Building Society Savings Interest Certificate: Tax & Statements

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UK Savings Tax & Statement Guide · 2026/27

Building Society Savings Interest Certificate: Tax & Statements

A building society savings interest certificate shows how much savings interest was paid to you for a tax year. Depending on the society, the same document may be called a certificate of interest, tax certificate, interest statement, annual savings statement or annual interest statement.

You may need the figure for Self Assessment, to check an HMRC tax calculation, to give information to an accountant or simply to reconcile interest across several savings accounts. In many cases you can download the information through online banking; branch, telephone and postal accounts may require a request.

How to Get Your Certificate Building Society Instructions 2026/27 Savings Tax Rules
Do not enter account security details here. Building-society.org is an independent website. Request statements and interest certificates only through your building society’s official website, app, secure message service, telephone number or branch.

Tax and provider procedures reviewed 22 September 2026. HMRC rules, online menus and statement processes can change, so use the linked official source when requesting a document.

Savings Interest Certificate: Quick Answers

What does it show? The actual interest paid or credited for the relevant tax year, rather than an estimate based only on the advertised AER.
UK tax year 6 Apr–5 Apr A certificate should be matched to the tax year you are reporting, not simply a calendar year.
Basic-rate PSA 2026/27 £1,000 Personal Savings Allowance for a basic-rate taxpayer.
Higher-rate PSA 2026/27 £500 Personal Savings Allowance for a higher-rate taxpayer.
Additional-rate PSA £0 Additional-rate taxpayers do not receive the standard Personal Savings Allowance.
Tax deducted by society? Usually £0 UK banks and building societies have generally paid ordinary savings interest gross since 6 April 2016.
Fast answer: if you need your interest figure for a tax return, start with your building society’s online banking or annual savings statement. If the tax-year figure is not visible, ask specifically for a certificate of interest for the tax year 6 April YYYY to 5 April YYYY.

What Is a Building Society Savings Interest Certificate?

A certificate of interest is a record of savings interest for a particular tax year. Yorkshire Building Society describes it as a statement showing the amount of interest earned on savings during a tax year, while Nationwide describes its interest certificate as a document or statement showing interest earned in the tax year.

The wording and layout are not standardised across every mutual. One provider may create a PDF called “Certificate of Interest”; another may send an “Annual Savings Statement” containing the same tax-year interest information.

Account identification Usually enough information to identify the savings account or accounts covered by the statement.
Tax year The relevant period from 6 April to the following 5 April.
Interest amount The interest actually paid or credited for the stated period according to the provider’s records.
Tax information Older-style certificates may refer to tax deducted. Ordinary UK savings interest is now generally paid gross.
Joint-account treatment Some annual statements show the total interest and an equal per-holder share.
Closed accounts Some providers can still supply tax-year interest information after the account has been closed.
Interest certificate does not mean interest-rate certificate. It tells you the amount of interest associated with a tax period. It is not simply confirmation that your savings account paid, for example, 4.00% AER.

Interest Certificate vs Annual Statement vs Tax Certificate

Document name
Usually shows
Best used for
Important check
Certificate of Interest
Interest earned/paid for a specified tax year.
Self Assessment, tax checks and accountant records.
Confirm the tax year and account covered.
Tax Certificate
Provider-specific tax-year interest information.
Usually the same practical tax purpose as an interest certificate.
Do not assume tax was deducted simply because the document says “tax”.
Annual Savings Statement
Balance, transactions or accounts plus interest information.
Account review and, where it clearly states tax-year interest, tax records.
Check whether it covers the tax year or another statement period.
Transaction Statement
Individual deposits, withdrawals and interest credits.
Reconstructing activity if no consolidated tax figure is available.
Do not accidentally add the same interest payment twice.
Provider terminology varies. Ask for the document by purpose if the name is unclear: “Please provide the total interest paid to me for the tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026.”

Do You Actually Need an Interest Certificate for HMRC?

Not everyone needs to send a certificate to HMRC. UK banks and building societies report reportable savings interest to HMRC after the tax year, and HMRC uses that information for tax calculations, PAYE coding and checks on Self Assessment returns.

You complete Self Assessment Use your provider records to declare the relevant UK savings interest on your tax return.
You are employed or receive a pension HMRC can normally use provider information and collect tax due through PAYE coding or another calculation process.
Your interest is £10,000 or less If you do not already file Self Assessment, HMRC generally uses information reported by banks and building societies to calculate any tax due.
Your savings interest exceeds £10,000 HMRC says you need to report savings interest through Self Assessment. HMRC may issue a notice to file based on provider data.
HMRC’s figure looks wrong A certificate or annual statement becomes particularly useful when reconciling HMRC’s account-by-account figures.
Your accountant requests proof Download or request the formal tax-year interest document rather than sending only a current account-balance screenshot.

