{"id":5194,"date":"2020-04-02T12:00:11","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T19:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=5194"},"modified":"2020-04-02T12:00:11","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T19:00:11","slug":"ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Guide for How Long to Keep Documents"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you not sure about how long to keep documents? Digital storage makes it possible to hold on to many types of documents indefinitely. But it&rsquo;s still important to keep paper copies of several different types of personal documents, which means that they take up <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/10-office-organization-ideas\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vital storage space in your home office<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Follow these guidelines for establishing how long to keep documents and when it&rsquo;s time to get rid of them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this guide, we&rsquo;ll discuss:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/#tax-documents\">How Long Should You Keep Tax Documents?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/#financial-records\">How Long to Keep Documents Like Your General Financial Records<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/#other-types\">What Other Types of Paperwork Do I Need to Keep Long-Term?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/#organize-documents\">How Can I Organize All of My Important Documents?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/\/LrfEXpH_9Ls\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><a id=\"tax-documents\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-long-should-you-keep-tax-documents\"><b>How Long Should You Keep Tax Documents?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><br>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During tax season, you may need to carefully consider how long to keep documents that help you file your taxes correctly. This doesn&rsquo;t just include your tax returns themselves. It also includes the assortment of other documents that go into filing your taxes every year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRS audits can and do happen. If you can&rsquo;t produce the relevant paperwork, then you may find yourself struggling to come up with the evidence you need. When it comes to your tax records, it&rsquo;s better to be prepared. Know how long to keep documents in these three categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-keeping-track-of-pay-stubs\"><b>1. Keeping Track of Pay Stubs<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you still receive physical pay stubs, keep track of them throughout the year until your W-2 comes in. If you do not receive physical copies of your pay stubs, consider taking screenshots or saving emails to a specific folder on your computer. Then, you can access them easily if needed.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can dump your pay stubs once you have a completed W-2 in hand for the year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-tracking-giving-receipts-w-2s-and-other-vital-tax-forms\"><b>2. Tracking Giving Receipts, W-2s, and Other Vital Tax Forms<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When tax time rolls around, you&rsquo;ll often be inundated with tax forms. This includes:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giving receipts from charities or religious organizations that you donated to over the course of the year<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-2s<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earning statements that indicate how much you&rsquo;ve made from your savings accounts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your investment accounts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anything else that has made you money over the course of the year<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"3-knowing-how-long-to-keep-documents-if-youre-self-employed\">3. Knowing How Long to Keep Documents If You&rsquo;re Self-Employed<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&rsquo;re a small business owner, a freelancer, or a contractor, you may end up with even more paperwork to deal with. This includes a potentially daunting stack of 1099 forms. What&rsquo;s the commonly accepted answer about how long to keep documents like 1099 forms? All of those items should be kept for at least seven years before being disposed of properly. The IRS has<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/businesses\/small-businesses-self-employed\/irs-audits\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">six years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to file a claim against you for any income that you failed to report properly, so you should keep up with all vital tax information for at least that long. Tuck away:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-2s&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1099 forms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional statements of earning<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your tax forms, or copies of those forms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once seven years have passed, you can get rid of those records and make room for new ones. Until that time, keep those forms in chronological order. You can choose to store them in physical or digital format &mdash; as long as you have an organizing system that works for you and will make it easy to access vital information as needed. Remember, storing paper records long-term could require special care, like that given to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/how-to-store-books\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">books<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to help protect those records.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"pro-tip-organize-your-financial-information-as-it-comes-in-throughout-the-year\">PRO TIP: Organize your financial information as it comes in throughout the year<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>From expense reports to your income, keep all that information in a single file that you can easily refer back to whenever you need it. If you organize your financial documents throughout the year, you&rsquo;ll find it easier to manage them at tax time. You&rsquo;ll also reduce your stress levels during an often difficult time of the year.