Published 7 November 2025 · Last reviewed 1 May 2026
SA302 and Tax Year Overview requirements for getting a Mortgage
If you are a sole trader, landlord or limited company director, you are probably familiar with the 31st January deadline for filing online self-assessments. The reality is you are able to send this in as soon as the tax year finishes, from 6th April. However, human nature and the fact that the payment would be deducted from your account earlier than needed mean that the vast majority of us tend to leave it late. In fact, for 2023/24, according to Government statistics, 299,419 tax returns were filed between 6 and 12 April 2025 (the first week of the new tax year), and by 31 January (the deadline) for the 2023-24 tax year, HMRC reported 11.5 million returns filed.
So, why is it that Mortgage Lenders generally want these filed by October, following the tax year-end, rather than January? They view this as a prudent step to ensure they have a more up-to-date picture of your finances and your ability to service the mortgage debt. You will notice that some mortgage lenders set the cut point exactly at 18 months from the tax year 2023/24, i.e., 5th October, which appears to be the consensus among the lending fraternity.
Once filed, you will need to provide evidence that the tax has been paid by way of an “HMRC Tax Year Overview” showing a nil balance. As this document can add a week to the process, a minority of Mortgage Lenders are understanding and will take an official HMRC receipt of payment, which is generated automatically at the point of payment.
If you are uncertain how to obtain these documents, view our Article on the subject, click here . You should also speak to your Accountant if you have one.
As a footnote, HMRC is also poised to start gathering quarterly data digitally on your yearly progress from April 2026 for sole traders who expect to earn over £50,000 gross. Therefore, I would suspect that Mortgage Lenders will be watching the availability of this information with interest.
Other useful links:
Example of a Tax Calculation SA302
Example of a Tax Year Overview
HMRC Self assessment online portal