What we verified in “Which documents to keep and for how long: home and taxes”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the IRS, keep your tax records for 3 years if no other case applies; if you file a claim for credit or refund after filing, for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later; for 7 years if you claim a loss from worthless securities or a bad debt deduction; for 6 years if you do not report income you should report and it is more than 25% of the gross income on your return; indefinitely if you do not file a return or file a fraudulent one; and employment tax records for at least 4 years.

   Sources 1 · How long should I keep records? (last reviewed June 30, 2026): 'Keep records for 3 years if situations (4), (5), and (6) below do not apply to you'; 'Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax'; 'Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction'; 'Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25%'; 'Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return'; 'Keep records indefinitely if you file a fraudulent return'; 'Keep employment tax records for at least 4 years' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. According to the IRS, keep records relating to a property until the period of limitations expires for the year you dispose of it, because you need them to figure the gain or loss on the sale; and before discarding records you no longer need for taxes, check whether others require them longer, for example your insurer or creditors.

   Sources 1 · How long should I keep records?: 'keep records relating to property until the period of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the property'; needed to figure 'gain or loss' on sale or disposal; 'your insurance company or creditors may require you to keep them longer than the IRS does' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. According to the IRS (Publication 523, for 2025), any time you buy real estate you should keep records to document its adjusted basis, generally until 3 years after the due date of your return for the year you sell the home; improvements add to the value of your home, prolong its useful life or adapt it to new uses, and their cost is added to the basis, for example a bedroom, bathroom, deck, fence, heating or central air system or a new roof; and repairs that keep it in good condition without adding value, such as painting or fixing leaks, are not improvements.

   Sources 2 · Publication 523 (2025), Selling Your Home: 'Any time you buy real estate, you should keep records to document the property’s adjusted basis. In general, keep these records until 3 years after the due date for your tax return for the year in which you sold your home'; 'Improvements add to the value of your home, prolong its useful life, or adapt it to new uses. You add the cost of additions and improvements to the basis'; examples: Bedroom, Bathroom, Deck, Fence, Heating system, Central air conditioning, New roof; repairs that 'don’t add to its value or prolong its life', such as 'painting', 'fixing leaks' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. According to the CFPB, after closing keep all the final loan and purchase documents, on paper or as an electronic file; check that you have the Closing Disclosure, the promissory note, the mortgage (security instrument or deed of trust) and the deed; also keep the budgeting information you used, because it may help in the future; the Closing Disclosure can help you save money at tax time; and since your deed and mortgage details become public record, do not assume mail with your lender's name comes from your lender.

   Sources 3 · After closing: 'Save the whole stack or electronic file'; Closing Disclosure, Promissory Note, Mortgage (Security Instrument or Deed of Trust), Deed; 'This information may be helpful in the future'; 'Your Closing Disclosure can help you save money at tax time'; 'Don't assume that mail with your lender's name, or other mortgage related information, is affiliated with your lender' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. According to Ready.gov, before a disaster gather your financial, household and medical information: household identification such as photo IDs, birth certificates and Social Security cards; financial and legal documents such as housing payments, insurance policies, income sources and tax statements; medical information; and your insurance information; store important documents in a safety deposit box, an external drive or the cloud; and the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), from Operation HOPE and FEMA, helps you prepare and is available in several languages.

   Sources 4 · Financial Preparedness (last updated March 13, 2026): household identification (photo ID, birth certificates, Social Security cards); financial and legal documentation (housing payments, insurance policies, income sources, tax statements); medical information; insurance information; 'Store important documents either in a safety deposit box, an external drive or on the cloud'; EFFAK 'a joint publication from Operation HOPE and FEMA'; versions in various languages · Checked October 31, 2026

6. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers should closely guard their Social Security number and shred charge receipts, copies of credit applications and other sensitive documents, and review their bills and credit reports regularly.

   Sources 5 · What Consumers Can Do About Identity Theft: 'consumers should closely guard their social security number and shred charge receipts, copies of credit applications and other sensitive documents'; 'Consumers also should review their bills and credit reports regularly' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. According to the IRS, you can view and download transcripts of past tax returns in your IRS online account, the fastest way; you can also request them by mail with the online form or by phone at 800-908-9946, and they arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days at the address the IRS has on file.

   Sources 6 · Get transcript (last reviewed June 27, 2026): Individual Online Account, the 'fastest, easiest way'; 'transcripts of past tax returns'; by mail through the online form or '800-908-9946'; 'arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days' at the address on file · Checked October 31, 2026

8. According to USA.gov, for a certified copy of your birth certificate you contact the vital records office of the state or territory where you were born; you can replace your Social Security card online, by mail or in person; and to replace your Green Card you contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

   Sources 7 · Replace your vital documents (USA.gov, last updated November 17, 2025): 'Contact your birth state or territory's vital records office to get a certified copy of your birth certificate'; 'replace your card online, by mail, or in person'; 'Contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to replace your Green Card' · Checked October 31, 2026