{"id":1170,"date":"2012-08-22T19:03:35","date_gmt":"2012-08-23T00:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jenniferlinnig.com\/wordpress\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2012-08-22T16:20:11","modified_gmt":"2012-08-22T21:20:11","slug":"paper-retention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jenniferlinnig.com\/wordpress\/2012\/08\/paper-retention\/","title":{"rendered":"Paper Retention"},"content":{"rendered":"

A while back I was working with a social worker and had to write up case reports on the progress being made with the client.\u00a0 Early on in one of them I talked about the continuing struggle with papers and how common this is.\u00a0 After talking with the caseworker, she requested I rewrite my report \u2013 saying that the struggles with papers would make the client seem incompetent.\u00a0 Huh? Apparently, her superiors are under the impression that struggling with papers is uncommon and a sign of greater challenges.\u00a0 I offered to speak with all of them to explain how extremely common it is and I was completely flabbergasted that anyone could think that way.<\/p>\n

Struggling with papers is quite possibly the most common thing I encounter with my clients.\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bills or mail, although it can.\u00a0 Papers are virtually endless, there are always more of them and we cannot be rid of them all ever.\u00a0 Also, they can be difficult to organize in a way that makes them easy to find when you need them.<\/p>\n

Papers are also extremely important.\u00a0 We need them for taxes and for work and the list goes on and on.\u00a0 Sometimes they are unique and finding them again \u2013 like on the internet or library (i.e. if we got rid of them) \u2013 isn\u2019t simple or possible.\u00a0 We\u2019re not always comfortable with the internet \u2013 accessing financial information \u2013 and that doesn\u2019t mean the information you\u2019d need is available.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve done research on how long it\u2019s recommended we keep our important papers.\u00a0 It\u2019s surprising how there are different opinions on various types of papers while there are agreements about others.<\/p>\n

For papers that relate to taxes, the IRS has guidelines (of course!).\u00a0 It\u2019s gotten more detailed since the last time I reviewed them, scroll most of the way down the page to \u201cHow Long to Keep Records.\u201d<\/a> \u00a0In general, it\u2019s recommended that you keep your returns indefinitely, although you can discard the supporting documentation eventually.<\/p>\n

When we\u2019re dealing with other papers, here\u2019s several resources with their recommendations.\u00a0 The best idea is to ask your tax preparer for their advice, as they know your personal situation.\u00a0 You can always make a list of questions for the next visit if it\u2019s not convenient to contact them more frequently.<\/p>\n