Document Retention

We are often asked, “How long should I retain my financial records?” Below is a quick reference for how long documents should be retained:

• Bank statements – 4 years
• Capital stock records – permanently
• Contracts, mortgages, notes, and leases (expired) – 7 years
• Deeds, mortgages, and bills of sale – permanently
• Insurance records, claims and policies – permanently
• Property appraisals – permanently
• Retirement and pension records – permanently
• Tax returns with supporting documentation – permanently

If in doubt of how long to keep a document— seven (7) years is a good rule of thumb