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Is there any reason to keep old bank statements?

It's worth keeping old bank statements in case you are audited by the IRS and need to review information from a previous tax return. The IRS may ask about returns filed in the last three to six years.

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Insider's experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page. Many people make the mistake of getting rid of important bank documents too soon or incorrectly. It's recommended to keep most important paper documents in a locked place for seven years. Keep online documents safe by adding antivirus software and monitoring usage with public computers. Get the latest tips you need to manage your money — delivered to you biweekly. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy When you're storing important bank documents, it's better to be safe than sorry. Whether you receive most of your financial information online or through the mail, here's what you need to know to ensure your personal financial information is as safe as possible. How long should I keep financial documents? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Patrina Dixon, CFEI and owner of P. Dixon Consulting, LLC recommends keeping any important financial documents for up to seven years in case you're audited. You can store your paper documents in a locked filing cabinet. Safe deposit boxes may be worth exploring if you have important business documents. However, it's generally not recommended for documents you want others to have easy access to, like your will or final wishes. Quick tip: If you are considering getting a safe deposit box, read through our guide first to learn about pricing and how to manage a safe deposit box properly. Dixon also notes voided checks, in particular, need to be voided and stored properly. "You should have 'VOID' written out across the entire check and with a red marker if possible," says Dixon. Dixon adds that you may keep the voided check until you know that any following checks have been processed. After seven years, you may discard financial papers. However, you'll need to take precautions to ensure your personal information is safe. Instead of simply throwing away your documents, shred them first and make sure your personal information can't be deciphered. Quick tip: If you would prefer to minimize your paper trail, Dixon advises opting for online bank statements. Some financial institutions have a paper statement fee, so you might avoid a monthly bank fee, too.

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Is it worth keeping old bank statements? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Dixon says people often make the mistake of not keeping financial documents. Whether you get online bank statements or paper statements, Dixon says you'll want to make sure you are keeping them and storing them properly. It's worth keeping old bank statements in case you are audited by the IRS and need to review information from a previous tax return. The IRS may ask about returns filed in the last three to six years. Any of the following financial documents may be needed to verify your income, credits, or deductions claimed for a tax return, according to IRS:

Receipts

Bills

Canceled checks

Legal papers

Loan agreements

Business logs

Travel tickets or lottery tickets

Medical and dental records

Insurance reports

Theft documents

Employment papers

Schedule K-1

If you made a purchase with your debit card or set up online bill pay through your bank account, your bank statement may include pertinent receipt or billing details. How can I safely store my documents online? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Online financial documents still need to be kept securely as well. Online documents can be stored safely on a flash drive, or you may keep the document encrypted so it's protected by a password on a personal computer. Dixon recommends installing anti-virus software if you're concerned about a potential security breach. You'll also want to review your software to see if it's up-to-date. If you use a public computer to check your online bank information, Dixon says you should clear your search history before you finish using it. Also, if you print out any documents, you'll want to double-check you have all your documents in case you accidentally printed something more than once.

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