Keeping records for the IRS Audit

It has always been assumed that you should keep tax records for seven years after the date that you filed. While this may be safe, this isn’t exactly necessary. Tax records such as receipts, invoices, cancelled checks and other documents that can prove to the IRS that your tax filing was correct should be kept until the statute of limitations runs out.

Usually, the statute of limitations is three years from the date that the tax return was filed. An exception to this is if you paid your tax bill for a specific year over the course of time, making the time to keep the tax records from that filing year two years after the tax bill was paid. There is not however, a statute of limitations when a tax return was falsely prepared or fraudulent. Also, there is no limitations if a tax return was not filed. Some items, such as property tax documents should be kept indefinitely.

Everyone needs a guide so here are some pointers that will help you in the event that you get audited. You should keep verifying documents for property, real estate or stocks, until the recognition of a gain or loss from the sale plus the three-year limitation on the tax return where you reported the gain or loss. Keep all copies of the actual return that you filed with the IRS indefinitely. Retain tax records that show a tax refund credit based on bad debts or losses on worthless securities for seven years. Keep tax records showing net operating losses until the losses are used to offset taxable income and the carry forward term expires, plus the three-year limitation from the time you filed. The carry forward term can be up to 20 years.

The statute of limitations is extended by six years if you understated your gross income by more than 25%. If you employ others, you must keep the employee’s tax records for four years from the date that the tax is paid or filed, which ever is later.

There is no clear definition on how long to keep your records. The bottom line: keep all tax filings for ever, keep back up documentation for four years and if you are high risk for a fraudulent accusation keep all back up documentation indefinitely.