How long do you keep your documents?

[GTaudiophile]

I have been taking a trip down memory lane going through old documents.

I have credit card statements and receipts going back to my first card in 1999. I've been able to go back and see when and how much I paid for all my past PC builds. I've been able to see where and how much I paid during various vacations abroad. I even found the receipt for the time I took a date to go see "Amelie."

I have all my old records from university: housing agreement forms, key agreement forms, parking forms, course transcripts, course drop out forms, etc.

I have all my old employment records, pay stubs, etc.

Heck, I even found my learner's permit!!!

Anyway, for tax purposes, how long do you keep all of your documents?

 

[nageov3t]

I don't really get much in the way of paper documents anymore but almost everything goes in the shredder as soon as it comes in.

 

[grrl]

Receipts for warrantied stuff I keep in a special folder, but that's about it. A while back I threw out almost all of my old credit card and bank statements. Most everything is downloadable as PDF now, so I've switched to that.

 

[TheKub]

Most of my bank\credit card statements are shredded before even being opened. Failing that, shortly after being opened.

 

[OhSnap688]

I was told to keep receipts for a minimum of 2 years. I forget the reasoning though. Then I keep paychecks and stuff for 2 years as well. Then they go to the shredder. But when it comes to items that are under warranty, I keep the receipts and everything until the warranty expires. I'm not OCD or anything.

 

[cherrytwist]

zero long

edit:

when somebody hands me a receipt it's like "here, throw this away for me" (altered M. Hedberg joke)

 

[ViviTheMage]

Audits only go back 5 years, so anything beyond that is shredded...

physical receipts, I actually throw away, unless I need to keep it for warranty purposes.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: grrl
Receipts for warrantied stuff I keep in a special folder, but that's about it. A while back I threw out almost all of my old credit card and bank statements. Most everything is downloadable as PDF now, so I've switched to that.

This. Also i picked up a scanner with an ADF so I scan and shred all my important docs. Their backed up on a portable hd.

 

[randomlinh]

I keep everything for 3yrs. If I get an electronic version, I keep it indefinitely. physical receipts, unless for warranties, I usually keep for 2-3 months in a rotating folder.

I do have a ton of credit card statements I should shred though. Probably could just toss these after a few months really.

 

[nerp]

The only thing I keep is the title to my car, deed to the house, stuff like that. Recipts, bank statements, etc, end up in my fire pit or shredded and in my worm composting bin. Everything is available online or at the very worst, after a phone call to whatever institution for a copy of a previous statement. The last time I ever needed something that I couldn't get re-sent or reproduced was. . . .never. Fuck saving all this shit. BURN IT.

 

[yinan]

Forever. Scan everything to PDF.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: yinan
Forever. Scan everything to PDF. [and backup online]

 

[KeithTalent]

7 years for tax documents, a few years for other things, depending on what they are.

KT

 

[skyking]

7 and grind the sensitive ones, recycle the rest. We keep this and last year's stuff accessible in a file system, then purge it all to a Bundle 'O Crap with the year on it.

 

[D1gger]

Seven years for me. If I ever get audited I want to have every scrap of paper I could possibly need and certainly enough to make the auditors job a difficult.

 

[dullard]

I just tossed a bunch of documents. I used to keep everything (except minor receipts). But, with a coming move and a lack of room in my filing cabinets, I ditched almost half of what I had.

I kept the final statements from all old utilities, old bank accounts, credit cards, etc. I did that since who knows when someone might claim that I had left an unpaid balance. At least I'll have a record to show what the final bill was and that it was paid.

I kept all tax records. Contrary to popular belief and contrary to what was said above, the IRS can audit you back indefinitely if they suspect fruad or if you don't file a return (statute of limitations).

I kept all records for current bank accounts. I kept 1 years worth of records for all current utilities and credit cards. I kept all the quarterly and yearly retirement statements. I kept all receipts to big purchase items that still have significant value.

 

[eplebnista]

5 yrs

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
how long do you keep all of your documents?

Till trash day.

everything i need is accessable electronically.

 

[Sea Moose]

I have a 20Litere bucket full of receipts that i will one day go through. Slowly putting them into a filing cabinet but the bucket gets filled faster than i can sort through it.

An accountants version of hell.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: dullard
I just tossed a bunch of documents.

and how did you dispose of them?

please tell me you shredded them and didn't just toss 'em in the garbage.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: dullard
I just tossed a bunch of documents.

and how did you dispose of them?

please tell me you shredded them and didn't just toss 'em in the garbage.

He tossed them.... whoops!

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: dullard
I just tossed a bunch of documents.

and how did you dispose of them?

please tell me you shredded them and didn't just toss 'em in the garbage.

He tossed them.... whoops!

i predict dullard's next atot topic: I JUST GOT MY IDENTITY THEFTED!! How could this happen???

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: guyver01
and how did you dispose of them?

please tell me you shredded them and didn't just toss 'em in the garbage.

Old electric bills (or similar) from an address that I don't live at anymore? I tossed them. No shredding needed. If anyone can get my identity stolen from that, then nothing would be able to stop them.