You mean I have to keep that?

As an organization-obsessed accountant, there's one question I am asked over and over:  HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO KEEP THIS?
And the answer is...drum roll please...IT DEPENDS.
(Yeah, not what you want to hear, sorry.)

But don't worry, there are only 3 time periods you have to remember:  1 year, 7 years, and forever.
Keep for 1 Year

• monthly bank and credit card statements (keep year-end summary!)
• monthly/quarterly brokerage statements (reconcile to year-end forms before tossing!)
• monthly mortgage statements (keep year-end summary!)
• paycheck stubs (reconcile to year-end forms before tossing!)

Keep for 7 Years

• W-2 and 1099 forms
• year-end credit card statements
• info pertaining to business expenses claimed on your tax return
• annual mortgage statements
• property tax info
• info pertaining to any other tax-deductible expenses
• alllllllllllllllll the back-up info to the tax returns you filed in the past 7 years

Keep FOREVER

• annual tax returns
• info pertaining to the purchase price of investments
• home improvement records
• receipts for major purchases (for as long as you own the item)
• beneficiary designations

See?  That really wasn't so complicated.  Now go ahead and get rid of all the stuff you've been keeping
unnecessarily!