Tax records you can toss

Capital gains and losses

Your gain is reduced by your basis -- your cost (including all commissions) plus, with mutual funds, any reinvested dividends and capital gains. But you may have bought that stock five years ago, and you've been reinvesting those dividends and capital gains over the past decade. And don't forget those stock splits.

So you don't want to throw these records away until after you sell the securities. And then if you're audited, you're going to have to prove those numbers. So you'll need to keep those records for at least three years after you file the return reporting their sales.

Congress has talked about requiring brokerage houses to report cost-basis information to the IRS. But until they do, you have to keep the records. I expect this provision to be enacted. But, even after it becomes law, you'll still need to hold on to records of purchases prior to the law's taking effect.

Tax returns

This seems obvious, but some folks forget. Keep copies of your tax returns. You can't rely on the IRS to actually have copies of your old returns.

How long do you keep a tax return? I recommend my clients keep tax returns for six years.

Expenses on your home

Cost records for your house, and any improvements to it, should be kept until the home is sold.

It's just good practice, even though most homeowners won't face any tax problems. That's because profit of less than $250,000 on your home ($500,000 on a joint return) may escape taxes under a 1997 tax law.

If the profit is more than $250,000 ($500,000 on a joint return), or if you don't qualify for the full gain exclusion, then you're going to need those records for another three years after that return is filed. Most homeowners probably won't face that issue, but better safe than sorry.

Business records

I must warn you: Business records can become a nightmare. Nonresidential real estate is now depreciated over 39 years. You could be audited on the depreciation up to three years after you file the return for the 39th year.

Yes, that is a long time to hold on to receipts. But you may need to validate those numbers.

Employment, bank and brokerage statements

Keep all your W-2s, 1099s, brokerage and bank statements to prove income until three years after you file, or longer if you need to.

Don't even think about dumping checks, receipts, mileage logs, tax diaries and other documentation that substantiate your expenses until the statute of limitations has run.

If you have a Social Security question

The bottom line is that you've got to keep those records until they can no longer affect your tax return, plus the three-year statute. But that's just for tax purposes.

You will need to keep some records for Social Security purposes. So check with the Social Security Administration each year to confirm that your payments have been appropriately credited. If they're wrong, you'll need your W-2 or copies of your Schedule C (if self-employed) to prove the right amount. Don't dump those records until after you've validated those contributions.

You can confirm your payments and estimate your future benefits by filing Form SSA-7004 with the Social Security Administration.

Yes, holding all your records might someday bring you some psychological satisfaction as you review your financial journey from poverty to wealth. But if you still have tax returns that were filed with Roman numerals, it's probably time to clean out your attic.

Updated Feb. 12, 2008

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