Keep forever
- Marriage, birth and death certificates, wills, house deeds, and adoption records. These are only issued in paper form, and can be difficult and costly to replace. Keep the paper copies in a locked and fire resistant security box.
- Car V5C logbook is also a paper document,which you must pass on to the next owner if you sell your car.
- Life insurance: make sure your beneficiaries know where this is kept and who is the main contact.
- Pensions: keep all your documentation, otherwise you could miss out on hard-earned money.
- Medical records: a medical exemption lasts for five years or until your 60th birthday. Keep a note of your NHS number as you will need this if you change GP.
- Keep hold of your child's Personal Child Health Record (the red book) if you have a paper version. There is now a digital version, the eRedbook.
- National Insurance number: if you've lost your NI card, you should be able to find it on a payslip, P60 or tax return. If not, you can apply for a replacement card.
- Pets: keep proof of their vaccinations. A pet passport lasts for ever, provided rabies vaccinations are up to date.
- Passport
- Driving licence: the paper counterpart to the driving licence has had no legal status since June 2015. You should destroy yours but keep your photocard licence. BUT paper-only licences issued before 1988 are still valid and must not be destroyed.
- Vehicle documents: keep car insurance, road tax and proof your car has passed its MOT until they expire. Either keep hard copies in a locked box or store digital copies in a safe place.
- Rental agreements: keep until you have received your deposit back from your landlord or letting agent in case you need to argue anything.
- Extended warranties have different time limits depending on manufacturer, so make a note of the expiry date.
Keep for two years
- Tax records, including your P60, coding notices from HMRC and proof of interest paid on bank accounts.
Keep for one year
- Payslips only need to be kept until you receive your P60.
- Utility bills: keep a record for a year in cases of problems, and so you can compare when it comes to deciding on a new deal.
- TV licences can be done online now, so you pay by direct debit, there is no need to worry. Otherwise, keep a note of when you need to review.
Self employed?
- Keep records of your business income so you can fill in tax returns and for five years after the 31st January tax return deadline.
- For a limited company, you need records of the company itself and its income. You need to keep records for six years after the end of the financial year. If paperwork isn't your strong point, hire an accountant to help.
- If you are a sole trader, running an unlimited business, you need to keep a record of your business income and expenses for your tax return alongside your personal income. Keep these records for five years.
