Short-term papers
Receipts and bills can often be discarded after you have matched them against a statement and are past any return window.
Tax records
The IRS generally suggests keeping tax records for at least three years from filing, and longer in some situations. The IRS website explains the exceptions.
Long-term papers
Records for a home, a vehicle or a major purchase are commonly kept for as long as you own the item, plus a while after.
A routine that works
Pick one box or folder per category and sort once a month. We cannot say how long you personally should keep any record; check with the agency or company involved.
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