Home > Research Legal Advice > Tax > How many years do I need to keep income tax records for federal personal...
Asked over 4 years ago - Childersburg, AL
FlagI want to clean out my old files and want to know how many years I should keep tax records? I use the long form, work for wages and own rental property.
The Internal Revenue Service can audit a personal income tax return up to three years after the return is filed. It has a longer period to audit the return if there was a substantial understatement of income or overstatement of deductions, six years.
Generally and for other reasons as well as a potential audit, tax returns and contracts should be kept permanently.
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