by Asim Abbas
12 November 2026 
Self-employed mortgage? How to get your SA302, tax year overview and accountant’s letter
Self-employed mortgage? How to get your SA302, tax year overview and accountant’s letter
Being self-employed should not stop you getting a mortgage, but the paperwork can. Here is exactly what lenders ask for, how to get it, and what to do if something is missing.
- Most lenders want an SA302 and a matching tax year overview for two or three years.
- You can print them 72 hours after filing; returns filed by an accountant come from their software.
- Many lenders also ask for an accountant’s reference, especially for directors and newer businesses.
- Filing your latest return early can make your application stronger.
- Contact us now and we will look into your tax affairs and sort the documents out.
If you are a sole trader, landlord or company director, lenders cannot check a payslip. Instead they want proof of what you have declared to HMRC, and often a letter from your accountant.
This guide explains SA302s, tax year overviews and accountant’s reference letters in plain English. It also covers the problems that most often hold up an application, and how to fix them quickly.
What do mortgage lenders ask the self-employed for?
There is no special mortgage for self-employed people. You apply for the same products as everyone else, but you prove your income differently. For most lenders that means:
- SA302 tax calculations for the last two or three tax years
- Tax year overviews for the same years
- Accounts prepared by a qualified accountant, especially for limited companies
- An accountant’s reference letter or the lender’s own accountant form, if asked
- Recent personal and business bank statements
A few lenders will consider one full year of figures, usually with a reference from your accountant. Your mortgage broker will know which lenders suit your history.
What is an SA302?
An SA302 is HMRC’s tax calculation for one Self Assessment year. It shows your income from each source and how your tax and National Insurance were worked out. GOV.UK describes it as evidence of your earnings, and you can get it for the last four years once your return has been sent (GOV.UK: get your SA302).
How to get your SA302
If you filed your own return through HMRC, sign in to your HMRC online account, go to Self Assessment, then “More details about your Self Assessment returns and payments”, and print the tax calculation. If your accountant filed it through software, the calculation is printed from that software instead. Either way, you cannot print it until 72 hours after the return was sent.
What is a tax year overview?
The tax year overview is a separate HMRC statement for the same year. It shows the tax due and the payments made, so the lender can check the SA302 matches HMRC’s records. You print it from your HMRC online account, and you can get one for any year. Lenders usually want both documents together.
Check your take-home figures
Use our free tax calculators to see how your profit, salary and dividends add up before you apply.
When do you need an accountant’s letter?
Many lenders ask your accountant to confirm your income, either in a letter on headed paper or on the lender’s own form. It is common when:
- you are a company director and leave profit in the company
- your business is new or growing fast, and last year’s figures understate what you earn now
- you have several income sources, such as self-employment plus rental income
- the lender wants a projection for the current year
Lenders usually expect the letter to come from a qualified accountant who prepared your figures. As Chartered Certified Accountants, we can provide it, and we only confirm figures we can support. See our mortgage documents service for what we include.
How company directors are assessed
Most lenders look at your salary plus dividends, taken from your SA302s and company accounts. Some lenders will also look at your share of the company’s net profit, which can help if you pay yourself a low salary and keep profits in the business. That usually needs an accountant’s reference confirming the figure. Our limited company accountants keep your accounts and director returns ready for this.
Fixed-fee accountancy support
Transparent monthly packages for sole traders, landlords and limited companies. Fixed fees agreed upfront, VAT included.
Get a fixed-fee quoteCall 0161 531 4179Common problems that delay applications
Your latest return has not been filed
If you apply in late 2026, your lender may want your 2025/26 figures. That return is not due until 31 January 2027, but filing it now means the documents can be printed three days later. We can prepare and file it quickly through our Self Assessment service.
The figures do not match
If your SA302 and tax year overview disagree, an underwriter will stop and ask why. The cause is usually an unprocessed amendment or a payment allocated to the wrong year. We find it and correct it with HMRC.
A mistake on an earlier return
You can normally amend a return online within 12 months of the 31 January filing deadline. After that, you have to write to HMRC. Correct errors before you apply, not during underwriting.
Undeclared income
If you have income you have not told HMRC about, put it right before applying. A lender will only rely on what HMRC holds, and the safest route is a voluntary disclosure. Read about our tax disclosure support.
What should I do next?
Number of years, accountant’s form or letter, and any projections.
Make sure every return is filed and the figures match.
We will look into your tax affairs and business position, file anything outstanding and prepare your documents.
SA302s, tax year overviews, accounts and our reference letter, all consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a mortgage with one year of self-employed accounts?
Some lenders will consider one full year, usually with an accountant’s letter and a strong deposit. Most mainstream lenders still prefer two years. A broker can tell you which lenders fit your situation.
Will HMRC post me an SA302?
You can print the documents yourself from your HMRC online account once your return has been processed. If an accountant filed your return through software, they provide the tax calculation.
How much income will a lender use?
Sole traders are usually assessed on net profit, often averaged over two years or taken as the lower of the last two. Directors are usually assessed on salary plus dividends. Each lender has its own rules.
Can my accountant speak to my broker?
Yes. With your permission we will answer your broker’s or underwriter’s questions about your figures directly. We do not give mortgage advice ourselves.
How quickly can you prepare my documents?
If your returns are already filed, documents and letters can usually be prepared quickly. If a return needs filing first, the SA302 can be printed 72 hours after it is sent.
Need help with this? Wingate Accountants offers fixed-fee online accountancy support across the UK. Call 0161 531 4179 or request a quote at wingateaccountants.co.uk.
About the Author
Asim Abbas
I’m Asim Abbas, founder of Wingate Accountants and a Chartered Certified Accountant. I help sole traders, landlords and directors stay on top of their tax with fixed fees and plain-English advice.
