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To be on the safe side, McBride says to keep all tax records for at least seven years. Keep forever. Records such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, Social Security cards, and military discharge papers should be kept indefinitely.
Which documents should I keep and for how long?
Knowing that, a good rule of thumb is to save any document that verifies information on your tax return—including Forms W-2 and 1099, bank and brokerage statements, tuition payments and charitable donation receipts—for three to seven years.
What papers do I really need to keep?
The documents you need to keep forever Birth and death certificates. Social security cards. Pension plan documents. ID cards and passports. Green cards. Marriage license. Business license. Any insurance policy (good to keep even if the insurer provides access to a digital copy, just in case a problem ever arises).
How long should you keep old bills?
Utility Bills: Hold on to them for a maximum of one year. Tax Returns and Tax Receipts: Just like tax-related credit card statements, keep these on file for at least three years. House and Car Insurance Policies: Shred the old ones when you receive new policies.
How long should a document be kept?
Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return. Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
Can I throw out old insurance policies?
Can I throw away old insurance policies? When you receive your new policy in the mail each renewal, you can discard the old one. However, keep billing statements and the declarations page and make sure you have your auto insurance card whenever driving.
Should I shred utility bills?
Credit card statements and utility bills are documents that should be high on anyone’s list for shredding. Bills of that nature tend to have very sensitive information. So once payment is confirmed and you no longer need to reference that bill, make sure the document is destroyed.
What papers should you shred?
Documents that should be shredded include: Financial Statements. Medical Records. Legal Documents. Receipts & Invoices. Payroll Records. Bank Statements. Tax Records. Contracts.
Is there any reason to keep old bank statements?
Keep them as long as needed to help with tax preparation or fraud/dispute resolution. And maintain files securely for at least seven years if you’ve used your statements to support information you’ve included in your tax return.
What to shred what to keep?
Always keep items that prove things like you are who you say you are—these can be difficult and expensive to get new copies of. Birth Certificates. Social Security Cards. Citizenship papers. Adoption Papers. Tax returns. Death Certificates. Marriage certificates or divorce decrees.
Should I keep old home insurance policies?
Home, auto and umbrella policies – Keep until you get your new policy. For auto insurance, most states accept electronic versions of your insurance card, but it may also be smart to keep a printed version in your glove compartment.
How long should I keep 401k statements?
In general, 401k plan records must be kept for a period of not less than six years after the filing date of the IRS Form 5500 created from those records.
How long should you keep Cancelled checks?
Keep canceled checks for one year unless you need them for tax purposes. Refer to them when you reconcile your accounts each month so you know what has cleared. If your bank does not return your canceled checks, you can request a copy for up to five years.
How long should you keep insurance statements?
From your actual policy, the declarations page is the most important to be able to find. Statements regarding your payment of insurance are likely only relevant for tax purposes. To be safe, you might want to hold onto them for seven years in the event of a tax audit from the IRS.
How long should I keep tax records and bank statements?
You need to keep these documents for five years after you lodge your tax return in case you’re asked to substantiate your claims. And it’s a good idea to keep your Notice of Tax Assessments for five years as well.
How long do I keep mortgage statements?
Homeowners should keep these statements for at least three years. Although the information on these statements is a part of public record, it is always more convenient to keep a carefully filed paper copy so you can find the information at a moment’s notice.
Do I need to keep old paid bills?
Once you know it’s right, there’s no need to hold on to the monthlies anymore. Bank statements: Once you know your monthly statement is correct, you can toss the statement at the end of the year. But if you’ve used a check to pay for a large or deductible purchase, hold on to it.
Should I keep old health insurance paperwork?
As for insurance, keep your paperwork for as long as you have the policy and keep documentation for any unresolved claims of coverage. For health insurance, keep any records (explanation-of-benefit forms, receipts and invoices) covering treatments that are in progress or that are not completely paid for or resolved.
Is it safe to throw away credit card statements?
Because of the risk of fraud, you should be careful about how you throw away credit card statements you no longer need. Simply tossing them in the trash is unsafe because it leaves too much of your personal information exposed; they need to be completely destroyed.
Why is shredding not a good idea?
Paper shredders increase security risks. You shred your documents to prevent identity theft and maintain the confidentiality of your information. But your paper shredding machine doesn’t offer the most secure method for completely destroying confidential information. Document destruction equipment and facilities.
Should old bank statements be shredded?
Most experts suggest that you can shred many other documents sooner than seven years. After paying credit card or utility bills, shred them immediately. After one year, shred bank statements, pay stubs, and medical bills (unless you have an unresolved insurance dispute).
What do you do with old paperwork?
Your best option is to shred any documents that contain sensitive information before tossing them. Either invest in a shredder for your home or utilize a professional shredding service. You will likely pay a fee for this service, but it’s a small price to keep your personal information safe.
