What Tax Documents Can You Safely Shred? And Which Ones Should You Keep?
Once your 2024 tax return is in the hands of the IRS, you may be tempted to clear out file cabinets and delete digital folders. But before reaching for the shredder or delete button, remember that some paperwork still has two important purposes:
- Protecting you if the IRS comes calling for an audit, and
- Helping you prove the tax basis of assets you’ll sell in the future.
Keep the return itself — indefinitely
Your filed tax returns are the cornerstone of your records. But what about supporting records such as receipts and canceled checks? In general, except in cases of fraud or substantial understatement of income, the IRS can only assess tax within three years after the return for that year was filed (or three years after the return was due). For example, if you filed your 2022 tax return by its original due date of April 18, 2023, the IRS has until April 18, 2026, to assess a tax deficiency against you. If you file late, the IRS generally has three years from the date you filed.
In addition to receipts and canceled checks, you should keep records, including credit card statements, W-2s, 1099s, […]
