| FILE |
CONTENTS |
WHERE TO KEEP |
HOW LONG TO KEEP |
Automobile
(also see Insurance and Taxes) |
Title
|
Safe deposit box
|
Until sold or traded
|
Payment book
|
File
|
Until paid in full
|
Owner's manual and registration
|
File or in Car itself
|
Until sold or traded
|
| Repair records receipts for parts and record of fuel purchases |
File |
Until car is sold or as needed to substantiate
tax-deductible business driving expense |
| Bank |
Passbook
|
File
|
Until account is closed
|
Bank statements
|
File: move to dead storage annually
|
10 years
|
| Canceled checks |
File: move to dead storage annually |
10 years |
Cash Receipts
(also see Current Bills) |
Receipts for major purchases, appliances, jewelry, TV, stereo |
File: move to dead storage annually |
3 years (indefinitely if it's proof of purchase for item on your personal property inventory) |
Current Bills
(also see Cash Receipts) |
All unpaid bills, charge account slips |
File when paid, move to dead storage yearly |
3 years for general purposes; 6 years if needed to substantiate tax-deductible item; indefinitely if used as legal proof of purchase |
| Current Records |
List of credit card numbers, creditors phone numbers and addresses
|
File
|
Until all listed credit cards expire or are destroyed
|
| Installment contracts |
Original in safe deposit box, copy in file |
Until debt is paid or as needed |
Employment
Information |
Employee benefit info & report
|
File
|
As needed
|
| Pension records from prior employers |
File |
Indefinitely |
| Executor |
Copy of will & trust documents
|
Original with lawyer, 1 copy in file and
1 copy in safe deposit box.
|
Indefinitely: update as needed
|
Letter of last instructions
|
Original in safe deposit box, copy in file
|
Indefinitely: update as needed
|
List of location of important
documents, names, addresses of personal & legal advisors |
Original in safe deposit box, copy in file |
Indefinitely: update as needed |
| Financial Planning |
Budget |
File |
As needed |
Guarantees,
Warranties |
All warranties
|
File: attach purchase receipt
|
Annually remove expired warranties & guarantees
|
| Instruction manual |
File |
Until item is discarded or sold |
Housing
(also see Taxes)
Owned:
Rented:
|
Home improvement receipts, record of land transfer taxes, price paid, selling costs.
|
File
|
Keep all records of home improvements, buying & selling costs for tax purposes
|
Title insurance policy
|
Safe deposit box
|
Until property is sold
|
Deeds
|
Safe deposit box
|
Until property is sold
|
Termite inspection policy
|
Safe deposit box
|
Until property is sold
|
Copy of lease rental agreement
|
Original in safe deposit box, copy in file
|
Until you move & claims are settled
|
| Pictures showing move-in condition of property |
Safe deposit box |
Until you move & claims are settled |
Insurance
Car:
Health:
Property: |
List of policy numbers, names of insured, beneficiaries, issuing company, agent type, amnt of coverage, copies of all policies.
|
File
|
Update as necessary
|
Record of traffic violations & accidents.
|
File |
3 years after violation |
Medical history
|
File |
Update as necessary |
| Personal property inventory (incl price paid & photos showing valuable possessions) |
Copies in file & safe deposit box |
Update as necessary
|
| Appraisals |
Safe deposit box |
Update as necessary |
Investments
(also see Taxes) |
Bearer bonds |
Safe deposit box |
Until sold or maturity |
| Certificates of deposit |
Safe deposit box |
Until maturity & redemption |
Record of price paid for stocks, bonds
|
File |
Update as necessary for tax purposes |
| Stock certificates |
Safe deposit box |
Until sold |
| Transfer slips (broker's purchase sales statements) |
File |
Until sold, use for tax purposes |
| Other |
Death, birth certificates, marriage license, divorce papers, diplomas, military papers, social security & driver's license numbers. |
Safe deposit box |
Indefinitely |
| Taxes |
Paycheck stubs
|
File
|
Discard yearly after checking with W2s
|
Copies of old returns & supporting data
Receipts for tax-deductible items (interest paid, child & medical care, donations, bus expenses, real estate taxes, casualty loses) |
Dead storage File |
10 Years Use annually and then store with old tax returns |
| Receipts for taxable items (interest & dividends, records of capital gains, loses) |
File |
Use annually and then store with old tax returns |
|
I M P O R T A N T
P H O N E
N U M B E R S
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