It's tax time! As you go through mounds of paperwork in your home, how do you know which documents to toss, which to keep, and for how long? Here are some answers, according to Kimberly Lankford of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.
Lankford says you can get rid of certain papers because "there are so many redundancies, so many things you have that you've kept as receipts. And then you have a statement for that month, and then you have a year-end statement."
INSTANT THROWAWAYS: Receipts for everyday purchases such as food, gasoline, and products you don't anticipate returning or repairing, such as clothing.
KEEP FOR 30 DAYS: ATM and Credit Receipts, Utility Bills. Check them all against monthly statements and then toss them.
KEEP FOR 1 Year: Paycheck Stubs, Investment Statements, Medical Statements
KEEP FOR 3 YEARS: Your checkbook, canceled checks, supporting tax return documents
KEEP FOREVER: Tax Returns, Pension, Property and Medical Records.
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But be careful when you get rid of paperwork; shred it to avoid identity theft.
