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How long do I need to keep my business tax records and associated documents?

Top Answer: 7 years (41% of 82 votes).
How long do I need to keep my business tax records and associated documents?
2 years
1%
3 years
13%
4 years
2%
5 years
17%
6 years
6%
7 years
41%
9 years
2%
Indefinitely
13%
Not sure
2%

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Updated on October 24, 2014

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Comments From Our Pros

Answer: 7 years
Explanation: Operational records, including bank account statements, credit card statements, canceled checks, cash receipts, and checkbook stubs follow the seven-year rule. Generally, you should hand in tax records and receipts for three years. But in some cases, longer. If you omitted income from your return, keep records for six years or longer. You can google the latest timeline on records.
APEX Bookkeeping Plus LLC
Answer: 6 years
Explanation: Normally 6 years, but if owe taxes, you must keep all your busyness tax records. Just in case if you get audited, you will need them to support your deduction in the tax return under examination.
Bharmal & Associates, Inc.
Answer: Indefinitely
Explanation: We prefer forever. You never know when you may need them. Depending on storage space there are many options to preserve these records.
Phoenix Rising Financial Services
ProMatcher
Answer: Indefinitely
Explanation: This answer varies based upon the type of documents involved. Generally we recommend most standard documents to be retained at least seven years. Other documents such as operating agreements, articles of incorporation, buy-sell agreements, etc. we would encourage clients to keep these indefinitely.
Sponsel CPA Group, LLC
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: It's always a good Idea to keep financial and tax records for 7 Years although with current digital storing methods you can keep them accessible for much longer but you should not need to.
Rood Financial Services
Answer: 3 years
Explanation: If filing a complete tax return with no anticipated errors or omissions, 3 years. In certain cases, 6 years, if certain income was not reported. If you never filed a tax return, you should keep records indefinitely.
Mark S. Powell, ABA- Bookkeeping & Tax Services
ProMatcher
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: Typically, the IRS can come after your business for failing to report income for up to 6 years after your filing if the amount is greater than 25% of your business's gross income. If you filed for a deduction for a bad debt or worthless security, the IRS suggests you keep your supporting tax records for 7 years
CPA Tax Advisors, Inc
Answer: 3 years
Explanation: You are suppose to keep your business tax records for a minimum of 3 years, but in cases of fraud there is no time frame. You are required to keep payroll records for 7 years.
MT Gonzalez Accounting Services
Answer: 9 years
Explanation: The IRS can normally do back 3 years for an audit providing there are not indication of fraud, and normally banks or potentials buyers would ask for 3 years of return and financial statement in making determination. so I would recommend keep the records for 5-6 years
KSM
ProMatcher
Answer: 5 years
Explanation: The law states that you have to keep your tax return and all supported document for a three years period. However, we encourage tax payers to keep them for Five years. Unless you are audited and there was fraud, in that case you have to keep them indefinitely.
Capstone Financial & Tax Service
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction. Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return. Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return.
Tucker & Associates Small Business Accounting LLC
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: The minimum suggested is five. However with the ease of scanning there is no reason you cannot keep your old files indefinitely. Why? Occassionbally you need to go way back to verify cost basis or other tax history. With complete scanned records you have the resources in place to do so quickly. Mold, vermin or other document destroying issues will not affect you.
Amy Rose Herrick, ChFC
ProMatcher
Answer: Indefinitely
Explanation: 3 years if you owe additional tax 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities Nonetheless the records should be retained indefinitely.
Virtual Ventures LLC
Answer: 5 years
Explanation: You should keep all records 5 years from date of filing or from date of paying tax due, whichever is later.
Vanetta Stringfield Keyes, CPA, PC
Answer: 3 years
Explanation: Keep records for 3 years if situations (4), (5), and (6) below do not apply to you. Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return. Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction. Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return. Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return. Keep records indefinitely if you file a fraudulent return. Keep employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.
Block Small Business
ProMatcher
Answer: 3 years
Explanation: Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return. Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
Gross Mendelson CPAs and Advisors
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: The IRS requires that you keep your Tax Records for 7 years.
Strothman and Associates
Answer: Indefinitely
Explanation: Vigilance the cost of doing business. Taxation authorities can go back as far in time as they wish when determining whether a business has fulfilled its tax liabilities over the years it has operated.
H. Jackson Business Service, Inc.
ProMatcher
Answer: 5 years
Explanation: 5 YEARS IS SUFFICIENT. YOU SHOULD KEEP THEM FOR REFERENCE AND IN CASE THE IRS HAS ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN ANSWER THEM EASILY
AMERICAN TAX AND BUSINESS SERVICES
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: IRS can come back and ask for evidence of expenses. Also helps planning the business.
Ensisinfo Inc
Answer: 6 years
Explanation: Generally, you should keep your supporting documents for six years. Even if you do not have to attach certain supporting documents to your return.
Capstone Financial & Tax Service
ProMatcher
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: A good rule of thumb is seven years for all business records since the IRS recommends this for employee related files.
Holdaway Financial
Answer: Indefinitely
Explanation: If you have property purchases need to keep to track basis.
Sheltra Tax & Accounting, LLC
Answer: 5 years
Explanation: You want to hold on to your tax records and support for a minimum of 5 years.
Robert J. Valas, CPA
ProMatcher
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: The answer for this one isn't so cut and dry. For more people saving your returns for 3 years + the year you are in will be fine but in certain cases the period to hold records may be longer. Here's what the IRS has to say: Note: Keep copies of your filed tax returns. They help in preparing future tax returns and making computations if you file an amended return. You owe additional tax and situations (2), (3), and (4), below, do not apply to you; keep records for 3 years. You do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return; keep records for 6 years. You file a fraudulent return; keep records indefinitely. You do not file a return; keep records indefinitely. You file a claim for credit or refund* after you file your return; keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. You file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction; keep records for 7 years. Keep all employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.
Zest Business Consulting
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: You may need to keep them longer under certain circumstances.
Rumbold Financial & Tax Advisory
Answer: 9 years
Explanation: IRS says 4 years, however 10 years is recommended.
Abacus Accounting Solutions
ProMatcher
Answer: 3 years
Explanation: Only if you did not under-report or have any other complicating factors.
Veritas Business Advisors
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: Seven
El Lodge Taos
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: Most expenses related records must be kept for 7 years. However, there are some records that can be kept for less and some records (e.g. Corporate Documents (incorporation, charter, by-laws, etc.)) which must be kept permanently.
Goldburd McCone LLP
ProMatcher
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: As long as you file a tax return and it is not fraudulent, then 7 years is more than enough.
Bottom-Line Bookkeeping & Accounting
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: It is not possible to retain records indefinitely, shear volume makes it unreasonable and since environment and techniques change with time most documents become obsolete. The IRS, when investigating fraud, may request records up to 7 years old, therefore, the 7 year limit.
Aries Business Group
Answer: 7 years
Explanation: While most Tax Audits are going to look at the last 3 years, the IRS can challenge TAX Returns & Receipts as far back as 7 years.
International Standard for Lean Six Sigma
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