The IRS Retention Policy

The period required to reserve a document relies on the expense, action, or an event filed by the report. Usually, you’re required to preserve any records that aid an income item, deduction, or credit displayed on your tax return. You should keep it up to that moment when the limitations for your tax returns expires.

 

The limitation period is the time that you’re allowed to claim a refund or credit after amending your tax return. Or the period which the IRS is allowed to take your unpaid taxes. This is a ten year period from the day your taxes were assessed.

 

The following information details the limitation period that applies to income tax returns.

 

Income Tax Returns

 

• You should keep a three-year record if conditions (4), (5), and (6) bellow doesn’t apply to you.

• From when you first filed your tax return or maintain a two-year record from when you repaid the tax.

• Seven-year record if you file a bad debt deduction claim or a worthless security loss claim.

• Six-year record if you fail to report income that exceeds 25% of the gross income filed in your tax return form.

• Indefinitely store your records if you fail to file your returns.

• Indefinitely store your records if you file a fraudulent return.

• Four-year employment tax records after you pay the tax or after the tax payment deadline.

 

You’re required to apply the following questions to each record whether you choose to dispose of the document or store it.

 

Relate to Property

 

It’s wise to keep the property records up to the limitation expiry date when you decide to get rid of the property. These records are crucial, especially when it comes to figuring out any, deduction, amortization, and depreciation. They also come in handy in calculating the loss or gain after you sell the property.

 

This also applies if you get to possess a property in a nontaxable exchange.

 

Non-Tax Purposes Records

 

You should not dispose of your records even if they are no longer required for tax purposes. You should keep them for other purposes later.

 

If you have any further questions regarding IRS retention policy, please contact us. Also, don’t forget to check the other parts of our blog for more insightful information.