Official HMRC guidanceHow HMRC Collects Tax on Savings Interest

After opening this link:

  1. Find the section matching the total savings interest you earned.
  2. If you already file Self Assessment, follow the instruction to report savings interest on the return.
  3. If you use PAYE, read how HMRC can adjust your tax code.
  4. If your interest exceeds £10,000, read the Self Assessment requirement.
  5. If HMRC’s estimated interest is wrong, follow the instructions to update it.

How to Get a Building Society Savings Interest Certificate

Start with online banking if the account supports it. If you cannot find a tax or interest section, contact the building society and give the exact account and tax year needed.

  1. Write down the building society and exact savings account you need the figure for.
  2. Identify the tax year, for example 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026.
  3. Log in through the society’s official website or app.
  4. Look under statements, documents, account options, manage tax, interest, correspondence or tax certificates.
  5. If available, choose the tax year and download the PDF.
  6. If the account is branch, postal or passbook-based, contact the society through its official number or branch.
  7. If the account is closed, say this clearly and provide enough account information for the society to locate it.
  8. Check the certificate against your own records before using the figure on a tax return.
Useful wording when calling: “I need confirmation of the total interest paid on my savings account for the tax year ending 5 April 2026. Can you provide a certificate of interest or equivalent annual interest statement?”

How Major Building Societies Provide Interest Certificates

There is no single UK-wide download button. The routes below show why searching for only “tax certificate” can sometimes miss the document you need.

Building society
Document wording
Current route
Useful detail
Nationwide
Interest certificate
Internet Bank → account/settings → “View my interest and tax paid” → request certificate.
Nationwide says certificates can cover up to the last five tax years, including routes for closed accounts.
Yorkshire Building Society
Certificate of interest / interest statement
Website: Account Options → Manage Tax. App: Manage account → Interest statement.
Can also be requested by phone, branch or in writing.
Coventry Building Society
Annual Savings Statement
Annual statement summarises account interest for the tax year.
The 2025/26 statement separately shows total non-ISA interest and joint-account shares.
Principality
Tax certificate
Request through a secure online message, telephone or branch.
Tell Principality which savings account and tax year you need.
Newcastle Building Society
Interest statement
Contact Newcastle and request an interest statement for the account.
Useful for branch/passbook customers who do not have the figure in an online document.
Leeds Building Society
Annual savings statement
Leeds says it sends an annual statement showing how much savings interest was earned.
Additional statements can be requested, including for closed accounts.
Progressive Building Society
Statement of interest / Statement of Deduction of Tax
Annual interest statement; tax-year statement can be requested in writing.
Progressive describes the tax statement as showing interest earned during a specific tax year.

NationwideRequest a Nationwide Certificate of Interest

After opening this link:

  1. Check whether the savings account is open or closed.
  2. Follow the matching Internet Bank instructions.
  3. Open “View my interest and tax paid”.
  4. Choose the certificate-request option.
  5. If you cannot use Internet Bank, read the branch alternative.

Yorkshire Building SocietyDownload a YBS Certificate of Interest

After opening this link:

  1. Choose website, app, phone, branch or postal instructions.
  2. If using online banking, select the relevant savings account.
  3. Open “Account Options” then “Manage Tax”.
  4. Select the tax year needed.
  5. Print or save the certificate as a PDF.

PrincipalityPrincipality Savings Support & Tax Certificates

After opening this link:

  1. Find “Can I get a tax certificate for my savings account?”.
  2. Choose secure message, telephone or branch.
  3. Have the savings account details ready.
  4. State the exact tax year required.
  5. Keep the certificate with your tax records once received.

NewcastleNewcastle Savings FAQs

After opening this link:

  1. Find the question about an interest statement.
  2. Use Newcastle’s current contact route to request the statement.
  3. State which account you need it for.
  4. Ask for the relevant tax year rather than simply “last year”.

Building Society Savings Tax Rules for 2026/27

Building societies generally pay non-ISA savings interest gross, meaning Income Tax is not deducted before the interest reaches your account. Whether tax is ultimately due depends on your total income, savings interest and available allowances.

