Keep copies of your return and any books, records, schedules, statements, or other related documents for at least seven years after you file your return. The Tax Department may ask you to provide copies of these records after you have filed your income tax returns.

How many years of personal tax returns should I keep?

Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return. Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.

How far back can New York state audit you?

New York State Tax Law generally places a three-year statute of limitations on tax audits, beyond which the Tax Department may not audit without your written consent.

How long does NYS have to audit?

Under New York’s Tax Law, there is generally a three-year statute of limitations on tax audits, though in some cases (such as when fraud exists or when a substantial understatement has been made on an income tax return), the statute of limitations can last for as long as six years.

How long should you keep your tax records in case of an audit?

The IRS recommends keeping returns and other tax documents for three years (or two years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later.) The IRS has a statute of limitations on conducting audits and it is limited to three years.

Should you shred old tax returns?

With that timeframe, California residents should keep their state tax records for at least four years. What Should I Do with My Old Tax Returns? Once you have scanned your tax documents, make sure to dispose of them in a secure manner. At the very least, shred them before throwing them in the trash.

How do I get rid of old tax returns?

The most common way to destroy sensitive documents is to shred them. Many stores offer paper shredding at a cost to you. Some of those businesses include The UPS Store, FedEx, Staples, and Office Depot. Sometimes, your financial institution will shred them.

Is there a statute of limitations on NYS taxes?

New York State Tax Law generally places a three-year statute of limitations on our right to assert additional tax due (generally, three years after your return was filed).

What’s the statute of limitations on back taxes?

As a general rule, there is a ten year statute of limitations on IRS collections. This means that the IRS can attempt to collect your unpaid taxes for up to ten years from the date they were assessed. Subject to some important exceptions, once the ten years are up, the IRS has to stop its collection efforts.

Does NYS audit tax returns?

The department audits, investigates, and collects taxes owed from individuals and businesses to ensure that all New Yorkers pay the correct amount of tax. If you’re audited, we may bill you for additional tax, penalties and interest, deny a refund or credit you claimed, propose a refund, or make no change at all.

Why am I being audited by the state?

Other common triggers for state audits include misreporting information, math errors, incomplete state tax returns, excessive deductions, and failing to file your state tax return on time.

Is it illegal not to file your taxes?

Failing to file a tax return can be classified as a federal crime punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. Willful failure to file a tax return is a misdemeanor pursuant to IRC 7203. If you are charged with a criminal tax violation, the punishment can be severe and may include fines and jail time.

Why is NYS auditing me?

The New York agency lists some of the reasons for a state audit, which include: Failure to report sales or income or file a return. Excessive credits claimed. Misuse of exemption certificates.

When should old tax records be destroyed?

As a rule, keep your tax records and supporting documentation until the statute of limitations runs for filing returns or filing for refund. For most taxpayers, that means that you’ll want to keep those records for three years following the date of filing or the due date of your tax return, whichever is later.

How many years of bank statements should you keep?

Most bank statements should be kept accessible in hard copy or electronic form for one year, after which they can be shredded. Anything tax-related such as proof of charitable donations should be kept for at least three years.

How long should you keep tax returns for a business?

Keep business income tax returns and supporting documents for at least seven years from the tax year of the return. The IRS can audit your return and you can amend your return to claim additional credits for a period that varies from three to seven years from the date you first filed.