A colleague of mine has just been informed by the Agent's helpline that it has been agreed, between HMRC and the major Lenders, that the Lenders will now accept SA302s printed directly from software rather than only HMRC forms. Has anyone else heard anything about this?
Replies (18)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
We have been told the same by HMRC but this week we received a request from a mortgage adviser and they still wanted original SA302 from HMRC.
Clients getting SA302
It would be a shame if this happens- when they have to get their own SA302s its the only time our clients see how really bad HMRC are and how much time we spend trying to contact them.
Working Together
issued an update last week that procedures were hoped to be in place by the end of the month.
No details yet received
Unfortunately
It would make life a lot simpler.
In response to mjshort - I thought the same as you regarding showing how bad the timeliness of the HMRC really is but for some unknown reason the SA302's turn up in break neck speed and the financial advisers wonder what all the fuss was about as they think HMRC are wonderful!! Frustrating isn't the word!!
Be Patient
HMRC may have changed its procedures, but many lenders have monolithic bureaucracies of their own for the news to filter through, and then the adivsers have to be squared up.
Of course, it was always laughable that lenders set so much store by an SA302 anyway - it is, after all, little more than an acknowledgement that a return was filed and what the figures were thereon. Unless there was an enquiry into said figures, it hardly counts for much.
Just wait for the rates to start climbing again and a new generation of unffordable mortgages to turn sour.
Santander....
....refused to accept HMRC original SA302's because we only sent the forms and did not enclose the original letter from HMRC with them.
We had to send them the original letter, even a faxed copy was not acceptable.
Other lenders have accepted the forms SA302 on their own.
I heard that
lenders were going to be allowed in the "gateway" and be able to look at SA302's, but this new information appears to go against that.
I would have
great objections if it were possible for any Tom Dick or Harry to get through the Gateway to look
Marion
are you saying that if lenders such as HSBC were allowed in the "gateway" they might use it for the advantage of some of their customers?
@John
In my opinion, as soon as you start to widen access to private information, within organisations where employees are not bound by confidentiality, you increase the risk of misuse of that information.
I was equally concerned by the idea of a national database which could be accessed by all local authorities
The situation with
lenders and SA302's is very unclear. The tax office were charging £14 a time. That appears to have stopped.
I don't think the gateway should be opened to all. With the scams going on at the moment it would only increase fraud.
.
I imagine HMRC got peed off about the sheer volume of these vs 2-3 years ago when software seemed fine.
Do remember of course banks also have agreement ins place about what they can ask for on a reference with our institutes.
*hollow laugh*
Gateway Printouts
I have been continually been told by HMRC telephone staff, that I can print out `tax calculation's` from the Gateway and have always replied that it can`t be done. Having been told this again, last week, I re-checked the gateway and whilst there are instructions to printout said calculation's, they don`t exist if you follow the link. I duly rang the Online electronic help desk, and was told that the facility wasn`t available to agents ?? It seems strange that individuals, who file their own returns, are able to print off calculations.
Third Party Software
I have been continually been told by HMRC telephone staff, that I can print out `tax calculation's` from the Gateway and have always replied that it can`t be done. Having been told this again, last week, I re-checked the gateway and whilst there are instructions to printout said calculation's, they don`t exist if you follow the link. I duly rang the Online electronic help desk, and was told that the facility wasn`t available to agents ?? It seems strange that individuals, who file their own returns, are able to print off calculations.
HMRC told me last week that as an agent I could print them straight off the Government Gateway - I said 'great, how?!' and then they went on to tell me that I just needed to go in to the clients records the same way as I submitted their tax return and I said 'what via my Sage Taxation software?' to which they said they thought I used the HMRC software and if I used third party software then no I couldn't! Doh!! I can print exactly the same report off of my Sage software but apparently the mortgage provider can't accept that so I have had to order it via phone from HMRC - I just hope it takes months to turn up like responses to our other correspondence but I know it won't!!!
Hrmc own software
Mortgage lenders are refusing to accept SA302s even though we have filed the tax returns using the HMRC software. This gives you the ability to print off the SA302, which we assumed would be fine for our clients that needed them. Not so; the mortgage companies have still insisted on getting copies via HMRC. Seems they just want to charge the fees for doing this!
@Solutions TAS
It is about using third party software - link not available - as opposed to HMRC software - link available : not whether you are an agent
I just don't understand
Why lenders won't accept as sufficient evidence a signed declaration by a qualified accountant setting out the would be borrowers taxable earnings. If the declaration turned out to be false the lender would be able to pursue the accountant.
As I have posted before, a naughty borrower could file a tax return with an inflated income (oops too may noughts!) and obtain the SA302. They could then amend the SATR and get a 'proper' SA302, but still use the original false one to show to potential lenders.
In fairness to HMRC this is a problem created by the lenders trying to use the tax system in a way that it wasn't designed for.
An 8 for a 5
etc. etc.
Spot on Vaughan.
So now we have a mixture of all sorts. I suspect the reason HMRC went along with this charade in the first place was to hope borrowers would declare their proper earnings (this is based on the premise that HMRC think most self-employed are understating their income or overstating their expenses).
Still once all the squeeky clean business has gone lenders will have to start taking risks.