VA Circular 26-26-1: Updates to VA’s State Fees and Charges Deviations List
Administrative update to VA Home Loan Guaranty fee deviation reference list
Advisory Assessment
Impact. This circular updates the VA's reference list for state-specific fee deviations that lenders can charge on VA-guaranteed loans, requiring institutions to refresh their internal fee calculation matrices and pricing systems. The changes affect how you structure closing costs and third-party fees for VA borrowers in states with approved deviations.
Risk. Fee calculation errors represent the primary exposure, particularly in states where deviation parameters have shifted since your last system update. Loan officers and operations staff working from outdated fee schedules could inadvertently overcharge VA borrowers or price loans incorrectly, creating potential examination findings during routine VA compliance reviews.
Recommended Action. Pull the updated deviation list from VA's website and cross-reference it against your current VA loan pricing matrices within the next two weeks. Have operations leadership validate that loan origination systems reflect any changes to allowable state fees before processing additional VA applications in affected states.
Watch. Monitor VA's quarterly updates to this deviation list, as fee structures can shift with state regulatory changes. Track any borrower complaints about unexpected closing costs in states with recent deviation adjustments, as these could signal system configuration issues requiring immediate correction.
Classification
- Regulatory Program
- VA Home Loan Guaranty
- Doc Type
- Guidance
- Effective Date
- — Date not stated
- Days to Action
- —
- Comment Deadline
- —
- Published
- 2026-02-17
Urgency Basis
Administrative update to fee deviation list with no specified compliance deadline or material obligations
Operational Context
Impact by Category
Key Requirements
Scoring Rationale
This is a routine administrative circular updating the VA's State Fees and Charges Deviations List. The document provides minimal detail but appears to be a technical update to existing fee structures rather than substantive policy change. Given the administrative nature and lack of specific compliance deadlines, this scores minimal across operational categories with T4 urgency for monitoring purposes.