How long to save tax returns ? Tax time is a difficult and stressful time for many people. Whether you are a small business owner or an individual, it can be hard to keep track of how long you should save your tax documents. Every year the IRS will provide some tips on what you need to do with your documents, but how much information do they really give?

In this article we’ll discuss how to stay on the right side of audit limitations so that if the IRS comes knocking at your door, they won’t find anything!

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How Long Should I Keep Tax Documents?

The IRS recommends keeping returns and other tax documents for three years (or two years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later.)

The IRS has a statute of limitations on conducting audits and it is limited to three years. To determine how long you need to keep your documentation, simply add up how many days are in each year that passes by then subtract one day per month or 30 days if all months have 31 days.

For example: If I filed my 2012 return in January 2014, I would hold onto these documents until at least December 2016 ((365 + 366) – 365 = 720). Since this past year was not yet closed out so we must take into account how many additional days were left before the end of 2015 which means another 365 days.

Tips for Tax Documents:

If you are a small business owner or just an individual, it can be hard keeping track on when you need to keep your documents and when they can safely get thrown away.

In order to stay on the right side of audit limitations, follow these tips! For more information about how long you need to hold onto taxes from previous years please refer back to our article here . Make sure that all documentation is organized in tax-friendly folders or binders.

This way you can easily find what you need when the IRS comes knocking at your door! If any of these documents are not readily available like bank statements, then they should be stored somewhere else where they won’t get lost (like a safety deposit box.)

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When to file taxes

At the end of each year, you will need to file your tax returns. If you do not receive any requests from the IRS then it is alright to file them as early as February (of that same year.) Otherwise, if requested by the Internal Revenue Service or state government, all taxes should be filed no later than April 15th unless this date falls on a weekend or holiday.

If an extension needs to be filed for how long?

For business owners filing extensions can be very beneficial because it gives time for financial documents and information about how much money was earned during the course of one year up until October of that following tax season.

However since these are just estimates they are subject to change once everything is completed so remember not take any deductions until everything is filed.

If you are an individual filer, the date to file your tax return varies depending on how much money was made during that year and how long has passed since filing last years taxes.

If this information is not readily available then it can be beneficial for everyone to file early rather than later! However if there are any errors or changes that need to be fixed in order for them to processed correctly by April 15th .

Otherwise the IRS will simply place these returns in their “to do” pile so make sure they receive all necessary documentation before submitting because once it’s out of sight, its out of mind!

How long to save tax returns

If you are a business owner, how long to save tax returns also depends on how much money you made during the course of that year and how often your taxes have been filed.

However if everything is submitted correctly then these documents can be saved for seven years. In this case it’s best to keep all relevant documentation organized in folders or binders so they don’t get misplaced!

Individual filers should keep their tax returns forever since there isn’t really an expiration date after which they must be destroyed unless requested by other financial institutions or departments such as Social Security Administration (SSA.)

Although most people only need them when applying for mortgages, loans etc., some may want to hold onto them just in someone needs proof of how much income was made during a specific time period.

How long to save bank statements?

Again how long you need to keep your bank statements varies depending on how often taxes are filed, how much money was earned in that year and if there were any discrepancies along the way!

Depending on what type of financial institution it is (bank or credit union) these documents can be kept for seven years or longer just like tax returns.

However most institutions will only request them back when applying for loans so make sure not to throw them out until all debts have been paid off by keeping relevant information organized in folders where they won’t get misplaced!

What tax returns are eligible for a refund?

If you have a large tax refund then it is crucial to file early in the year so that more money can be put into your bank account throughout the course of one calendar year.

However if there are any changes along how long should I keep my tax returns way such as income, loss or deductions being changed for this or future years taxes then make sure all information has been properly submitted and received by April 15th .

Otherwise these documents will simply be placed in their “to do” pile where they may never get done!

What kind of records should taxpayers save?

As mentioned earlier how long to save tax return depends on how much money was made during the course of a specific time period and how often taxes were filed which means individual filers want to make sure they are holding on until their taxes have been filed at least once a year.

However how long should I keep my bank statements varies depending on how often you file, how much money was earned during that specific time period and if there were any discrepancies or changes made along the way!

Most financial institutions will only request these documents back when applying for loans so save them in an organized folder where they won’t get misplaced until all debts have been paid off!

Calculating how much you can save by filing early

If you want to learn how much money will be saved by filing your taxes earlier rather than later, take the amount of tax refund and divide it in half.

Now compare this number from year to year for how long should I keep my bank statements to see how much interest was earned! If people acted sooner then they would have received a larger return on investment over time because that’s how compound interest works – allowing savings or investments to generate even more returns through ongoing contributions or compounding.

The longer you save these documents the higher your returns could potentially become so make sure all files are filed correctly before submitting them especially if there is a large refund involved since most financial institutions only request information back when applying for loans which may not happen until the later years!

Conclusion

In the end, your goal should always be to do what is in the best interest of you and your family. That might mean consulting an accountant or tax attorney for help with a tricky situation – don’t let fear stand in your way! With this article’s advice on how long to save copies of tax returns, we hope that you feel more confident going into Tax Day knowing it can be done without worrying about audit limitations.

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