Written by Samina · Published: November 2026 · Last reviewed: November 2026 · Applies to 2026/27
MerinTaxReturn is an information website. It does not prepare or file tax returns and does not give personal tax advice.

Your mortgage broker has asked for “your last two SA302s”, and you’ve never downloaded one. Don’t worry: if you file a Self Assessment return, the documents usually already exist. This guide shows how to get SA302 copies in every common situation, whether you filed online, used software, had an accountant or sent a paper return. It also covers the timing rules and what to do when the figures won’t show or don’t match.

Quick Answer
To get your SA302, sign in to your HMRC online account, open Self Assessment and choose “More details about your Self Assessment returns and payments”. You can print it 72 hours after filing, for any of the last 4 years. If you or your accountant filed through commercial software, print the tax calculation from that software instead.
Key takeaways
  • An SA302 is HMRC’s tax calculation for one year, based on the return you filed.
  • Lenders usually want the SA302 together with the tax year overview for the same years.
  • Wait 72 hours after filing online before you try to print.
  • Online copies go back 4 years. Overviews are available for any year.
  • If something’s missing or wrong, contact HMRC or amend the return. Never edit the PDF.

What You’re Actually Getting

Two documents usually travel together, and most lenders ask for both:

Document What it shows Where it comes from
SA302 (tax calculation)Your income, allowances and reliefs, and the tax and Class 4 National Insurance HMRC worked out for the yearYour HMRC online account, or your filing software
Tax year overviewThe year’s liability, what you’ve paid and anything still outstandingYour HMRC online account only

According to GOV.UK, the SA302 doesn’t show payments on account or other amounts you still owe. That’s why the overview is needed alongside it.

Who usually needs an SA302?

Anyone whose income is assessed through Self Assessment can be asked for one. That includes sole traders, landlords, company directors with dividends, partners in a partnership and people with large savings or foreign income. Mortgage lenders ask most often, but landlords, letting agents and some loan providers may also want proof of income. Knowing how to get SA302 copies quickly saves days of back and forth when an application is under way.

How to Get SA302: Which Route Is Yours?

Find the row that matches how your return was filed:

Your situation Where the SA302 comes from Where the overview comes from
You filed online through HMRCYour HMRC online accountYour HMRC online account
You filed with commercial software yourselfPrint the tax calculation from the softwareYour HMRC online account
An accountant filed for youAsk them for the tax calculation from their softwareYour own HMRC online account (or ask the accountant to help)
You sent a paper returnContact HMRC once the return has been processedYour HMRC online account, or HMRC
You don’t have an HMRC online accountSet one up first, then follow the online routeAs above
You need a year more than 4 years agoContact HMRCYour HMRC online account (any year)
Your return was amended after filingWait for the change to process, then print againPrint again after processing

How to Get SA302 Online: Step by Step

This is the quickest route if you filed through HMRC’s own online service. The steps follow GOV.UK’s SA302 guidance:

  1. Sign in to your HMRC online account with your Government Gateway details or One Login.
  2. Open Self Assessment from your account home page.
  3. Choose “More details about your Self Assessment returns and payments”.
  4. Pick the tax year you need. Lenders usually want the most recent years first.
  5. Print or save the tax calculation as a PDF, and keep the file name clear, for example “SA302 2025-26”.

Getting your tax year overview

From the same Self Assessment area, open the overview for each year you need and save it as a PDF too. Unlike the SA302, GOV.UK says the overview is available for any year, so older years are usually easier to get than their calculations.

Can’t sign in?

  • No account yet: set up HMRC online access and complete the identity checks. Allow extra time if HMRC needs to post you an activation code.
  • Lost your UTR: GOV.UK explains where to find your UTR. It’s on most HMRC letters about Self Assessment.
  • Using the HMRC app: it shows some Self Assessment details, but use your online account for a printable tax calculation.

Saving and sending the files safely

Save each document as a PDF straight from your account or software, rather than taking photos or screenshots. Most lenders and brokers have a secure upload portal. Use that instead of ordinary email where you can. Keep your own copies in a folder for each tax year, because you’ll probably need them again for a remortgage or a future application.

