How long do you keep important papers?

[pkasbohm]

I have my own business so I keep my tax stuff for seven years. How long do you keep your bank statements, bill statements, etc.?
I was cleaning out my storage area and found a whole bunch of them and was just curious!

 

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Tax stuff - forever!

Bank - 5 years

Bills - 1-2 years

 

[sjh801]

Originally posted by pkasbohm
I have my own business so I keep my tax stuff for seven years. How long do you keep your bank statements, bill statements, etc.?
I was cleaning out my storage area and found a whole bunch of them and was just curious!

Way too long!!! I'll be waiting and watching for your replies.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

tax stuff -- I've been keeping since we've been married. I do our own taxes and put all the forms in a manilla folder each year and file it in a cabinet in the basement. It's not worth my time to clean it out.

Bills, bank statements or whatever....I get most of that stuff online now and don't even have many paper statements. I keep the quarterly statements from our investment accounts, but most of the rest gets pitched as soon as I pay the bill or reconcile the account.