The IRS retains the right to audit anyone’s financial history for up to six years. In this case, it’s wise to keep credit card statements for at least three years, preferably six if there is a very high risk of audit.

How long should you keep credit card statements on file?

Credit Card Statements: Keep them for 60 days unless they include tax-related expenses. In these cases, keep them for at least three years. Pay Stubs: Match them to your W-2 once a year and then shred them. Utility Bills: Hold on to them for a maximum of one year.

Can I 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.

Are credit card statements acceptable for tax purposes?

When filing your return, you aren’t required to submit any receipts or paperwork to prove your tax deductions. They require any form of acceptable proof such as receipts, bank statements, credit card statements, cancelled checks, bills or invoices from suppliers and service providers.

Is there any reason to keep old credit card statements?

Tax-related expenses are a very important reason to keep credit card statements for longer than 60 days. This might be especially helpful for those using business credit cards. The IRS retains the right to audit anyone’s financial history for up to six years. Keeping statements in a safe place is critical in any case.

What records need to be kept for 7 years?

Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction. Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return. Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return.

Should I shred old credit card statements?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, you should shred documents containing sensitive information, including bank statements, to protect yourself from identity theft.

Can I get credit card statements from 10 years ago?

Although five years is more than a sufficient amount of time for viewing old statements, sometimes that’s not enough. With that said, it’s not impossible to request older banking statements. If older statements are needed, you have the option of going to your bank in person and requesting access.

How many credit card statements should I keep?

Keep for 1 Year Monthly Credit Card Statements: Keep these for 1 year, unless you have your own business and have purchased items with your credit card, then you would keep the statement for 6 years. Monthly Mortgage Statements: Reconcile with your annual statement and then shred.

Can a credit card statement be used as proof of purchase?

Proof of purchase You can ask the customer for proof that they bought an item from you. This could be a sales receipt or other evidence such as a bank statement or packaging.

Is a credit card statement considered a receipt?

Absolutely bank and credit card statements are acceptable as proof of payment for expenses; just as are actual receipts or invoices from the suppliers and service providers. You can think of detailed bank and credit card statements as being very much similar to copies of cancelled checks.

Do I need to keep all receipts for tax purposes?

Always keep receipts, bank statements, invoices, payroll records, and any other documentary evidence that supports an item of income, deduction, or credit shown on your tax return. Expenses that are less than $75 or that have to do with transportation, lodging or meal expenses might not require a receipt.

How do I get rid of old credit card bills?

“Credit cards should always be cut up into many pieces and those pieces should be disposed of in separate trash containers,” says Guild. “Ensure the credit card number itself is cut and that any pertinent information such as expiration and name is unable to be read.”

How long should you keep bills before shredding?

Store 1 year: regular statements, pay stubs Keep either a digital or hard copy of the past year’s worth of your monthly bank and credit card statements. It’s a good idea to keep your digital copies stored online if you choose to go paperless.

What papers to save and what to throw away?

What Documents Can I Throw Away—and When?

• Tax Returns. Old tax documents are probably the number one category of documents we’re asked about.
• Bank Statements.
• Explanation of Benefits (EOB) Forms.
• Medical Bills.
• Utility Bills.
• Paycheck Stubs.
• Credit Card Statements.
• Wills and Estate Planning Documents.