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"financial-records\"><\/a><\/p>\n<html><body><div id=\"in_post\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/host\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'first in post', version: '2.0'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n  <div class=\"first-in-post-cta\">\r\n    <header>\r\n      <h2 id=\"can-we-pay-you-to-store-vehicles\">Can we pay you to store vehicles?<\/h2>\r\n    <\/header>\r\n    <section>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path d=\"M26.7552 20.0573C26.2911 20.9853 26.2499 22.3578 26.2499 24.375H33.7499C33.7499 22.3577 33.7088 20.9853 33.2448 20.0573C33.0557 19.6792 32.8 19.3973 32.3888 19.1841C31.9442 18.9535 31.2108 18.75 30 18.75C28.7892 18.75 28.0558 18.9535 27.6112 19.1841C27.2 19.3973 26.9442 19.6792 26.7552 20.0573Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M28.0777 4.32887C29.3195 3.87732 30.6805 3.87732 31.9223 4.32887L48.7973 10.4652C51.0173 11.2725 52.5 13.3777 52.5 15.7462V33.1425C52.5 33.7407 52.4058 34.3605 52.1888 34.9629C47.861 46.9738 35.9939 53.5676 32.1164 55.464C30.7986 56.1086 29.2843 56.1505 27.9278 55.5549C23.9729 53.8185 12.0728 47.6941 7.77513 34.8948C7.58399 34.3255 7.5 33.7394 7.5 33.1762V15.7481C7.5 13.3807 8.98165 11.2729 11.2027 10.4652L28.0777 4.32887ZM22.4998 24.1662L22.4999 24.375C20.4289 24.375 18.75 26.054 18.75 28.125V35.625C18.75 37.6961 20.4289 39.375 22.5 39.375H37.5C39.5711 39.375 41.25 37.6961 41.25 35.625V28.125C41.25 26.0539 39.5711 24.375 37.5 24.375L37.5 24.166C37.5016 22.4546 37.5037 20.19 36.5989 18.3802C36.0848 17.352 35.2859 16.4621 34.115 15.855C32.9776 15.2652 31.6017 15 30 15C28.3983 15 27.0224 15.2652 25.885 15.855C24.7141 16.4621 23.9152 17.352 23.4011 18.3802C22.4961 20.1901 22.4982 22.4547 22.4998 24.1662Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg><\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"list-your-unused-space\">List your unused space<\/h3>\r\n        <p>People are earning $1,000s per year from their garages and outdoor space.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M13.125 9.375C11.0539 9.375 9.375 11.0539 9.375 13.125V46.875C9.375 48.9461 11.0539 50.625 13.125 50.625H46.875C48.9461 50.625 50.625 48.9461 50.625 46.875V13.125C50.625 11.0539 48.9461 9.375 46.875 9.375H13.125ZM28.125 16.875C28.125 15.8395 28.9645 15 30 15C31.0355 15 31.875 15.8395 31.875 16.875V20.625H35.625C36.6605 20.625 37.5 21.4645 37.5 22.5C37.5 23.5355 36.6605 24.375 35.625 24.375H26.25C25.2145 24.375 24.375 25.2145 24.375 26.25C24.375 27.2855 25.2145 28.125 26.25 28.125H33.75C36.8566 28.125 39.375 30.6434 39.375 33.75C39.375 36.8566 36.8566 39.375 33.75 39.375H31.875V43.125C31.875 44.1605 31.0355 45 30 45C28.9645 45 28.125 44.1605 28.125 43.125V39.375H22.5C21.4645 39.375 20.625 38.5355 20.625 37.5C20.625 36.4645 21.4645 35.625 22.5 35.625H33.75C34.7855 35.625 35.625 34.7855 35.625 33.75C35.625 32.7145 34.7855 31.875 33.75 31.875H26.25C23.1434 31.875 20.625 29.3566 20.625 26.25C20.625 23.1434 23.1434 20.625 26.25 20.625H28.125V16.875Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"approve-your-renters\">Approve your renters<\/h3>\r\n        <p>You're in control. Approve who rents and the hours of access.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <div class=\"service-option-icon\">\r\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" fill=\"none\">\r\n            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M31.2776 51.9974L31.7666 51.5417C32.0789 51.2503 32.527 50.8317 33.0706 50.3224C34.1576 49.3041 35.6276 47.9224 37.158 46.4698C40.1682 43.6127 43.5576 40.3461 44.596 39.1282C46.7163 36.6414 48.1719 33.6468 48.8127 30.4251C49.5529 26.704 49.173 22.847 47.7211 19.3418C46.2692 15.8366 43.8105 12.8407 40.6559 10.7329C37.5015 8.62514 33.7942 7.5 30.0001 7.5C26.2061 7.5 22.4973 8.62504 19.3428 10.7329C16.1882 12.8407 13.7295 15.8366 12.2776 19.3418C10.8257 22.847 10.4458 26.704 11.186 30.4251C11.8268 33.6468 13.2824 36.6414 15.4027 39.1282C16.4411 40.3462 19.831 43.6128 22.8415 46.4698C24.3721 47.9224 25.8422 49.3042 26.9294 50.3225C27.4731 50.8318 27.9212 51.2504 28.2336 51.5418L28.723 51.9979C29.4428 52.6672 30.5579 52.6668 31.2776 51.9974ZM28.723 51.9979C28.723 51.9979 28.7232 51.998 30.0001 50.625L28.723 51.9979ZM30.0001 50.625L31.2776 51.9974C31.2776 51.9974 31.2771 51.9979 30.0001 50.625ZM30 32.8125C33.6243 32.8125 36.5625 29.8744 36.5625 26.25C36.5625 22.6256 33.6243 19.6875 30 19.6875C26.3756 19.6875 23.4375 22.6256 23.4375 26.25C23.4375 29.8744 26.3756 32.8125 30 32.8125Z\" fill=\"#005EB8\"><\/path>\r\n          <\/svg>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <h3 id=\"get-paid-monthly\">Get paid monthly<\/h3>\r\n        <p>Sit back and collect automatic payments each month.<\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n    <footer>\r\n      <button>Learn more about hosting <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\">\r\n          <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M18.8304 5.17619L4.55227 11.6663H11.1779C11.8199 11.6663 12.3404 12.1867 12.3404 12.8288V19.4543L18.8304 5.17619ZM19.029 3.43822C20.0069 2.99374 21.0129 3.9997 20.5684 4.97757L13.0612 21.4935C12.5438 22.6316 10.8404 22.2627 10.8404 21.0124V13.1663H2.99417C1.74398 13.1663 1.37497 11.4628 2.51312 10.9455L19.029 3.43822Z\" fill=\"#EFF5F8\"><\/path>\r\n        <\/svg><\/button>\r\n    <\/footer>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h2 id=\"how-long-to-keep-documents-like-your-general-financial-records\"><b>How Long to Keep Documents Like Your General Financial Records<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><br>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to your general financial records, the length of time you should keep that important paperwork varies. Your bank may still send you paper statements each month, or you may have emails that contain paperless banking information. Bills may come in via paper or show up as online statements. How long do you need to keep that information?