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Rain or Shine: The IRS Must Prepare Now for Next Year’s Filing Season

On June 25, I released my mid-year Fiscal Year 2026 Objectives Report to Congress. In it, I praise the IRS […] The post Rain or Shine: The IRS Must Prepare Now for Next Year’s Filing Season a...

National Taxpayer Advocate Issues Mid-Year Report to Congress; Highlights Successful 2025 Filing Season and Challenges for 2026

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins today released her Fiscal Year 2026 Objectives Report to Congress, highlighting a largely successful […] The post National Taxpayer Advocate Issues ...

Criminal VDP: TAS Reports a Win For Taxpayers – IRS Agrees to Remove Willfulness Checkbox on VDP Application Form

It is that time of year again – school is out and so are report cards. It is also time […] The post Criminal VDP: TAS Reports a Win For Taxpayers – IRS Agrees to Remove Willfulnes...

The IRS incorrectly recorded me as deceased – what should I do?

If IRS records incorrectly indicate that you or your spouse are deceased, this tax tip has instructions that can help […] The post The IRS incorrectly recorded me as deceased – what sho...

TAS Encourages You to Provide Comments on Transitioning to Electronic Payments by June 30

Know your rights and what to do if the IRS sends you a bill after you already paid your taxes. […] The post TAS Encourages You to Provide Comments on Transitioning to Electronic Payments by J...

Here is What You Need to Know for June

Updates as of June 5, 2025   Important Tax Dates Coming Up on June 16 There are important tax dates […] The post Here is What You Need to Know for June appeared first on Taxpayer Advocat...

Celebrating Taxpayer Advocate Service and Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Collaboration

“[Our] Low Income Taxpayer Clinic is profoundly grateful to our [local TAS office]…for their invaluable collaboration and partnership. In 2024, […] The post Celebrating Taxpayer Advocate Serv...

What to do if you receive an IRS balance due notice for taxes you have already paid

Know your rights and what to do if the IRS sends you a bill after you already paid your taxes. […] The post What to do if you receive an IRS balance due notice for taxes you have already paid...

Mid-Year Tax Checkup

Summertime is the perfect time for a mid-year tax checkup. A tax checkup will help you avoid being surprised with […] The post Mid-Year Tax Checkup appeared first on Taxpayer Advocate Service...

Get Current on Your Federal Taxes

Part of your Mid-Year Tax Checkup should include seeing whether you have any overdue tax returns and making sure you […] The post Get Current on Your Federal Taxes appeared first on Taxpayer ...

Retention Guide

Storing tax records: How long is long enough?

April 15 has come and gone and another year of tax forms and shoeboxes full of receipts is behind us. But what should be done with those documents after your check or refund request is in the mail?

Federal law requires you to maintain copies of your tax returns and supporting documents for three years. This is called the "three-year law" and leads many people to believe they're safe provided they retain their documents for this period of time.

However, if the IRS believes you have significantly underreported your income (by 25 percent or more), it may go back six years in an audit. If there is any indication of fraud, or you do not file a return, no period of limitation exists.To be safe, use the following guidelines.

Business Records To Keep... Personal Records To Keep...
1 Year 1 Year
3 Years 3 Years
6 Years 6 Years
Forever Forever
Special Circumstances

Business Documents To Keep For One Year

  • Correspondence with Customers and Vendors
  • Duplicate Deposit Slips
  • Purchase Orders (other than Purchasing Department copy)
  • Receiving Sheets
  • Requisitions
  • Stenographer's Notebooks
  • Stockroom Withdrawal Forms

Business Documents To Keep For Three Years

  • Employee Personnel Records (after termination)
  • Employment Applications
  • Expired Insurance Policies
  • General Correspondence
  • Internal Audit Reports
  • Internal Reports
  • Petty Cash Vouchers
  • Physical Inventory Tags
  • Savings Bond Registration Records of Employees
  • Time Cards For Hourly Employees

Business Documents To Keep For Six Years

  • Accident Reports, Claims
  • Accounts Payable Ledgers and Schedules
  • Accounts Receivable Ledgers and Schedules
  • Bank Statements and Reconciliations
  • Cancelled Checks
  • Cancelled Stock and Bond Certificates
  • Employment Tax Records
  • Expense Analysis and Expense Distribution Schedules
  • Expired Contracts, Leases
  • Expired Option Records
  • Inventories of Products, Materials, Supplies
  • Invoices to Customers
  • Notes Receivable Ledgers, Schedules
  • Payroll Records and Summaries, including payment to pensioners
  • Plant Cost Ledgers
  • Purchasing Department Copies of Purchase Orders
  • Records related to net operating losses (NOL's)
  • Sales Records
  • Subsidiary Ledgers
  • Time Books
  • Travel and Entertainment Records
  • Vouchers for Payments to Vendors, Employees, etc.
  • Voucher Register, Schedules

Business Records To Keep Forever

While federal guidelines do not require you to keep tax records "forever," in many cases there will be other reasons you'll want to retain these documents indefinitely.

  • Audit Reports from CPAs/Accountants
  • Cancelled Checks for Important Payments (especially tax payments)
  • Cash Books, Charts of Accounts
  • Contracts, Leases Currently in Effect
  • Corporate Documents (incorporation, charter, by-laws, etc.)
  • Documents substantiating fixed asset additions
  • Deeds
  • Depreciation Schedules
  • Financial Statements (Year End)
  • General and Private Ledgers, Year End Trial Balances
  • Insurance Records, Current Accident Reports, Claims, Policies
  • Investment Trade Confirmations
  • IRS Revenue Agent Reports
  • Journals
  • Legal Records, Correspondence and Other Important Matters
  • Minutes Books of Directors and Stockholders
  • Mortgages, Bills of Sale
  • Property Appraisals by Outside Appraisers
  • Property Records
  • Retirement and Pension Records
  • Tax Returns and Worksheets
  • Trademark and Patent Registrations

Personal Documents To Keep For One Year

While it's important to keep year-end mutual fund and IRA contribution statements forever, you don't have to save monthly and quarterly statements once the year-end statement has arrived.

Personal Documents To Keep For Three Years

  • Credit Card Statements
  • Medical Bills (in case of insurance disputes)
  • Utility Records
  • Expired Insurance Policies

Personal Documents To Keep For Six Years

  • Supporting Documents For Tax Returns
  • Accident Reports and Claims
  • Medical Bills (if tax-related)
  • Sales Receipts
  • Wage Garnishments
  • Other Tax-Related Bills

Personal Records To Keep Forever

  • CPA Audit Reports
  • Legal Records
  • Important Correspondence
  • Income Tax Returns
  • Income Tax Payment Checks
  • Property Records / Improvement Receipts (or six years after property sold)
  • Investment Trade Confirmations
  • Retirement and Pension Records (Forms 5448, 1099-R and 8606 until all distributions are made from your IRA or other qualified plan)

Special Circumstances

  • Car Records (keep until the car is sold)
  • Credit Card Receipts (keep until verified on your statement)
  • Insurance Policies (keep for the life of the policy)
  • Mortgages / Deeds / Leases (keep 6 years beyond the agreement)
  • Pay Stubs (keep until reconciled with your W-2)
  • Sales Receipts (keep for life of the warranty)
  • Stock and Bond Records (keep for 6 years beyond selling)
  • Warranties and Instructions (keep for the life of the product)
  • Other Bills (keep until payment is verified on the next bill)
  • Depreciation Schedules and Other Capital Asset Records (keep for 3 years after the tax life of the asset)