Administrative papers can sometimes accumulate in drawers and many people are tempted to throw them away! But be careful, some papers must be kept for a specific time, others for life.
Have you finished filling out your tax return and started a big spring cleaning in your office? If you wish to get rid of certain documents, be aware that you must exercise caution, as they may be used to prove a right or compliance with an obligation. The retention periods therefore vary depending on their nature and the organization which sent them.
Banking, bills and housing: how long to keep your papers?
Therefore, you must keep your payment and withdrawal tickets made with your bank card until you receive the account statement showing the corresponding amounts. Your bank statements are now available online, but please note that if you receive them, it is advisable to keep the paper versions for 5 years, just like check stubs.
Real estate loan and consumer credit contracts must not be thrown away before two years from the last due date. Do you have questions about your invoices? You can throw away landline, mobile phone and internet subscription bills after one year, but you must keep water, electricity and gas bills for five years. On the other hand, like warranty contracts, invoices for household appliances must be kept until the end of the latter.
With regard to your accommodation, rent receipts, rental contracts or inventory of fixtures must be kept for three years and proof of payment of co-ownership charges, exchanges with the trustee and minutes of general meetings of co-ownership for five years.
Taxes, work, health, insurance and car
On the tax side, if local tax notices such as property tax and housing tax must be kept for one year, tax returns, tax notices and supporting documents used in the context of taxation can be thrown away. after three years.
Health and maternity insurance reimbursement statements should not be thrown away for two years, public hospital bills before 4 years and private health establishment bills for two years. Please note, you must keep proof of payment of daily allowances until your pension is liquidated, and for life, your medical examinations, your vaccination record, your blood group card and your health record.
Documents related to work, unemployment and retirement are also very important. As such, you must keep your pay slips, your employment contracts and certificates and your daily sickness and maternity benefit statements until your retirement is paid. You must keep the France Travail certificates for 2 years from your date of registration as a jobseeker, your account balances and your proof of unemployment benefit payment for three years. Expense reports must not be thrown away for three years and you must keep your superannuation payment slips.
Documents related to insurance must be in your possession two years after the end of the contract, except documents related to life insurance or related to bodily injury which must be kept for 10 years. The information statement which indicates the reduction-increase coefficient of your insurance premium (bonus-malus) must be kept for life.
If you have a car, keep the related invoices for two years, the reports for 3 years and the vehicle transfer certificate for the entire duration of its use.
Finally, be aware that documents related to family matters must most of the time be kept permanently. This is particularly the case for civil status certificates, divorce judgments or adoption judgments, marriage contracts, family records and diplomas!