What paperwork should I keep, and for how long?
What to keep forever, what to keep for a few years, and what can go today.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 45 min
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Keep property, legal and identity documents permanently. Keep tax and financial records for around six years. Almost everything else can go once the warranty or the return period has passed.
Most households keep either everything or nothing. A simple three-tier split — permanent, six years, and short-term — covers almost every document and takes an afternoon to set up once.
Step by step
- Keep the permanent tier forever.Birth, marriage and death certificates, wills, deeds and title documents, mortgage records, pension documents, qualifications, and any document proving ownership. Ideally originals in a fireproof box.
- Keep financial records for around six years.Tax returns and supporting records, and self-employment records. Six years is the common retention period for tax purposes, though check your circumstances.
- Keep insurance documents for the policy period plus a margin.And longer for any policy where a claim could arise later. Certificates of buildings insurance are worth keeping with the property documents.
- Keep receipts for the warranty or return period.For anything with a guarantee, keep the receipt for its length. For expensive items, keep it as long as you own the thing.
- Keep home improvement records with the property file.Building regulations certificates, electrical certificates, gas safety records, guarantees for damp proofing and roofing. A buyer's solicitor will ask for these years later.
- Discard routine bills once the next one is settled.Utility bills, statements you can re-download, delivery notes. Most banks and providers keep years of statements online — there is no need to duplicate them on paper.
- Scan rather than keep paper, except for the permanent tier.A scanned copy is enough for most purposes. Keep originals for anything legal, or where an original signature or seal matters.
- Shred anything with personal data.Account numbers, addresses, dates of birth, signatures. Bin-diving for identity fraud is not sophisticated but it does happen.
Tips
- One box for permanent documents, one folder for the six-year tier, and everything else scanned or discarded. That structure survives contact with real life.
- Photograph the permanent documents and store the images with your backups. It is what makes replacement possible if the originals are lost.
- Tell someone where the permanent box is. Nobody else can find it by intuition.
Questions people ask
How long should I keep bank statements?
Most banks keep years of statements online, so there is little need for paper. Keep anything supporting a tax return for around six years.
What should I never throw away?
Certificates of birth, marriage and death, wills, property deeds, pension documents, qualifications, and building and electrical certificates for your home.