An SA302 is HMRC's tax calculation for a Self Assessment tax year: it shows your total taxable income, allowances and reliefs, and the tax you owe. It's the document self-employed people are most often asked for when applying for a mortgage. You can print SA302s for the last 4 years from your HMRC online account (or your tax software) once your return is in, but not until 72 hours after you've sent it.
If you're employed, your payslips and P60 prove your income. If you're self-employed, a landlord or a company director paying yourself in dividends, the SA302 does that job instead, usually alongside a tax year overview. Everything below comes from GOV.UK.
What an SA302 shows (and doesn't)
| Shows | Doesn't include |
|---|---|
| Your total income on which tax is due | Payments on account you've already made |
| Any allowances and reliefs you have | Payments into a Budget Payment Plan |
| The total you owe for the tax year | Other amounts outstanding, such as unpaid tax or penalties |
| How HMRC worked out the amount |
That's why lenders also ask for a tax year overview: it shows what was due for the year and what you've paid, so together the two documents show your income and that your tax is up to date.
How to get your SA302
- Send your Self Assessment tax return first. You can get SA302s for the last 4 years once each return is filed.
- Wait 72 hours. You can't view or print the calculation until then, so if you need it for a deadline, save a copy before you submit.
- If you filed with HMRC's online service: sign in to your HMRC online account, go to Self Assessment, then 'More details about your Self Assessment returns and payments', and print the calculation.
- If you or your accountant used commercial software: print the calculation from that software. It may be called something else, such as a 'tax computation'.
- Print the tax year overview from your HMRC online account for each year. You can do this even if you used software for the return.
If you filed on paper, HMRC posts your calculation to you. And if you need a version on HMRC headed paper, GOV.UK points you to contacting HMRC.
Will your lender accept a printed copy?
Usually, but check. HMRC publishes a list of mortgage providers that have agreed to accept tax calculations and tax year overviews printed by customers, or by their agents or accountants. It includes household names such as Barclays, Halifax and HSBC as well as many building societies, but the list was last updated in June 2020, and GOV.UK's advice is to always confirm with the lender what evidence it needs.
SA302s and your tax bill
The SA302 is a calculation, not a payment demand. HMRC sends a separate Self Assessment statement telling you what to pay, and if you file close to the deadline it may arrive after the payment is due, in which case you check your online balance instead. Payments on account can make the numbers look odd: they're two payments towards next year's bill, due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July, each usually half of last year's tax.
You don't have to make payments on account if last year's tax was less than £1,000, or if more than 80% of your tax was already paid outside Self Assessment, for example through your tax code (as of October 2026). If you're unsure whether you need to file at all, our guide to whether you need to do a Self Assessment covers it, and the Self Assessment deadlines page has the key dates.
A worked example from GOV.UK
GOV.UK's example shows why a calculation and a payment can look so different. Your bill for 2023 to 2024 is £3,000. You'd already made two payments on account of £900 each (£1,800) on 31 January and 31 July 2024. So by 31 January 2025 you pay a balancing payment of £1,200 (£3,000 minus £1,800) plus your first payment on account of £1,500 towards 2024 to 2025: £2,700 in total. The second £1,500 follows on 31 July 2025 (figures as of October 2026). Your SA302 for 2023 to 2024 shows the £3,000, not the £2,700, which is exactly why lenders want the tax year overview as well.
Common problems
- 'I can't see my calculation.' It's not been 72 hours since you filed, or you're looking under the wrong section of the online account.
- 'My lender wants 2 years but I've only filed 1.' You can only get SA302s for years you've filed, so file the latest return as early as you can if you're planning to apply.
- 'The figures don't match my accounts.' The SA302 shows the income tax is due on, after allowances and reliefs, so it won't match your sales figures.
- 'My software calls it something else.' Look for 'tax computation' or similar, and contact the software company if you can't print it.
The verdict
If a mortgage is on the horizon, file your Self Assessment early rather than in January. Then print the SA302 and the tax year overview for each year your lender wants, check the lender accepts self-printed copies, and keep PDFs so you're not logging in again every time a broker asks.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get my SA302?
Print it from your HMRC online account under Self Assessment, or from the commercial software used to file your return, at least 72 hours after you've sent the return.
How many years of SA302 can I get?
You can get your SA302 tax calculation for the last 4 years, once you've sent each Self Assessment return.
Do mortgage lenders accept printed SA302s?
Many do. HMRC lists lenders that accept self-printed calculations and tax year overviews, but always check with your lender.
Can I get an SA302 if I filed a paper return?
Yes. If you filed on paper, HMRC sends your tax calculation by post. You can still print a tax year overview from your HMRC online account.
Why can't I see my SA302 yet?
You can't view or print your tax calculation until 72 hours after you've sent your return, so save a copy before submitting if you need it urgently.
Is an SA302 the same as a tax year overview?
No. The SA302 shows how your tax was calculated; the tax year overview shows what was due and what's been paid. Lenders often want both.