How to Get SA302 if You’ve Never Used Your HMRC Account

If you’ve always relied on paper or an accountant, you may not have online access yet. Here’s the usual order:

  1. Find your UTR and National Insurance number.
  2. Create your sign-in details through GOV.UK’s HMRC sign-in page and confirm your identity, using a passport, payslip or P60 details.
  3. Add Self Assessment to your account if HMRC asks. If an activation code is posted to you, use it before it expires.
  4. Once you’re in, follow the online steps above for each year.

This can take a little longer the first time, so start a week or two before a lender needs the documents.

If You Used Software or an Accountant

When a return goes through commercial software, HMRC’s online account may not hold a printable calculation for that year. GOV.UK says to print the tax calculation from the software instead. It’s often labelled a “tax computation” and contains the same core figures.

If an accountant filed for you, ask them for the computation for each year your lender wants. You can still print the tax year overview yourself from your own HMRC account. Some lenders treat a software computation exactly like an HMRC-printed SA302, while others have their own rules, so check with your lender or broker before you send anything.

Not sure what your accountant needs from you at year end? See our guide to what information an accountant needs for your tax return.

Timing Rules: 72 Hours, 4 Years and Amendments

Rule What it means for you
72 hoursYou can’t print the SA302 until 72 hours after sending your return online
4 yearsOnline SA302s cover the last 4 years once a return has been sent
Overview: any yearTax year overviews are available for any year
AmendmentsAfter you amend a return, wait for it to process, then print both documents again

Planning a mortgage? File early rather than waiting for the deadline. The 2025/26 online return is due by 31 January 2027. Filing in, say, November means the documents are ready weeks before you need them. You can usually amend a return up to 12 months after that deadline. Any change creates new figures, so make sure the copies you send are up to date.

How to Request an SA302 From HMRC by Phone or Post

If you sent a paper return, need a year that’s too old to print, or can’t get online, contact HMRC using the details on its Self Assessment general enquiries page. Have these ready:

  • Your UTR and National Insurance number
  • The tax years you need
  • Your current address, as HMRC posts copies to the address it holds

GOV.UK doesn’t publish a fixed timescale for posted copies, so allow plenty of time before any lender deadline. If you’re in a hurry, setting up online access is usually quicker for recent years. Tell HMRC which lender deadline you’re working to. It may not speed things up, but it helps you plan.

Directors, Landlords and Getting Documents for Someone Else

Company directors: your SA302 covers your personal income, such as salary, dividends and any other income, not the company’s profits. A lender may also ask for the company’s accounts or an accountant’s letter, which are separate documents.

Landlords: rental profit appears on the SA302 after expenses, so the figure may be lower than the rent you received. That’s normal, but be ready to explain it.

Acting for someone else: if you hold a power of attorney or are an authorised agent, you’ll usually need to get the documents through HMRC’s agent services or by contacting HMRC directly. You can’t use your own account for their tax affairs.

SA302 Not Showing or Doesn’t Match? Fixes

Problem Likely reason What to do
Latest year isn’t thereLess than 72 hours since you filedWait and try again
Nothing for a paper returnStill being processed, or not available onlineWait, then contact HMRC
No calculation for a year an agent filedFiled through commercial softwareAsk the accountant for the computation
SA302 and overview totals differAn amendment or payment is still processingWait, then reprint both
The year you need is missingIt’s more than 4 years agoContact HMRC, or see this guide to old tax returns
A figure looks wrongAn error on the returnAmend the return. Never edit the PDF

Building Your Mortgage or Lender Pack

Before you send anything, check each point on this list:

  • An SA302 (or software computation) and a tax year overview for every year requested
  • The totals on each pair match
  • Your name, UTR and tax year are correct on every page
  • The number of years matches what the lender asked for. Two is common, but each lender sets its own rule
  • You’ve saved PDF copies and kept the originals unedited

HMRC has published a list of lenders that accept self-printed documents, but it hasn’t been updated for some time. Always confirm with your lender or broker which versions they accept.

How lenders use the documents

Underwriters compare the total income on the SA302 with the overview, and often look at two years side by side to see whether income is steady or rising. A big drop, a recent amendment or a mismatch between the two documents can prompt extra questions. Some lenders also check figures directly with HMRC. Sending clean, matching documents first time is the simplest way to avoid delays.

