Shred Timeline
Department of Consumer Protection Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection
Guidelines for Shredding and Saving Personal Documents
Opinions may differ regarding how long to keep important documents around and available. Here are some recommendations you may wish to use while organizing your sensitive documents. Additional resource links are provided at the bottom of this page.
|
Document Type
|
Amount Of Time You Should
Keep Them
|
|
Canceled Personal Checks
|
1 year, then shred unless needed for tax,
warranty, or insurance
|
| Pay Stubs |
1 year, then shred unless needed for tax,
warranty, or insurance
|
| Credit Card, Debit Card, ATM Receipts |
Until you verify transactions against
statements, then shred
|
| Health Plan Statements | Until bill with provider is settled, then shred |
|
Statements that bear your signature,
credit account number, phone number,
social security number, or medical or
legal information
|
Shred as soon as possible |
|
Warranty Cards, Instructions, and Receipts
for high-ticket items
|
Keep for as long as you own the items |
| Store Receipts for non-warranteed items |
Keep receipt until no chance of return or
exchange, then shred
|
|
Cancelled Checks, Contracts, Invoices
and Receipts for any permanent home
improvement
|
Until you sell the house |
|
Vehicle Purchase or Lease Documents,
warranties and maintenance records,
title
|
Until you sell the vehicle or return leased
vehicle to the dealer. Give documents to
the new owner when transaction is final
|
|
Stock, Bond, Mutual Fund Purchase/sale
records
|
Keep for IRS reporting then file for as
long as you own the financial funds
|
|
Documentation for Federal and State Tax
Filing, including W-2 forms
|
3 - 7 years after filing tax return |
| Federal and State Income Tax Filings | Forever |
Documents that should be kept permanently in a fireproof box or home safe:
- Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificate
- College Transcripts, Diplomas
- Credit Card Agreements, Loan Agreements
- Divorce Decree and Property Agreements
- Mortgage Documents
- Home Inventory
- Insurance Policies
- Passport (current)
- Pension Plan and Retirement Plan Documents
- Social Security Cards
- Stock Purchase Agreements
- Tax Returns
- Will and Living Will
Additional Resources:
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