Personal Allowance £12,570 Standard Personal Allowance for 2026/27, subject to income-related reduction and individual circumstances.
Starting rate for savings Up to £5,000 Available to some people with lower non-savings income. The band reduces as other income rises above the Personal Allowance.
Basic-rate PSA £1,000 Tax-free savings-interest allowance for basic-rate taxpayers.
Higher-rate PSA £500 Tax-free savings-interest allowance for higher-rate taxpayers.
Additional-rate PSA £0 No standard Personal Savings Allowance.
Cash ISA interest Tax-free Eligible ISA interest does not count towards the Personal Savings Allowance.

Example: basic-rate taxpayer

Suppose certificates from three building societies show £420, £510 and £320 of non-ISA interest for 2026/27. Total savings interest is £1,250. If the saver is entitled to the full £1,000 PSA and no other savings rules alter the calculation, £250 remains outside the PSA.

Example: higher-rate taxpayer

If certificates show total non-ISA interest of £750 and the saver receives the £500 higher-rate PSA, £250 is outside the PSA. The exact tax bill depends on the person’s wider tax position.

Official GOV.UKTax on Savings Interest

After opening this link:

  1. Read which types of interest are taxable.
  2. Check the Personal Savings Allowance applying to your Income Tax band.
  3. Check whether the starting rate for savings may apply if your other income is low.
  4. Add together taxable interest from all relevant accounts.
  5. Exclude eligible ISA interest from the ordinary taxable savings total.

Using an Interest Certificate for Self Assessment

If you complete a Self Assessment tax return, HMRC says you should report savings interest on the return. The cleanest approach is to collect the tax-year interest figures from every bank and building society before starting the savings-income section.

  1. Gather each provider’s certificate, annual interest statement or tax-year savings statement.
  2. Separate ordinary taxable savings accounts from Cash ISAs and other tax-exempt accounts.
  3. Check the tax year on every document.
  4. Add the relevant gross interest from sole accounts.
  5. Apply the appropriate share of joint-account interest.
  6. Include interest from accounts closed during the year where required.
  7. Keep the statements in case HMRC later asks you to support the figures.
Use actual interest, not AER × year-end balance. Account balances change, interest may be paid monthly or annually and fixed bonds may credit interest on different dates. The provider’s tax-year record is more reliable than trying to recreate the figure from the advertised rate.

Joint Building Society Accounts: Whose Interest Goes on the Tax Return?

HMRC normally splits interest from a joint bank or building society account equally between the account holders. If two people hold an account, HMRC will therefore usually treat half the interest as belonging to each person.

Simple joint-account example

A Coventry annual statement shows £800 total interest on a two-person joint savings account. Under the normal equal split, each holder would generally be allocated £400.

Coventry’s Annual Savings Statement is a useful example because it shows the total interest and also explains the amount attributable to each holder where the interest is shared equally.
Ownership can be more complicated. HMRC says to contact them if you believe the interest should be split differently. Do not simply change a 50/50 figure on the basis of who happened to make the deposits without checking the tax and beneficial-ownership position.

Do You Need an Interest Certificate for a Cash ISA?

Eligible Cash ISA interest is tax-free and does not count towards the Personal Savings Allowance, so you normally do not include ordinary valid ISA interest in the taxable building-society interest total.

Ordinary savings account

  • Interest normally paid gross.
  • May count towards taxable savings income.
  • Included when checking the Personal Savings Allowance.
  • Provider reports relevant interest information to HMRC.

Valid Cash ISA

  • Eligible interest is tax-free.
  • Does not use your Personal Savings Allowance.
  • Ordinary valid ISA interest is generally excluded from bank/building-society interest reporting to HMRC.
  • Still keep annual statements for your own records.
Some annual savings statements show ISA accounts separately. Coventry, for example, separates ISA information from total non-ISA interest on its annual statement.

Fixed Rate Bonds: Why the Interest Certificate Can Differ From Your Calculation

Fixed-rate bonds can create confusion because a two- or three-year product may calculate interest daily but pay or credit it annually, monthly or at maturity. Your tax document is based on the provider’s treatment of the interest, not simply the bond’s headline AER.

Annual interest A bond may add interest each year even though the capital remains locked until maturity.
Monthly interest Some bonds pay interest monthly to another account, creating a clear series of interest payments during the tax year.
Maturity interest Other products may pay interest at maturity or have terms affecting when the interest is available.
Use the provider record If unsure which amount belongs to a tax year, obtain the building society’s tax-year interest statement and check HMRC guidance.
Do not guess from the headline AER. AER is a comparison measure. It is not automatically the figure to enter as savings income.

Can You Get an Interest Certificate for a Closed Savings Account?

