How long to keep check stubs and income tax return info?

[PoetryLover]

I'm decluttering and have check stubs going back to 1994.

I know I don't need to keep them for that long, but how long should I keep them for?

Also, how many years back do I need to save income tax returns? Thanks!

[halomancer]

Shred the check stubs, you do not need to keep them once you get your W-2.

[Drummer's Wife]

I wouldn't keep any pay stubs past the last month or so unless you will need them (like to apply for something - such as assitance programs). Tax returns, I think you are supposed to keep them for 7 years? We have filed online, I think, pretty much every year since we had an income - and I have some years printed out, and others I don't. I've used the same company online (taxact) for the past few years, and can pull up them to refer to or print out when needed.

[AZgirl2207]

I only save paper anything until we file our taxes for that year. Taxes--I print a hard copy (& keep for 7 years) and burn file onto a CD. I have yet to toss any of the CDs, they don't take up room.

BTW--several times a year, one of the commerical shredding companies will have a 'free box' day--much easier than four pages at a time in our home shredder.

[accountclosed3]

7 years of tax forms plus receipts and other information; everything else shredded. we also shredded check stubs, because--as said above--once you have your w-2, you don't need it.

so, that's that.

[PoetryLover]

Guess it's all going except 7 years of tax returns! Thanks so much!