Illustrative example

Nadia, a self-employed designer, filed her 2025/26 return online on 10 November 2026. On 13 November, after the 72 hours had passed, she printed her 2025/26 and 2024/25 SA302s, plus both overviews. The totals matched in each pair, so she sent four PDFs to her broker that afternoon. If she had amended her return later, she would have reprinted both 2025/26 documents.

Illustrative example: an accountant-filed return

Tom’s accountant files his returns through practice software, so his HMRC account shows no printable calculation for those years. He asks the accountant for the 2025/26 and 2024/25 tax computations, prints both overviews from his own account and checks the totals match. His lender accepts software computations, so he sends all four documents together. Asking the lender first saved him a second request later.

Common Mistakes When Getting Your SA302

Mistake Why it matters
Sending the SA302 without the overviewMost lenders want both for the same years
Printing before an amendment has processedThe figures won’t match and may be queried
Assuming every lender accepts software computationsPolicies vary, so check first
Editing or retyping the PDFLenders can check figures with HMRC, and altered documents cause serious problems
Leaving it until the week of the applicationSign-in problems or postal requests take time

How to Get SA302: FAQs

How do I get my SA302 online?

Sign in to your HMRC online account, open Self Assessment, choose “More details about your Self Assessment returns and payments” and print the tax calculation for the year you need.

How long after filing can I get my SA302?

Wait 72 hours after sending your return online. Printing before then may show nothing, or only an earlier year.

How many years of SA302 can I download?

The last 4 years are available online once your returns have been sent. Tax year overviews are available for any year.

How do I get my SA302 if my accountant filed my return?

Ask your accountant for the tax calculation from their software. You can print the matching tax year overview from your own HMRC account.

Can I request an SA302 from HMRC by phone?

Yes. Contact HMRC through its Self Assessment general enquiries page with your UTR and the years you need. Copies are posted to the address HMRC holds.

Is a software tax computation the same as an SA302?

It contains the same core figures and is the version GOV.UK points software users to. Whether a lender treats it the same way depends on that lender.

Do I need an SA302 for a mortgage?

If you’re self-employed or have income taxed through Self Assessment, most lenders ask for SA302s or tax computations plus the overviews, usually for at least two years.

What is a tax year overview?

It’s a summary from your HMRC account showing the year’s tax bill, what you’ve paid and anything outstanding. Lenders often ask for it alongside the SA302.

Can I get an SA302 for a year more than 4 years ago?

Not online. Contact HMRC to ask what’s available for that year, and print the tax year overview, which goes back further.

Why doesn’t my SA302 match my tax year overview?

Usually because an amendment or a payment is still being processed. Wait a few days, then print both again.

Final Verdict: The Quickest Way to Get Your SA302

Once you know how to get SA302 documents, it usually takes a few minutes. Wait 72 hours after filing, sign in to your HMRC account and print the calculation and the overview for each year. If software or an accountant filed for you, get the computation from them. For paper returns or very old years, contact HMRC early. Check that the figures match before you send them, and never edit the documents.

Your next steps
  1. Ask your lender which years and documents they need.
  2. Check you can sign in to your HMRC online account.
  3. Print each SA302 and overview, then compare the totals.
  4. For upcoming deadlines, see our tax return deadline guide.
For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified accountant or tax adviser.
Why trust this guide
  • Steps, the 72-hour rule and the 4-year limit come from GOV.UK’s SA302 guidance (updated September 2026).
  • No unsourced processing times or lender claims are given.
  • Last reviewed: November 2026.
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Written by
Samina
Writer, MerinTaxReturn
Samina writes plain-English UK tax guides for MerinTaxReturn. Each guide is checked against current GOV.UK and HMRC guidance before it’s published.
How we checked this guide: the online steps, the 72-hour wait, the 4-year limit, the software route and lender advice come from GOV.UK’s “Get your SA302 tax calculation” page. What the SA302 includes comes from GOV.UK’s guide to understanding your Self Assessment bill. Deadlines and amendments come from GOV.UK’s Self Assessment pages. MerinTaxReturn is an information website. It does not prepare or file tax returns and does not give personal tax advice. This article is general information only. We review this guide every 12 months, or sooner if HMRC guidance changes. Last reviewed: November 2026