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"managing-your-bills-by-tracking-important-bills-and-payments\"><b>Managing Your Bills by Tracking Important Bills and Payments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5198 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"man organizing and paying his bills\"  width=\"5760\"  height=\"3840\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-Bills.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always keep bills, especially one-time bills or those that you do not have to pay on a regular basis, in a single location that you can easily access. Consider organizing them by their due dates so that you do not miss any important payments. That could lead to costly late fees. Keep up with utility bills and normal bills for a month, at least until the next one comes in.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you pay a bill, note the verification of the payment and how you chose to pay it. Monthly, recurring bills may not need that additional documentation. But you should track medical bills to ensure that you know they were paid, when you paid them, and what method you used to pay those bills.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"pro-tip-if-you-work-from-home-or-are-self-employed-you-may-need-to-keep-annual-utility-bills-with-your-tax-paperwork\">PRO TIP: If you work from home or are self-employed, you may need to keep annual utility bills with your tax paperwork<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people who work from home choose to use their utility bills as tax deductions. Store these documents with the rest of your tax paperwork.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-long-should-you-keep-financial-statements\"><b>How Long Should You&nbsp;Keep&nbsp;Financial Statements?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each month, you will receive bank statements, credit card statements, and statements from any other financial providers. Keep track of those statements until you reconcile them against the other records you keep &mdash; your credit or debit card register, for example. If you&rsquo;re aiming for a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/restorecreaterenovate.com\/2018\/06\/13\/one-touch-organizing-system\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> one-touch system<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for organizing your mail, then open your statements and read through them as soon as they arrive. Make sure that the payments, deductions, and deposits match your personal records.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you notice an inconsistency in your statements, deal with it as soon as possible. If you do not note any inconsistencies or problems, you can go ahead and get rid of those statements.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, don&rsquo;t just toss your bank and credit card statements in the trash. They contain personal identifying information, including bank and credit card numbers, that could be incredibly tempting for identity thieves. Instead, shred those statements before you trash them. If you want to take it to the next level, throw them away in your kitchen trash can to mix the shreds with food waste.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-to-keep-up-with-loan-paperwork\"><b>How to Keep up With Loan Paperwork<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any time you take out a loan, you will want to keep track of the paperwork from that loan. Anything from a payday loan to a mortgage comes with substantial documentation, and you should keep track of that paperwork for the life of your loan. Make sure you keep:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initial loan paperwork: You should have a copy of the documents you signed at the time you took out the loan. Also, you should keep your copy of those documents to make sure there are no inconsistencies in your lender&rsquo;s dealings with you.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Copies of payments made to your loan: Once you reconcile the loan records with your personal paperwork, you can get rid of those copies; however, you should always keep the last couple of statements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any additional communications the lender sends you about your loan: These are particularly important if you miss a payment or make changes to your loan, including refinancing your mortgage.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Documentation showing that the loan is complete: Once you&rsquo;ve paid off the loan, keep track of that paperwork until you&rsquo;re sure the line of credit no longer shows on your credit report. This is especially vital if you have paid it off sooner than anticipated or issued a lump sum payment at the end.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Knowing how long to keep documents regarding your debts and payments can help protect you if the other party isn&rsquo;t organized.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-long-to-keep-documents-about-your-investments\"><b>How&nbsp;Long to Keep Documents About Your Investments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your investments may produce just as much paperwork as your loans and personal financial information. Just how long do you need to keep it? How long you keep investment documentation will depend on the type of documents. Here are a couple of tips:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep track of quarterly statements until you receive your annual statement.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reconcile them with one another, then go ahead and get rid of the quarterly statements, since the same information is reflected in your annual statement.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep track of annual statements with the rest of your tax documentation.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may need to keep this information for up to seven years, just like the rest of your tax documents.