How Long Does the IRS Say to Keep Tax Records?

The IRS does not give one single retention period for tax records. On its “How long should I keep records?” page, the agency lays out seven different period-of-limitations rules, and which one applies depends on your specific situation. The default is 3 years; claiming a refund or credit after filing extends that to whichever is later of 3 years from filing or 2 years from paying; losses from worthless securities or bad debt deductions require 7 years; underreporting income by more than 25% extends it to 6 years; not filing a return or filing a fraudulent return means keeping records indefinitely; and employment tax records must be kept for at least 4 years.

This original record-reading guide is a general reading aid, not cited evidence. It does not depict a source record; the article text and source links provide the facts.

Key points

See the sections below for the IRS’s exact wording and source link for each rule.

• The default period is 3 years, but it only applies if none of the exceptions below apply to your return.
• Claiming a refund or credit after filing extends the clock to whichever is later: 3 years from filing or 2 years from paying the tax.
• Losses from worthless securities or bad debt deductions get a longer 7-year window.
• Underreporting income by more than 25% extends the period to 6 years.
• Not filing a return, or filing a fraudulent one, means keeping records indefinitely — there is no expiration.

The 3-year default

For most taxpayers, the baseline rule is straightforward. The IRS states: “Keep records for 3 years if situations (4), (5), and (6) below do not apply to you.” (IRS record) In other words, 3 years is the starting point, but it’s conditional on the other situations described below not applying to your return.

Refund and credit claims

If you file a claim for credit or refund after you’ve already filed your original return, the retention clock works differently. The IRS instructs: “Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return.” (IRS record) This means you compare both dates and use whichever period ends later.

Worthless securities or bad debt deductions

Claims involving worthless securities or bad debts carry a longer requirement. Per the IRS: “Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.” (IRS record)

Underreporting income by more than 25%

If a return omits income that should have been reported, and that omitted amount exceeds a quarter of the gross income shown on the return, the retention period extends further. The IRS states: “Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return.” (IRS record)

Not filing a return

For situations where no return was filed at all, the IRS does not set an end date. The page reads: “Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return.” (IRS record)

Filing a fraudulent return

The same indefinite standard applies to fraud. The IRS states: “Keep records indefinitely if you file a fraudulent return.” (IRS record)

Employment tax records

Employment tax records follow a separate rule from the situations above. The IRS specifies: “Keep employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.” (IRS record)

This article restates the period-of-limitations rules published on the cited IRS recordkeeping page, which displays “Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Jun-2026.” (IRS record) It does not address recordkeeping for any other purpose or whether scanned or photographed copies satisfy a requirement.

Source links

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records