How long do I need to keep my records?  The list below is what we use as a guideline for retention and disposal of your records.   

                                              Accounting
Auditors reports ........................................................................... Indefinitely
Bank reconciliation ..................................................................... 1 year
Bank Statements and Deposit Slips .............................................. 3 years
Cash Books ................................................................................ Indefinitely
Charts of Accounts ...................................................................... Indefinitely
Checks- Canceled-Payroll-General ................................................ 8 years
Depreciation Schedules ................................................................ Indefinitely
Dividend Checks- canceled ........................................................... 6 years
Expense Reports 6 years ............................................................. 6 years
Financial Statements-End of Year ................................................. Indefinitely
Fixed Assets Detail ..................................................................... Indefinitely
General Ledgers and Journals ....................................................... Indefinitely
Payroll- Time Cards-Individual Time Reports-Earning Records .......... 3 years
Subsidiary Ledgers (including Receivables and Payables) ................ 6 years
Trial Balances- Monthly ................................................................ 6 years
Vouchers- for payment to vendor, employees, etc. .......................... 8 years

                                             Corporate
Bylaws, Charter, and Minute Books ............................................... Indefinitely
Capital- Stock and Bond Records .................................................. Indefinitely
Checks- Taxes, Property, Settlement of important contracts ............ Indefinitely
Contracts and Agreements still in effect ......................................... Indefinitely
Copyrights and Trademark Registrations ........................................ Indefinitely
Deeds and Easements ................................................................. Indefinitely
Labor Contracts ........................................................................... Indefinitely
Mortgages, Notes, and Lease Expired ........................................... 8 years
Patents ....................................................................................... Indefinitely
Proxies ....................................................................................... Indefinitely
Retirement and Pension Records .................................................. Indefinitely
Tax Returns and Working Papers- Revenue Agents Reports ............ Indefinitely 

                                         Correspondence
General ....................................................................................... 2 years
Legal and Tax .............................................................................. Indefinitely
License, Traffic, and Purchase ...................................................... 6 years
Production ................................................................................... 8 years

                                               Insurance

Accident Reports ......................................................................... 6 years
Claims-After Settlement ................................................................ 10 years
Fire Inspection Reports ................................................................. 6 years
Group Disability Reports ............................................................... 8 years
Policies- All Types - Expired ......................................................... 4 years
Safety Reports ............................................................................. 8 years

                                               Contracts

Contracts - Expired ...................................................................... 6 years
Daily Time Reports ....................................................................... 6 years
Disability and Sick Benefit Records ............................................... 6 years
Employment Applications ............................................................. 3 years
Personnel Files - Terminated ......................................................... 6 years
Withholding Tax Statements ......................................................... 6 years

                                     Purchasing and Sales
Purchase Orders .......................................................................... 3 years
Requisitions ................................................................................. 3 years
Sales Contracts ........................................................................... 3 years
Sales Invoices .............................................................................. 3 years

                              Traffic - Shipping and Receiving
Export Declarations ...................................................................... 4 years
Freight Bills ................................................................................. 4 years
Manifests ..................................................................................... 4 years
Shipping and Receiving Reports ..................................................... 4 years
Waybills and Bills of Lading ........................................................... 4 years