Paperwork Filing - how long do I keep it?! from FrenchEntrée.com

9th February 2010

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Paperwork Filing - how long do I keep it?!

Guidance for record keeping for French residents and home owners

archiving in France

Despite technology leaps, worries about forest retention and the need to recycle our paper, we are still required to save in hard copy a whole stack of papers and documents - some for a relatively short time, but others for a lifetime.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but the rule is: if in any doubt keep it. If you are daunted, don't worry, you can always buy another filing cabinet. Why not print this article and keep it in the front of your cabinet? That way, you'll remember to have an annual clear-out.

KEEP FOREVER	5 YEARS
wills and testaments	rent receipts and contracts
birth and marriage, death certificates (not just your own - parent's certificates too)	electricity and gas bils
diplomas and qualifications	life insurance premiums
military service papers	4 YEARS
divorce papers	proof of payment of taxes
passports and identity documents	income Tax returns
house and property deeds	tax rebates
salary, pay and social security payments slips (at least until you retire)	3 YEARS
life insurance policies	television licence
inheritance documents	2 YEARS
medical records, Xrays	water bills
30 YEARS	insurance cancellation papers
employment contracts (until you retire)	insurance premiums other than life insurance
cheque stubs	doctors', dentists', and chemists' bills
all pension papers	medical prescriptions
receipts for payment of:	motoring fines
hospital bills	social security payments
notaire fees	1 YEAR
loan repayments (30 yrs from final payment)	phone bills
car repairs	chimney sweeping certificate (needed for fire insurance)
construction and building work	local taxes (foncières and habitation)
10 YEARS	cheques to pay in (maximum before paying in)
mortgage papers (10 yrs after final payment)	WHILE GUARANTEE IS VALID AND BEYOND
bank statements and pay-in slips	car purchase papers
house and vehicle insurance contracts	invoices and receipts for repairs or services
receipts for work or repairs to property	invoices for household goods with guarantee
estate agents' fees and commissions
insurance compensation claims (longer for medical compensation

Article quoted from French News, September 2006

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