Payslips, pension information sheets, certificates, invoices etc. You receive a whole range of different types of documents. Did you know that for some of these documents you are also obliged to keep them for a certain period?
1 MONTH
You must keep cash receipts for small amounts for one month.
You can only exchange or receive a refund with the cash receipt within 14 days of purchase. The same applies to damage or theft.
6 MONTHS
You must keep restaurant and hotel bills for six months.
2 YEARS
You must keep purchase invoices/guarantee certificates for electrical appliances and furniture for a period of two years. Without these documents you cannot claim any guarantee.
The same period also applies to invoices and proofs of payment for public utilities (gas, water, electricity, telephone and mobile phone, Internet and cable television).
Finally, you must also keep the payment receipts of medical expenses for two years.
5 YEARS
Bank documentation, receipts from mortgage loans or credits, rental contracts, payments to lawyers and their fees and invoices and notary-public fees must be kept for five years.
7 YEARS
You must keep a copy of your tax return for seven years. This includes all the supporting documents of your tax return (invoices, certificates, bank documentation etc.).
10 YEARS
Legally, you must keep your annual wage statements for 10 years, but the government recommends keeping them until your retirement.
You must also keep building and renovation documents for a period of 10 years; namely the invoices and contracts for real estate, contractors and architects.
You must also keep insurance documents for 10 years.
Finally, the Federal Public Service Economy recommends keeping all your invoices in any case for 10 years, but the legal period depends on the service or the product.
FOR LIFE
Contracts for liability insurance for your car and work form an exception to the 10 years for insurance documents; you are advised to keep these for life.
There is also a whole range of personal and family documents that you keep for life.
This could be your general medical file, diplomas, birth, adoption and recognition certificates, marriage certificates, cohabiting contracts, divorce certificates, notary deeds, covenants and all documents related to inheritance.
It can be quite difficult to keep and organise this wide range of documents. Doccle offers the best solution for this. All your documents are automatically kept free, digitally and centrally for seven years or longer, if legally required.
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