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"other-types\"><\/a><\/p>\n<html><body><div id=\"2_in_post\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/host\" onclick=\"rudderanalytics.track('press editorial cta button', {location: 'second in post', version: '2.0'}, () =&gt; { console.log('track call'); });\">\r\n  <div class=\"second-in-post-cta\">\r\n    <section>\r\n      <div class=\"service-option\">\r\n        <h2 id=\"earn-1000s-per-year-with-your-unused-space\">Earn $1,000s per year with your unused space<\/h2>\r\n        <button>Become a Neighbor host<\/button>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/section>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\n  <\/div><\/body><\/html><h2 id=\"what-other-types-of-paperwork-do-i-need-to-keep-long-term\"><b>What Other Types of Paperwork Do I Need to Keep Long-Term?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><br>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may have a solid understanding of how you need to handle keeping up with your tax information and other important financial documents. But the other paperwork you track is equally important. This list includes personal documents like your birth certificate and social security card, insurance paperwork, and documentation on items throughout your home, like warranties and manuals.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"keeping-up-with-personal-documents\"><b>Keeping up With Personal Documents<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of your personal documents are critical to proving your identity, your marriage, or your children&rsquo;s identities. While you can obtain duplicate copies of many personal documents if needed, keeping track of them is the better option.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are personal documents? Personal documents include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Birth certificates for every member of the family<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social security cards for each member of the family<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your passport, if you have one<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Copies of the driver&rsquo;s license of each member of the family who holds one<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your marriage license, if applicable<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your divorce documents, if applicable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Death certificates when a member of the family passes away<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Military paperwork<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"pro-tip-make-sure-you-keep-all-of-these-personal-documents-in-a-secure-location\">PRO TIP: Make sure you keep all of these personal documents in a secure location.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should not leave them sitting out where any visitor to your home &mdash; or worse, a thief &mdash; can access them easily. Instead, place them somewhere that only you know where they are. Consider investing in a fireproof box and storing them in a safe somewhere in your home to help protect them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-long-should-you-keep-insurance-documents\"><b>How Long Should You Keep Insurance Documents?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing what insurance coverage you carry and how it protects you is critical to ensuring that you and all of the members of your family have the protection you need. Keep current copies of any insurance cards and insurance policies in one location in your home that can be easily accessed by all members of the family. Include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Auto insurance cards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health insurance cards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paperwork for your homeowners or renters insurance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life insurance policies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should keep track of all insurance documents for the lifetime of the policy. As long as you are covered by the policy, you may need to be able to access that vital information. In some cases, you may want to keep up with your insurance documentation longer than the lifetime of the policy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"what-are-some-other-considerations-for-holding-onto-insurance-paperwork\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are some other considerations for holding onto insurance paperwork?<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4 id=\"if-you-have-ongoing-medical-conditions-keep-up-with-all-health-insurance-information-until-the-last-bill-from-that-time-span-has-been-paid\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have ongoing medical conditions, keep up with all health insurance information until the last bill from that time span has been paid.&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure that you do not have any outstanding medical bills before getting rid of information about that health insurance policy. You may need to be able to access it later.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"if-you-were-in-an-accident-before-an-auto-insurance-policy-ended-keep-track-of-that-information-until-the-claim-has-been-settled\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you were in an accident before an auto insurance policy ended, keep track of that information until the claim has been settled.&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may need to be able to access detailed information about the policy. It&rsquo;s also important to keep track of documentation about the accident and the claim until you have fully settled any claim related to that insurance policy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"pro-tip-make-sure-both-spouses-are-fully-aware-of-where-to-find-information-about-insurance\">PRO TIP: Make sure both spouses are fully aware of where to find information about insurance.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You do not want your spouse to be misinformed about what life insurance you carry if something happens to you. Keep all that information in a secure location that you and your spouse can both access easily. If your spouse isn&rsquo;t sure about how long to store documents like this, decide together.