Q: I was cleaning out my house and came across all of these old records. How long should I save these records for?

A: Generally speaking, the following are recommended periods of retention for various documents:

7 Years

Tax Returns (uncomplicated), W-2's, 1099's, Cancelled checks supporting tax deductions, Bank deposit slips, Bank statements, Charitable contribution documentation, Credit card statements, Receipts, diaries, or logs pertaining to tax returns.

Ownership Period + 7 Years

Investment purchase and sales slips, Dividend reinvestment records, Year-end brokerage statements, Mutual fund annual statements, Investment property purchase documents, Home purchase documents, Home improvement receipts and cancelled checks, Loan paperwork.

Permanent

Tax Returns (complicated), Retirement plan annual reports, IRA annual reports, IRA nondeductible contributions (Form 8606), Divorce documents, Estate planning documents.

 

Tax Tips Small Business

Clothing for Your Job is Not Always Deductible

Understanding the rules

Many taxpayers are required to maintain a certain personal appearance or wear special clothing for work. However, not all your purchases for work-related attire or personal grooming reap a tax deduction. If you are required to wear a uniform or other special clothing that has the name of your employer or some other logo on it, that cost is deductible as a miscellaneous employee business deduction. Read more...

Small Business Quick Tip

If you are disposing of property used in your business, you may want to consider a like-kind exchange to defer the taxable gain on the sale.
Saturday, 19th May 2012
EASEAL_L

What is an Enrolled Agent and why should I care?

Click Here to find out

 

find-us-on-facebook

 

Tax Tips Personal

Making Gifts

Know what gifts are taxable

When an individual receives a gift, whether cash or property, the gift is generally not taxable to that individual. Sometimes, however, the gift giver may incur a gift tax liability when making certain gifts. If you make a gift to family members or other individuals, you can give $12,000 or less in value to a single individual during the year Read more...

Personal Quick Tip

If your child has earned income from a summer job, you may want to consider opening an IRA for him or her. There is no minimum age for contributing to an IRA. The only requirement is that the person making the contribution has earned income and has not reached age 70 1/2.