SA302 & Tax-Year Overviews for a Mortgage
Prepare the right tax documents before discussing self-employed mortgage income. This checklist does not establish eligibility or guarantee a lender will accept them.
By SoloCalc · Content updated 23 October 2026
Two documents, different purposes
GOV.UK confirms that a tax calculation, commonly called an SA302, can be used as evidence of self-employed earnings. A tax-year overview is a separate tax-year record. A mortgage provider may ask for both; one should not be assumed to replace the other.
Start by asking the provider which years, versions and income figures it needs. The fact that HMRC can supply a document does not mean every lender accepts it or uses every income line in the same way.
Retrieve the tax calculation
- Make sure the relevant Self Assessment return has been submitted. GOV.UK says documents cannot be printed until 72 hours after submission.
- If you used HMRC online services, sign in through GOV.UK, open Self Assessment, select the tax year and follow the tax-calculation printing instructions.
- If you or your accountant filed with commercial software, obtain the tax calculation from that software. Ask your accountant for the calculation if they prepared the return.
- Check the document identifies the intended tax year and represents the return you actually filed, not a forecast from a planning calculator.
GOV.UK says SA302 evidence is available for the last four years once you have submitted your return. That retrieval period is not a rule requiring four years of accounts for every mortgage application.
Retrieve the matching tax-year overview
Use your HMRC online account and follow GOV.UK's tax-year overview instructions. GOV.UK says an overview can be obtained for any year. Match it to the calculation's year rather than sending documents from different periods.
If a return has been amended, ask the provider what updated evidence it needs. A calculator cannot confirm whether documents are accepted, whether a return has been processed or how your account balance will be treated.
A document pairing checklist
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Matching tax years | The calculation and overview should relate to the year requested. |
| Required version | Confirm acceptance of HMRC printouts or commercial-software calculations. |
| Submitted rather than forecast | A planning illustration is not filed-return evidence. |
| Recent amendments | Ask which updated documents the provider requires. |
| All requested years and other documents | Accounts, bank statements and deposit evidence may also be needed. |
Questions to ask the provider
- Which complete tax or accounting years do you require for my circumstances?
- Do you accept self-printed HMRC documents and this software's tax calculation?
- Which income figure will you assess, and how do you handle rising or declining profits?
- For a director, do you use personal salary and dividends or another company-income method?
- What additional accounts, statements, identity and deposit evidence are required?
- How should I provide documents securely, and what if my return has been amended?
Do not rely on an old lender-acceptance list as current confirmation. GOV.UK expressly says to check the mortgage provider's requirements. One year's evidence is not a guarantee of acceptance.
Use figures without counting income twice
An SA302 can contain more than one income source. Do not add a salary or dividend again if it is already included in a total you are using. Turnover, taxable profit and take-home are not interchangeable. Read which income figure belongs in each calculator.
The self-employed mortgage calculator illustrates income methods, deposit and repayments. It does not authenticate documents or perform the lender's affordability assessment. For tax planning use the self-employed tax calculator; neither tool produces an official SA302.
Keep your documents private
SA302s and overviews can contain personal tax information. Only send them using the provider's verified secure process. Do not upload them to SoloCalc or paste them into an issue report. Never share HMRC sign-in details.
Official sources and limits
- GOV.UK: get your SA302 tax calculation and tax-year overview
- MoneyHelper: applying for a mortgage and preparing evidence
- FCA: mortgage affordability rules
General preparation information only, not regulated mortgage advice, an eligibility check, lender quote or Agreement/Decision in Principle. Lenders assess evidence, income, expenditure and other circumstances using their own criteria. Seek a suitably qualified adviser for individual advice.