Corona Police Department Interim Police Chief Michael E. Abel 730 Corporation Yard Way Corona, California 92880 (951)736-2330 Visit Department's Homepage County: Riverside
My rule: Keep records and tax returns for years that include atypical transactions (sales or donations of property) and irregular income (stock option exercises, trust income, etc.) for six years after the filing date of the return. Keep a 2005 tax return that includes reporting of irregular items until April 2012.
So why is keeping tax returns for three years important? Keeping tax returns for the three-year time period is tied to the IRS statute of limitations. Under the statute, if you do not file a claim for a refund that you are entitled to, you generally have the later of three years from the date you filed the original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, to file the claim. Likewise, the IRS generally has only three years from the filing date or due date of the return (whichever is later) to assess an additional tax if you did not accurately report your income.