What are SA302 tax calculations?
An SA302 is HMRC’s summary of your income, worked out from the Self Assessment tax return you file. It lists your total income, the tax due, and any payments you’ve made. Most lenders accept it as the main evidence of self-employed income.
You’ll usually need SA302s for the last two to three tax years. File your Self Assessment on time each year. Late filing holds up your SA302, and that can stall the mortgage application later on.
How to get your SA302
You can get your SA302 two ways, and the route you take can affect whether a lender accepts it.
| HMRC online | Request by post |
|---|---|
| Log into your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk | Call HMRC Self Assessment helpline (0300 200 3310) |
| Go to Self Assessment > More Self Assessment details > Get your SA302 | Takes 2–4 weeks to arrive |
| Download or print immediately | Official HMRC-stamped document |
| Accepted by most lenders | Accepted by all lenders |
| Free and instant | Useful if you can’t access your online account |
Some lenders no longer insist on SA302s and will take tax year overviews on their own, or even a tax calculation produced by your accountant. Your broker will tell you what each one needs.
What are tax year overviews?
A tax year overview is a snapshot of where you stood with HMRC for one tax year. It shows the tax charged, what you paid, and any balance still owing. Lenders read it next to your SA302 to check the numbers line up and your tax is up to date.
You can download them from your HMRC online account, one for every year you’ve filed a Self Assessment return. As with SA302s, lenders usually want the last two to three years.
What do accountant’s certificates need to include?
Some lenders will take an accountant’s certificate or reference instead of SA302s, or alongside them. Not every accountant’s letter passes muster, though. Lenders ask for specific things.
Must be from a qualified accountant
- ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified
- Some lenders also accept AAT members in practice
- Must be on the accountant’s headed paper with their registration number
Must include specific information
- Your trading name and business structure
- Dates the business has been trading
- Net profit (sole traders) or salary and dividends (directors)
- Confirmation the figures are based on finalised accounts
May need to confirm additional details
- Whether accounts are prepared on an accruals or cash basis
- That the accountant has no concerns about the business’s viability
- Any material changes expected in the current trading period
If your accountant hasn’t written a mortgage reference before, your broker can hand over a template covering exactly what the lender wants. That saves a round of back-and-forth and keeps things moving.
Company accounts for limited company directors
As a limited company director, you’ll need to show your company’s full statutory accounts as well as your personal SA302s. A qualified accountant should prepare them, and they usually cover the last two to three financial years.
Lenders read the company accounts to gauge how profitable the business is and whether the salary and dividends you declare can keep coming. If you leave a lot of profit in the company instead of drawing it, some lenders will count those retained earnings, and that can lift how much you can borrow.
What do lenders look for in bank statements?
Bank statements show a lender what accounts and SA302s can’t. They lay out how you actually spend, the commitments you pay each month, and whether your daily finances match what’s declared on paper.
What lenders like to see
- Regular income deposits matching your declared earnings
- Consistent saving behaviour
- Manageable and predictable spending patterns
What raises concerns
- Gambling transactions (even small ones can flag)
- Frequent use of overdraft facilities
- Unexplained large deposits or withdrawals
- BNPL payments or payday loan activity
Clean up your bank statements
If you use a gambling app or lean on your overdraft, try to stop at least 3–6 months before you apply. Lenders look at your most recent statements, and those patterns can trigger a decline even when your income is strong.
Proof of future contracts (for contractors)
As a contractor, some lenders will ask for proof of ongoing or upcoming work. It matters most with lenders that assess income from your contract rate rather than your past accounts.
Give them a copy of your current contract showing the day rate, the start and end dates, and the client’s name. If it’s coming up for renewal, a letter of intent or a record of past renewals helps too. Most lenders want at least six months left to run, or a clear pattern of back-to-back renewals.
Your self-employed documentation checklist
A bit of organising before you speak to a broker or lender smooths the whole thing out. Here’s what to pull together.
Before your first broker meeting
- 01
Download SA302s and tax year overviews
For the last 2–3 tax years from your HMRC online account.
- 02
Get your latest accounts from your accountant
Full accounts for limited companies; profit and loss for sole traders.
- 03
Gather personal and business bank statements
Last 3–6 months for both. Download as PDFs from your online banking.
- 04
Prepare proof of identity and address
Passport or driving licence, plus a recent utility bill or council tax statement.
- 05
Collect evidence of your deposit
Savings statements, or documentation of where your deposit funds come from.
- 06
Note your business details
Trading name, company number, date trading started, and your accountant’s details.
At Clearview Mortgage Solutions, we go through your documents before anything is submitted and flag whatever’s missing or likely to raise a query. That heads off delays and the back-and-forth with the lender.