VA Digitizes Loan Authority Applications for Lenders
Published Date: 6/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The VA is updating how nonsupervised lenders apply to automatically close loans and recognize agents, moving the process online. This change affects lenders who want quicker loan approvals and yearly recertifications, with more people expected to apply. Comments on this update are open until July 9, 2026, and the paperwork burden will nearly double due to more applicants.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Forms Transitioned to Electronic Filing
The VA transitioned the Application for Authority to Close Loans on an Automatic Basis and the Request for Agent Recognition (formerly VA forms 26-8736 and 26-8736c) to electronic collections. The notice says electronic processing produced streamlined requirements and improved data accuracy for some collections.
Agent Recognition Applications Surge
The Request for Agent Recognition respondent count increased from 4,000 to 10,000, which the VA attributes to enhanced system visibility into lender-agent relationships and lenders expanding their business models to include more agents.
Total Paperwork Burden Nearly Doubles
The VA reports the overall estimated annual paperwork burden rose from 440 hours to 893 hours and that the estimated number of respondents is 10,560 annually. The estimated average burden per respondent is 35 minutes and the frequency of response is one-time.
Fewer Lenders Need Automatic Authority Forms
The respondent count for the Application for Authority to Close Loans on an Automatic Basis decreased from 120 to 40, and the Annual Certification respondent count decreased from 700 to 520; the notice attributes these decreases to reduced lender applications, streamlined requirements, and electronic processing.
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