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"storing-a-home-inventory\"><b>Storing a Home Inventory<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to your insurance policy information, conduct a home inventory that will give you some idea of the items that you have in your home. In the event of a disaster, this inventory could prove crucial for getting the coverage you need from your insurance company. Keep this inventory in a secure location. On this inventory list, include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antiques<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furniture<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electronics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kitchen appliances<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific items of value in your home<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place a copy of your home inventory with your insurance policy. You may want to keep it outside of your home, in a place like a safe deposit box. Also, keep a virtual copy of your home inventory that you can easily access if a disaster strikes your home. Deciding how long to keep documents about your insurance is easier if you store them in multiple locations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should update your home inventory annually or update your list any time you make a major purchase. An outdated list may give you a starting place, but it won&rsquo;t provide you with access to the vital information that will provide you with compensation for your expenses after a disaster.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"pro-tip-know-what-your-homeowners-or-renters-insurance-policy-covers\">PRO TIP: Know what your homeowners or renters insurance policy covers.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some policies, for example, may require you to take out specific coverage on jewelry or specific items that exceed a certain value.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-long-to-keep-documents-like-warranty-documentation-owners-manuals-and-more\"><b>How Long to Keep Documents Like Warranty Documentation, Owner&rsquo;s Manuals, and More<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Living life comes with a lot of paperwork. When you buy a new appliance, for example, you&rsquo;ll bring home an owner&rsquo;s manual, as well as a copy of the warranty documentation on the appliance.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long do you really have to keep those items?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should keep the warranty paperwork until the warranty on a specific item expires. If you lose the warranty paperwork, you may have trouble proving that you still have a warranty for that item. You might also forget who that warranty is through. Also, are you relying on a manufacturer&rsquo;s warranty, or did you purchase extended coverage from the store along with your appliance or other items? Those details matter, so keep track of all warranty paperwork in a single location.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most owner&rsquo;s manuals can now be found online. Take a look at your item and see if you can look up that information online. If you can easily access the details or download a digital copy, you can probably get rid of your owner&rsquo;s manual.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exception: If you move frequently or plan to move soon, you may want to keep track of all of those manuals. Having physical copies can make it easier to put items together or install them in your new location.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5 id=\"pro-tip-dig-through-your-warranty-paperwork-each-year-and-get-rid-of-anything-that-has-expired\">PRO TIP: Dig through your warranty paperwork each year and get rid of anything that has expired.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tax time is a great time to go through all of your paperwork to determine what you can get rid of and what you should keep.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-long-to-keep-documents-from-your-big-purchases\"><b>How Long to Keep Documents from Your Big Purchases<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you take out a loan for a big purchase, keep track of all the information until the loan is paid off. If, on the other hand, you do not take out a loan for a specific item, keep up with purchase information until the warranty on that item expires.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many stores can now track purchase information online, but they may struggle to pull up purchase information that is more than six months to a year old. Keeping track of that vital information yourself will help provide proof of purchase or indicate exactly when you made a specific purchase. This can help you keep your warranty current and receive compensation for any needed repairs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"organize-documents\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-can-i-organize-all-of-my-important-documents\"><b>How Can I Organize All of My Important Documents?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><br>\n<img  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5199 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"organizing documents in file folders with labels\"  width=\"916\"  height=\"613\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"(max-width: 916px) 100vw, 916px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize.jpg\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize.jpg 916w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize-380x254.jpg 380w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize-550x368.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-How-to-Organize-800x535.jpg 800w\" ><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizing your home office is critical to maintaining your productivity and making it easy to lay hands on all those important records when you need to. Try these tips to make organization easier &mdash; whether you keep your documents in the office or use a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/climate-controlled-storage-5-things-you-need-to-know-before-renting\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">climate-controlled storage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> solution for your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"organizing-paper-documents\"><b>Organizing Paper Documents<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping track of all your paper documents can quickly turn into a headache. Try some of these tips and tricks to make keeping up with paper documents easier.