We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Scanning Important Documents
MaximumFish
Posts: 79 Forumite
Hey all,
We've been hoarding all of our bank statements, payslips, letters and pretty much anything paper based for years and it's cluttering up our house. Today I decided it would be a good idea to start scanning it all, at the very least so we have an easily searchable central location for it. I've also been shredding some of it as I go, mostly old bank statements and non-critical letters, but that got me to thinking...
What exactly do I need to keep in paper form? I'm guessing anything contract related such as agreements, final statements and the like. Birth certificates and passports are obvious. But what about things like payslips, P60s and such?
In an age where you can get a TV license in digital form, do any companies or government bodies actually accept scans (and/or copies) of documents like these, or do they still demand originals?
I've searched Google for similar advice but can only seem to come up with US information.
Much thanks for any advice,
Max
Mods: I couldn't really find a relevant forum for this, so feel free to move it somewhere else if necessary.
We've been hoarding all of our bank statements, payslips, letters and pretty much anything paper based for years and it's cluttering up our house. Today I decided it would be a good idea to start scanning it all, at the very least so we have an easily searchable central location for it. I've also been shredding some of it as I go, mostly old bank statements and non-critical letters, but that got me to thinking...
What exactly do I need to keep in paper form? I'm guessing anything contract related such as agreements, final statements and the like. Birth certificates and passports are obvious. But what about things like payslips, P60s and such?
In an age where you can get a TV license in digital form, do any companies or government bodies actually accept scans (and/or copies) of documents like these, or do they still demand originals?
I've searched Google for similar advice but can only seem to come up with US information.
Much thanks for any advice,
Max
Mods: I couldn't really find a relevant forum for this, so feel free to move it somewhere else if necessary.
0
Comments
-
Twenty two months from the end of the financial year concerned is the current UK doc-keeping advisement for individuals. You can now safely bin anything older.
So that would also apply for any final statements, payslips etc.
Seriously worth keeping the paper, even though you can get electronic versions - banks can charge truly staggering amounts for reprints.
If it is any help, I've been through it twice with the IR, probably due to spells when I worked abroad & the first time they really put me through the wringer & ended-up chasing me for prosecution for some time (till thrown-out of court:) ) because I had missing docs. They made a very big deal of only "allowing" me two months worth of missing paper in the period concerned.
Some years later, they came back again & this time, I'd been scruplous with my paperwork - no problems.
0 -
Here is the HMRC page on the subject, lots more info there.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/record-keeping.htm0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.3K Spending & Discounts
- 245.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.5K Life & Family
- 259K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards