NJ & Federal Income Taxes

For how many years do you hold copies of your personal income tax forms? I have heard 5 years, 7years and even 10 years. Thanks.


I've always heard 7 years.  I do mine online now so I don't keep hard copies anymore.


I've heard seven years, which is what I do.


Good reminder to shred or delete anything pre-2013.


My understanding is that the government will normally only consider and/or audit taxes for the last 3 tax years.  However, if something triggers a more serious concern after that, they can take a deeper dive into the last 7 tax years, so what people say makes sense.


My accountant (former IRS agent) specified that we should keep all accompanying back-up documents as well.  They suggest 10 years for both returns and documents, forever for returns only. (That part doesn't make sense to me, because if they wanted to dig that far back, you would need the back-up, right?) That said, I am shredding stuff prior to 2010.



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