Often yes, although retention periods and request methods vary. Do not assume closing an account means the interest record has disappeared.

Nationwide Provides an Internet Bank route to request interest certificates for closed accounts and says certificates can cover up to the previous five tax years.
Leeds Building Society Says customers can request additional interest statements even for closed accounts.
Other societies Contact the savings service and give the old account number, approximate closure date and tax year required.
If you cannot remember the exact account number, give the society your current and previous names/addresses where relevant and the approximate period the savings account was held. The provider will tell you what identification it needs before releasing historic account information.

What if HMRC’s Savings Interest Figure Is Wrong?

HMRC may use the previous year’s provider data to estimate current-year savings interest in a PAYE tax code. That estimate can be too high or too low if your balance, provider or interest rate changed substantially.

  1. Open your HMRC Personal Tax Account and find the estimated savings-interest amount.
  2. Compare it with your building society statements and recent interest payments.
  3. If checking a completed tax year, collect each provider’s certificate or annual interest statement.
  4. Check for duplicate accounts, closed accounts and joint-account allocation.
  5. Check that ISA interest has not been confused with taxable non-ISA interest.
  6. If HMRC’s estimate or calculation is wrong, use HMRC’s current correction/contact route.
  7. Keep the documents supporting the amount you give HMRC.

Official correction guidanceSavings Interest Tax Refunds and Corrections

After opening this link:

  1. Choose whether the problem concerns the current or a previous tax year.
  2. Check HMRC’s estimated interest in your tax code.
  3. Compare it with your bank and building society statements.
  4. Follow HMRC’s route for updating an incorrect amount.
  5. If claiming a previous-year refund outside Self Assessment, review whether form R40 applies.

Using an Interest Certificate for an Accountant, Mortgage or Other Proof

An accountant will usually want the tax-year interest amount rather than a screenshot showing only the current balance. Other organisations may have different evidence requirements.

For an accountant Provide the certificate or annual statement showing the account and tax-year interest figure.
For Self Assessment Keep the document supporting the gross savings-interest figure used in the return.
For a mortgage application A lender may want recent savings or investment statements rather than only an annual interest certificate.
For proof of funds An interest certificate usually does not prove the current balance. Use the statement format requested by the solicitor, lender or other organisation.
Certificate of interest is not proof of current funds. It proves an interest figure for a period. If someone asks for your present savings balance, they may require a recent account statement instead.

How to Organise Interest Certificates From Several Building Societies

Create one folder for each tax year.
Save documents using provider + account + tax year.
Separate ordinary savings from ISAs.
Mark sole and joint accounts clearly.
Keep closed-account certificates.
Record the gross interest figure, not only the AER.
Reconcile provider figures with HMRC where needed.
Keep evidence used to prepare Self Assessment.

Simple annual interest worksheet

Nationwide: £420   |   YBS: £315   |   Coventry: £280   |   Joint Newcastle account: your share £160

Total non-ISA savings interest: £1,175 before applying any available tax-free allowances.

Common Interest Certificate Mistakes

Using the calendar year UK personal tax normally runs from 6 April to 5 April, not January to December.
Entering account balance instead of interest The taxable figure concerns interest, not the amount of savings capital held.
Using AER as income AER is a percentage, not the tax-year interest amount.
Adding ISA interest Valid Cash ISA interest is tax-free and normally kept outside ordinary taxable savings interest.
Counting all joint interest personally HMRC normally splits joint-account interest equally unless the correct tax position is different.
Forgetting a closed account An account closed during the year may still have paid reportable interest.
Assuming tax was already deducted Ordinary bank and building society savings interest has generally been paid gross since April 2016.
Using a current balance screenshot A screenshot may not show the completed tax-year interest figure an accountant or HMRC query requires.

Interest Certificate Request Checklist

Use the building society’s official website or app.
Know the exact tax year required.
Check whether the account is open or closed.
Have the account number available securely.
Ask for gross interest paid/credited for the tax year.
Check whether joint interest has been apportioned.
Do not mix ISA and non-ISA interest.
Save the PDF or paper copy safely.
Compare with HMRC if the tax figure looks wrong.
Keep the supporting record used for your tax return.

Related Building Society Savings Guides

If the certificate has made you review how much interest you are earning, these published guides can help you compare account types and current society rates.

