how long to retain federal taxes
Still, you'd be surprised at how much you can safely discard. Here is what you should keep and how long you should keep it. Three Years. Keep your federal and state income tax returns and related receipts and statements for at least three years. If you are audited, the IRS reserves the right to review tax returns filed during what is known as the period of limitations, which is generally the past three years from the date you filed your most recent tax returns.