De-Clutter Your Financial Records

Here's a guide to help you shrink your stacks of paperwork to a manageable proportion.

De-Clutter Your Financial Records

If you keep hundreds of financial documents on hand, the mountain of paper can be overwhelming and unnecessary. Here�s a guide to help you shrink your stacks of paperwork to a manageable proportion. (Note that if a document supports your tax return you should keep it for six years � if not, follow the guide below.)

Document Type Discard After
Credit card bills One month (or six years if it supports your tax return)
Receipts End of warranty
Medical bills One year
Pay stubs You get your W-2
Tax return support documents Six years after return is filed
Stock, bond, fund statements Six years after return is filed
Tax returns Never