Nationwide Building Society Savings Rates 2026 Yorkshire Building Society Savings Rates 2026 Coventry Building Society Savings Rates 2026 Skipton Building Society Savings Rates 2026

Official Tax and Building Society Sources

GOV.UK Tax on Savings Interest How HMRC Collects Savings Tax HMRC Bank & Building Society Interest Reporting Savings Tax Refunds & Corrections Nationwide Interest Certificate YBS Certificate of Interest Coventry Annual Savings Statement Principality Tax Certificate Help Newcastle Interest Statement Help Leeds Savings Interest & Tax Progressive Interest Statement Definitions
After opening an official building society link: look for “certificate of interest”, “interest statement”, “annual savings statement”, “manage tax”, “documents” or “statements”. If none appears, use the provider’s official secure contact route and request the tax-year interest figure directly.

How This Guide Was Checked

2026/27 Personal Savings Allowance checked.
Current £12,570 Personal Allowance checked.
Starting rate for savings rules reviewed.
HMRC building-society reporting process checked.
£10,000 Self Assessment savings-interest threshold checked.
Joint-account HMRC treatment checked.
ISA reporting exclusion checked.
Nationwide certificate process checked.
YBS download process checked.
Coventry annual-statement layout checked.
Principality tax-certificate route checked.
Newcastle and Leeds interest-statement routes checked.

Full editorial review: 22 September 2026.

Independent Tax Information Notice

Building-society.org is an independent information website. It is not HM Revenue & Customs and is not connected with Nationwide, Yorkshire Building Society, Coventry Building Society, Principality, Newcastle Building Society, Leeds Building Society or Progressive Building Society.

This article explains common savings-document and tax processes but does not provide personalised tax advice. Your taxable savings income can depend on your other income, allowances, account ownership and individual circumstances.

Before submitting a tax return: use the completed tax-year figures supplied by your providers and current HMRC guidance. If ownership, trusts, foreign residence or tax treatment is unclear, consider advice from HMRC or a qualified tax adviser.

Building Society Savings Interest Certificate FAQs

1. What is a building society savings interest certificate?

A savings interest certificate is a document or statement showing the interest paid or earned on a building society savings account for a tax year. Providers may also call it a certificate of interest, tax certificate, interest statement or annual savings statement.

2. Do I need an interest certificate for Self Assessment?

If you complete Self Assessment, you need accurate savings-interest figures for the return. A building society interest certificate or annual tax-year statement is a useful way to support those figures, although you do not normally submit every certificate with the return unless HMRC asks for evidence.

3. Does my building society automatically send my interest to HMRC?

UK banks and building societies report reportable interest information to HMRC after the tax year. HMRC uses this information for PAYE coding, tax calculations and checks on Self Assessment returns. You should still keep your own statements and report savings interest when your Self Assessment obligations require it.

4. How do I get a Nationwide savings interest certificate?

Nationwide says Internet Bank customers can select the account, open Settings and choose “View my interest and tax paid”, then request an interest certificate. Nationwide also provides a route for closed accounts and says certificates can cover up to the last five tax years.

5. How do I get a Yorkshire Building Society certificate of interest?

YBS online customers can select the account, choose Account Options, then Manage Tax, select the required year and save or print the document. The YBS mobile app also provides an Interest Statement route. Certificates can additionally be requested by phone, branch or post.

6. Is savings interest shown before or after tax?

Ordinary UK bank and building society savings interest has generally been paid gross, without Income Tax deducted at source, since 6 April 2016. Any tax due is dealt with through HMRC according to your savings income, allowances and wider tax circumstances.

7. What is the Personal Savings Allowance for 2026/27?

For 2026/27 the Personal Savings Allowance is £1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers and £500 for higher-rate taxpayers. Additional-rate taxpayers do not receive the standard Personal Savings Allowance. Other tax-free savings rules, including the starting rate for savings, may also apply in some cases.

8. Do I include Cash ISA interest on a savings-interest tax certificate total?

Eligible Cash ISA interest is tax-free and does not count towards the Personal Savings Allowance. When calculating ordinary taxable building society interest, keep valid ISA interest separate. Some annual statements show ISA and non-ISA interest in separate sections for this reason.

9. Can I request an interest certificate after closing my account?

Many providers can supply historic interest information for closed accounts. Nationwide provides an online closed-account certificate route and Leeds Building Society says additional statements can be requested for closed accounts. Historic availability and request procedures vary by provider.

10. What should I do if HMRC’s savings-interest figure does not match my statements?

Collect your certificates or annual interest statements, check the tax year, joint-account shares, closed accounts and ISA exclusions, then compare the total with HMRC’s figure. If HMRC’s estimate or calculation is incorrect, use the current HMRC Personal Tax Account or contact route to update or challenge the amount.

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