Kempt
In short
In the US, the IRS says keep tax records for 3 years in most cases, 6 years if you left out more than 25% of your income, 7 years for a bad-debt or worthless-securities loss, and indefinitely if you didn’t file.In the UK, self-employed people keep records at least 5 years after the 31 January deadline. Keep birth, marriage and property papers forever. Everything else can usually go once it’s replaced.
Without any app
Know your tax period
IRS: 3 years from filing for most records; 3 years from filing or 2 from payment if you claim a refund, whichever is later; 6 years if you under-reported income by more than 25%; 7 years for a bad-debt or worthless-securities deduction. Employment tax records: at least 4 years.
UK: HMRC’s periods
Self-employed: at least 5 years after the 31 January Self Assessment deadline. Other Self Assessment filers: at least 22 months after the end of the tax year, or 15 months after filing if you filed late.
Keep forever
Birth, marriage and divorce certificates, adoption papers, property deeds, wills, and records proving what you paid for a home or investments until you sell them (plus the tax period after).
Shred the rest on a schedule
Utility bills, old pay stubs once matched to your W-2 or P60, and expired insurance policies can usually go. Shred anything with account or ID numbers.
Scan what you keep
A scanned, date-named copy in the right folder is easier to find than a box, and backups protect it.
| Paper | Keep for | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US tax return and its records (general case) | 3 years from filing | IRS |
| US records if income was under-reported by over 25% | 6 years | IRS |
| US bad-debt or worthless-securities claim | 7 years | IRS |
| US employment tax records (employers) | At least 4 years | IRS |
| UK self-employed records | 5 years after the 31 January deadline | HMRC |
| UK other Self Assessment records | 22 months after the tax year (15 after a late return) | HMRC |
| Birth, marriage, divorce certificates, deeds, wills | Forever | Common practice |
Check irs.gov and gov.uk for your situation; states and other countries have their own rules.
With Kempt
- 1
Every paper dated in its name
Kempt names each paper with the month or year it covers, so a folder sorted by name shows at a glance what’s past its keeping period.
- 2
Find a whole year at once
Ask understands “2022 bank statements” or “my W-2 from 2023” and lists the matching papers with their source pages.
- 3
Nothing deleted behind your back
Kempt never removes papers on its own; Clean Up only suggests installers, duplicates and old screenshots, and everything goes to the Trash with Undo.
$27 once, 14 days freeRuns on every Apple silicon MacA question? Ask a person
Questions people ask
How long should I keep bank statements?
Keep the ones that support a tax return for as long as that return’s records (3 years in most US cases). Others can go once you’ve checked them, unless they prove a large purchase or payment.
How long should I keep pay stubs?
Until they match your W-2 (US) or P60 (UK) at year end; then the W-2 or P60 is the record to keep with your return.
What documents should I keep forever?
Birth, marriage and divorce certificates, adoption papers, property deeds, wills, and military or pension records.
Can I keep scans instead of paper?
For most records, a clear, complete scan is accepted as a copy. Keep originals of certificates and anything that might be needed in original.
How long should I keep receipts for taxes?
As long as the return they support: 3 years from filing in most cases, longer in the cases the IRS lists (6 years if income was under-reported by over 25%, 7 for a bad-debt or worthless-securities loss).
How long should I keep tax records in the UK?
At least 22 months after the end of the tax year if you file Self Assessment on time, and at least 5 years after the 31 January deadline if you’re self-employed (HMRC).
How long must businesses keep accounting records in Switzerland?
Ten years for the books, accounting records, annual report and audit report (Code of Obligations, art. 958f). Records may be kept electronically if they stay complete and readable; the annual report and audit report must also be kept signed on paper.
What happens if I throw records away too early?
If the tax office questions a return, you may not be able to prove income, deductions or credits, and they can be refused.