Is your file cabinet bulging with another year’s worth of tax documents? Are you keeping every single bill, tax return, insurance invoice, medical documentation, contract and even the warranty for that 15-year-old coffee maker you don’t even own anymore?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. Many people are not sure how long to retain their financial records.
With the threat of identity theft coming largely from paper documents it is good practice is to shred all the records you should no longer retain, especially those with your personal information. Expired documents can pose a threat to your financial health and may not provide you with any useful information.
At least once a year you should go through your files and shred everything that is no longer needed. With this volume of shredding you should consider using a shredding service. A personal shredding service like Ship ‘n’ Shred or mobile shredding can save you from wasting a day burning up your personal shredder and is very affordable.
When it comes to personal records retention guidelines, there aren’t any hard and fast rules but these are some basic guidelines for the retention of your personal records.
Personal Record Retention Guidelines |
|
Documents | Recommended Retention Time |
Tax Returns | 3 years |
Bank Statements | 3 months |
ATM Receipts | 3 months |
Credit Card Statements | 3 months |
Medical Insurance | 5 years from the date of service |
Home Insurance | 5 years unless there might be issues, then 10 |
Pay Stubs | 3 months just for loan applications |
Investment Documents | 3 months of balance statements |
Home Repairs | 10 years unless it is associated with a warranty |
Utility Bills | 3 months unless they are tax records |
Mortgage Documents | Duration of the mortgage |
Satisfaction of Mortgage Document | Duration of home ownership |
Warranty Documents | Duration of ownership of the item under warranty |
Business Documents | Varies extensively |
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