--- title: "To Keep or Shred: How Long Should You Hold on to Your Documents?" description: Learn key information related to document retention and how long companies should retain various filings and other records - Bellevue CPA Firm. --- [![Sweeney Conrad](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/Sweeney-Conrad-logo.jpg?width=542&height=48&name=Sweeney-Conrad-logo.jpg "Sweeney Conrad")](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/preview/) ![navigation menu](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/hamburger-bars.png) - [What We Do](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do) - [Tax Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/tax-services) - [Client Accounting Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/client-accounting-services) - [Advisory Services](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/what-we-do/advisory-services) - [How We Do It](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it) - [Our Process](https://www.sweeneyconrad.com/how-we-do-it/our-process) - 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By Sweeney Conrad, PS | Sep 05, 2018 [![white arrow](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SweeneyConrad_August2022/images/arrow-left-white.png)](https://blog.sweeneyconrad.com) INSIGHTS/BLOG We all know the feeling… it’s time to clean the office and you’re sorting through stacks of documents, filing them away, shredding some, creating more piles… and the questions keep arising. Can I toss this? Is this something important to keep? I’ve been holding on to this for 3 years, surely it’s OK to let it go now? The short answer is you need to keep them for as long as the IRS can potentially challenge you on the item to which a particular record relates. There is no limit for the IRS to bring an action against someone who has filed a false or fraudulent return. The following chart provides a general guideline for the retention of many common records.   **Accounting Records**              **Retention Time** General                                        7 years Payroll                                          7 years Taxes (income)                           Permanently Chart of Accounts                      Permanently General Journal                          Permanently General Ledger                           Permanently   **Legal Documents**                       **Retention Time** Minutes                                             Permanently Real Estate                                        Permanently Stock Certificates and Ledgers      Permanently   **Tax Records**                                 **Retention Time** Payroll Tax Returns                       Permanently Sales and Tax Returns                  Permanently Tax Returns as Filed (Copies)      Permanently   Interested in viewing the full list? Click below to download complete guide on how long to keep your documents. 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