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"1-have-a-safe-deposit-box-for-any-items-that-you-do-not-need-to-access-on-a-regular-basis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Have a safe deposit box for any items that you do not need to access on a regular basis.&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may include personal documents like your marriage license or birth certificate that you do not need to produce on a regular basis. Also, add your home inventory or information about insurance policies to the box. Keeping it in a safe deposit box keeps it safe in a location outside your home. There, it&rsquo;s also easily accessible to both you and your spouse.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"2-set-aside-a-specific-file-or-drawer-for-financial-documents\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Set aside a specific file or drawer for financial documents.&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organize those documents as they come in whenever possible. That&rsquo;s often better than scrambling to organize them at tax time or at other critical times of the year. Create specific files and folders for the documents you will need to do your taxes. Also, establish folders financial documents you may need to access on a regular basis. Make sure there&rsquo;s enough space, no matter what you decide about how long to keep documents at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"3-set-aside-a-specific-space-for-warranty-paperwork-owners-manuals-and-other-important-documentation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Set aside a specific space for warranty paperwork, owner&rsquo;s manuals, and other important documentation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep this separate from your financial records. You may choose to store it in the same general location, but give these documents their own file.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"digital-document-organization\"><b>Digital Document Organization<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you receive official documents straight to your email, you may assume that you do not have to worry about organizing them. A quick search will bring them up, right? In reality, you may need to organize your digital documents just as stringent as your physical paperwork. Try out these steps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Start a file for your financial documents. Place all documents related to your overall finances in that file. You may want to create separate files for documents you will need for your taxes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Add a new file each year. This will make it easier for you to keep all of your documents separate and allow you to sort through them quickly each year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Use a naming system that makes sense to you. You want to be able to easily access any document that you have a question about. So create a naming system or numeric system that makes it easy for you to find exactly what you&rsquo;re looking for.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Store your digital records in a cloud folder or back them up regularly. You don&rsquo;t want to lose all that careful organization just because your computer failed. Also, digital backups give you enough space so you can be cautious about how long to keep documents you&rsquo;re worried about.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps you already ascribe to a minimalist method or want to get rid of items in your home that you no longer need so you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/marie-kondo\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">free up your space<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Deciding how long to keep documents is no easy task. But it&rsquo;s well worth the effort. With these strategies, you can more easily organize, keep, and access your vital personal records and financial documentation for as long as you need them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Are you not sure about how long to keep documents? Digital storage makes it possible to hold on&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_appearance_grid":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[58,11,13,59,17],"class_list":["post-5194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-home-organization","tag-finances","tag-home-organization","tag-life-hacks","tag-personal-organization","tag-storage-tips","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ultimate Guide for How Long to Keep Documents - Neighbor Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Knowing how long to keep documents will help your personal finances. Read our guide about how long to keep tax records, bank statements, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ultimate Guide for How Long to Keep Documents - Neighbor Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Knowing how long to keep documents will help your personal finances. Read our guide about how long to keep tax records, bank statements, and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Neighbor Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-04-02T19:00:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Ultimate-Guide-for-How-Long-to-Keep-Documents-Featured-Image.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1021\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"610\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Colton Gardner\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/coltongardner\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Colton Gardner\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/ultimate-guide-how-long-to-keep-documents\/\",\"name\":\"Ultimate Guide for How Long to Keep Documents - Neighbor Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-04-02T19:00:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-04-02T19:00:11+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ad4516652d25af57ee2dd17874d0fb38\"},\"description\":\"Knowing how long to keep documents will help your personal finances. 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