How long to keep bank statements etc?

[Cirrus]

I pay my taxes here - how long am I legally obligded to keep documentation such as bank statements to support my tax declarations? I heard from one reliable source (a tax adviser) that the last seven years are required, but from another reliable source (a lawyer) that only the previous five years are required. I note also that EDF bills state that the documents has to be kept for five years. So who is correct?

[AnOther]

Is there any requirement for individuals to keep such documents for a specific term or is just for business ?

Obviously one (or possibly of course both [;-)]) of your 'reliable' sources must be wrong so how 'reliable' does that make them then [blink] 

Not that it's particularly relevent but 7 years is the norm for a UK business I think.

 

[parsnips]

[quote user="ErnieY"]

Is there any requirement for individuals to keep such documents for a specific term or is just for business ?

Obviously one (or possibly of course both [;-)]) of your 'reliable' sources must be wrong so how 'reliable' does that make them then [blink] 

Not that it's particularly relevent but 7 years is the norm for a UK business I think.

 

[/quote]Hi,

 According to the Code Civil its 10 yrs. For the tax office its 6 years.

[5-element]

this may be useful:

http://www.dossierfamilial.com/famille/droit-demarche/combien-de-temps-conserver-ses-papiers,3070

[Phil & Pat]

'Dossier familial' says "Factures, récépissés, quittances… Tous ces documents qui semblent sans

valeur servent pourtant de preuve. À ce titre, vous devez les conserver

le temps nécessaire pour vous mettre à l’abri en cas de litige.

It would seem there may be no legal obligation to keep utility bills for 5 years, but they should be kept carefully in case of litigation.  Is this why EDF and others try hard to persuade me to accept paperless billing?  So I can't prove they billed me incorrectly?

Cynical, moi?