Hold onto the tax returns indefinitely. Backup records 7-10 years.

The IRS can go back three years, unless they find fraud, which allows them to go back as far as they want. We're still filing 2018 returns, so until April 15, the IRS can still ask for 2015 information.

In response to this post by scoop76cs

Posted: 03/17/2019 at 12:31PM

How far back should one keep tax records? My taxes are relatively .... -- scoop76cs 03/17/2019 11:44AM

Thanks to you all for the feedback! ** -- scoop76cs 03/17/2019 1:02PM

So, you're going to .... ? -- `lag 03/17/2019 1:24PM

Sorted through records to minimize volume and am keeping 20 years worth. -- scoop76cs 03/17/2019 6:43PM

So yeah, agreed, bottom line it doesn't cost anything spacewise. -- `lag 03/17/2019 8:22PM

I have always been forthright in completing my taxes and willing.... -- scoop76cs 03/18/2019 04:11AM

Sorry not what I intended, more like a mental spring cleaning. ** -- `lag 03/18/2019 10:11AM

Yes, it was that. Apologies for my misunderstanding. ** -- scoop76cs 03/18/2019 5:05PM

Another question - what format do you keep your returns in? -- Hokie360 03/17/2019 12:35PM

I am a hard copy type. ** -- scoop76cs 03/17/2019 1:02PM

Hmm, you'll made me think about that... -- `lag 03/17/2019 12:42PM

Hold onto the tax returns indefinitely. Backup records 7-10 years. -- Hokie CPA 03/17/2019 12:31PM

I've still got mine from 1959 - today. ** -- AZHokie59 03/17/2019 8:05PM

Textbook is the IRS goes back 6-7 years unless -- `lag 03/17/2019 11:58AM

I’ll have to ask my long time tax attorney. I’m sure he still has our last -- B777Fr8Dog 03/17/2019 11:54AM

That is how far back I currently have. ** -- scoop76cs 03/17/2019 12:14PM

@Hokie CPA ** -- F4EHokie 03/17/2019 11:51AM

The old recommendation was 7 yrs, now it's 3 yrs, I think ** -- JoesterVT 03/17/2019 11:49AM

Got a bill THIS WEEK from 2015 so you might want to go longer. ** -- HokieinTampa 03/17/2019 12:17PM

Got a bill last fall for 2016, had to go back to my 2011 records to dispute -- `lag 03/17/2019 12:35PM

Same, got a bill from 2013 in 2016. What a mess, sent them a 13 page -- AZHokie59 03/17/2019 8:11PM

Must've been one of those serious fraud cases you mentioned above :-) ** -- Hokie360 03/17/2019 12:39PM

It sorta was ;^) -- `lag 03/17/2019 1:02PM

Hold onto the tax returns indefinitely. Backup records 7-10 years.

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