year of figures, usually with other evidence of income. Lenders also differ on how they use the numbers: some take the latest year, some average the last two, and many use the lower of the two if your income has dropped. That choice can change how much you can borrow, so it is worth asking before you apply.
What counts as an SA302
GOV.UK lists two routes. If you filed through HMRC's online service, print the tax calculation from your HMRC account. If you or your accountant filed through commercial software, the equivalent calculation comes out of that software, sometimes under a different name such as "tax computation". HMRC's published list of lenders covers both: those lenders have agreed to accept either a calculation printed from your HMRC account or one printed from commercial software, together with a Tax Year Overview from your HMRC account.
The steps for both are in how to get your SA302 from HMRC.
When the SA302 is not available
People search "SA302 no longer available" for a few different reasons, and the fix depends on which one applies.
HMRC will not post one. HMRC expects you to print your own. The GOV.UK guidance is built around printing from your online account or your software, and it points you to the Self Assessment helpline only if you have problems getting the documents.
You filed less than 72 hours ago. Wait. Neither document can be printed before then.
The year is too old. GOV.UK says you can get SA302s for the last four years. For anything older, contact HMRC.
Your accountant filed it. The calculation is in their software, not your HMRC account. Ask them for the tax computation and print the Tax Year Overview yourself.
The latest year is not filed yet. This is the one that catches people out. If you are applying in the summer and have not filed the year that ended on 5 April, the lender may want it. Filing early, rather than at the 31 January deadline, gets you the documents months sooner.
Profit, not turnover
Lenders look at your profit, the figure after business expenses, not your turnover. A sole trader invoicing £80,000 with £30,000 of costs shows £50,000 of income on the SA302. That is why claiming every legitimate allowable expense lowers your tax bill but also lowers the income a lender sees. People sometimes notice this trade-off only when they apply.
Check the numbers before the lender does
Before you send anything, make sure each year's SA302 total matches its overview, that you have the right years, and that you have paid the bill in full so the overview shows £0.00 outstanding. If you want to sanity-check a figure on an SA302, put the same income into the estimator and the totals should agree. Our SA302 example walks through every line.
This page explains the documents. It is not mortgage advice, and lenders' criteria change, so confirm what your lender needs before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
How many years of SA302 do I need for a mortgage?
Most lenders want the last two completed tax years, each with a matching Tax Year Overview. Some ask for three, and a few will consider one year.
Do mortgage lenders accept SA302s I print myself?
Many do. HMRC publishes a list of lenders that have agreed to accept tax calculations and Tax Year Overviews printed by customers or their accountants. Always check with your own lender.
What can I do if my SA302 is no longer available?
Print it yourself from your HMRC online account, or from your accountant's software if they filed. GOV.UK says SA302s are available for the last four years. For older years, or if you cannot get access, contact the HMRC Self Assessment helpline.
Can I get a mortgage with only one year's SA302?
Some lenders will consider one full year of self-employed figures, usually with extra evidence. Most prefer two years.
Do mortgage lenders use turnover or profit?
Profit. The SA302 shows your income after allowable business expenses, and that is the figure lenders use for affordability.