MPF Announcement 2026-33 & 2026-31: Updated Servicing Requirements & RON Standards for Mortgage Lenders

What the Announcements Mean for MPF Xtra Servicers

On May 18 and May 22, 2026, the MPF Program released two critical updates—MPF Announcement 2026-31 and MPF Announcement 2026-33—that directly affect servicing and selling requirements for MPF Xtra loans. Both announcements align with recent Fannie Mae policy changes (SEL-2026-05 and SVC-2026-04) and take effect immediately for loans closed on or after May 6, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

For mortgage lenders, the most impactful changes revolve around remote online notarization (RON) standards and the treatment of IRS tax installment agreements. This article breaks down what’s new and what you need to do to stay compliant.

Major Changes to Remote Online Notarization (RON)

RON has been a growing priority for the mortgage industry, and these announcements mark a significant shift in how MPF Xtra loans handle remote closings. The key takeaway: video recording is out, but audit trail and identity verification are in.

Video Recording Eliminated

Both announcements remove the requirement for lenders to maintain video recordings of the remote notarial ceremony. This aligns with Fannie Mae’s update, which we covered in our post on Fannie Mae Removes RON Video Recording Requirement: What Servicers Need to Know.

Why it matters: Storing and managing video files was resource-intensive and raised privacy concerns. Now, servicers can reallocate that effort while still ensuring the integrity of the notarial process.

Borrower Identity Verification Tightened

Minimum standards for confirming borrower identity during a RON transaction have been updated. While the exact revisions are detailed in the Fannie Mae announcements, lenders should review their current identity-proofing methods against the new MISMO RON standards referenced in MPF Announcement 2026-31. This could involve multi-factor authentication or knowledge-based authentication (KBA) enhancements.

Audit Trail Requirements

Instead of video, servicers must now retain the RON audit trail as part of the electronic loan file delivered to Fannie Mae. The audit trail includes metadata like timestamps, IP addresses, and credential verification logs—essentially a digital record of every step in the notarial process.

Action item: Ensure your technology platform can capture and preserve a complete, tamper-evident audit trail for each RON closing.

Other Servicing Updates Impacting MPF Xtra

Beyond RON, MPF Announcement 2026-31 introduces a notable change for underwriting and servicing: IRS tax installment agreements may now be considered when calculating a borrower’s monthly debt obligations.

• Effective date: This applies to new loan casefiles created on or after June 27, 2026.
• What it means: If a borrower has an agreed-upon payment plan with the IRS for back taxes, that monthly payment can be factored into debt-to-income (DTI) calculations. This could help borrowers qualify who previously might have been excluded because the tax debt was treated more harshly.
• Watch out: Lenders must still document the agreement and verify the payment amount. Automated compliance monitoring tools like Reglith can help ensure policy changes like this are implemented consistently across your pipeline.

Alignment with Fannie Mae: A Broader Shift

These MPF Xtra changes are not happening in isolation. They directly mirror Fannie Mae’s SVC-2026-04 and SEL-2026-05, continuing the pattern of MPF Xtra guidelines closely tracking GSE policy. For servicers, this means:

• Easier cross-training between Fannie Mae and MPF Xtra processes.
• The need to monitor both MPF and Fannie Mae announcements—a miss on one could mean a compliance gap on the other.
• The potential for future updates to cascade similarly. Building a proactive compliance calendar is essential; our step-by-step guide on How to Build a Mortgage Compliance Calendar for 2027 offers a framework to stay ahead.

These changes reflect a broader industry move toward digital closing efficiencies. As lenders adopt more technology, they also face new compliance risks—our post on the Top 5 Compliance Risks from Emerging Mortgage Technologies in 2026 dives deeper into what to watch for.

What Lenders Should Do Now

These changes are effective immediately for loans closed on or after May 6, 2026, so time is of the essence. Here’s a practical checklist:

1. Update RON procedures: Remove video recording requirements from your workflow and verify that your RON vendor provides a compliant audit trail.
2. Review identity verification protocols: Align with the latest MISMO standards and Fannie Mae guidelines. If you use third-party RON platforms, confirm they meet the updated minimum standards.
3. Train underwriting teams on the IRS tax installment agreement change before the June 27, 2026 effective date for new casefiles.
4. Audit your current pipeline for any loans closed on or after May 6 that may have retained video files—ensure those files are not required and adjust record-keeping practices going forward.
5. Monitor for additional MPF announcements—the MPF Program has been active in 2026, with updates on forbearance, AI/ML governance, and escrow analysis (see MPF Announcement 2026-25 for AI risks). Staying informed is critical.

Key Takeaways

• MPF Announcements 2026-33 and 2026-31 align MPF Xtra servicing and selling rules with Fannie Mae’s latest updates, effective for loans closed on or after May 6, 2026.
• Video recording of RON closings is no longer required, but a robust audit trail must be retained in the electronic loan file.
• Borrower identity verification standards for RON have been tightened to meet current MISMO standards.
• IRS tax installment agreements can be included in monthly debt obligations for loans with casefiles created on or after June 27, 2026.
• Mortgage lenders must act immediately to revise procedures, update vendor integrations, and train staff to ensure compliance.

For real-time tracking of MPF and GSE policy changes, consider how Reglith automates regulatory monitoring, helping you avoid costly missteps. Questions about your compliance obligations? Contact us to learn more about our tailored solutions for mortgage lenders.