Do you have a filing cabinet, drawer or safe full of old documents? It’s important to organize and properly dispose of any outdated documents containing personally identifiable information (PII), and also properly store the documents you want to keep. Here’s a quick guide to safely managing and destroying sensitive documents.
Identifying Important Documents
Important documents can range from your yearly tax documents, passports, birth certificates, and health records, to name a few. It’s important to note that the IRS only has three years to perform an audit, so once that time passes, you can get rid of that year’s tax return forms. Other important documents may include:
- Adoption Papers
- Citizenship Paperwork
- Health documents
- Immunization records
- Receipts for major purchases
- Vehicle registration
Securely Store Important Documents
For documents you’ll want to hang on to, like birth certificates, wills, and property deeds:
- Use fire-and-burglar-resistant safes
- Consider safety deposit boxes for high-value items
- A locked filing cabinet can suffice for less critical papers, such as tax documents or receipts
When To Get Rid of Important Documents
- Shred tax documents after three to seven years
- Dispose of outdated records like household inventories promptly once updated versions are created
How To Safely Destroy Documents
You’ve done your annual spring cleaning, and now it’s time to get rid of those documents that have been lying around a little too long. Here are a few safe options.
- Burn documents safely in fire pits, adhering to local regulations
- Shredding your documents through stores such as Staples or UPS may offer a safe and secure shredding service
- Honor Credit Union provides shredding services each year with free community shred days
Following these steps ensures proper document management and protection of sensitive information.
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