Which papers to keep

[Teamedup]

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/N366.html?n=Papiers&l=N21

 

I realise that Quillan has put a post up today, but this is what the french government says. I couldn't put this reply on Quillan's post.

 

I simply don't throw things away usually. I photo copy every single document if I am sending  the original. The only things I throw out are the photocopies when I get my originals back. Or if I have been paid and the money is in the account, as with the CPAM and mutalist.

Frankly I am not that well organised as to say, yes, that is three years, that is ten years. So I keep the lot.

[Cerise]

I'm afraid I'm very wicked and still bin loads of stuff as I did in UK.  No-one seems to know why they keep things here and no-one can tell me of anyone they know who has ever needed their 5 year old telephone bill - so into the bin it goes.

Maggi

[Teamedup]

All I can say is, if it says keep it, then keep it for whatever period you are supposed to.

 I don't know why, IN FACT, I don't know why lots of things are like they are here, but people do take the paper work seriously and I would say keep what you are supposed to keep.

[Dick Smith]

I'm not clear whether or not he meant UK inland revenue papers - but you need to keep them for 7 years as I know to my cost - I am being 'investigated' for 1998 and have to resubmit forms, which means having all the ancillary paperwork as well. My accountant (I am actually incapable of filling in a tax form without professional help) says that they have few limits on how far back they can delve.

[Russethouse]

I thought it was 6 years.....no need to feel alone though Dick, our name has come out of the hat too (only looking at capital gains when we incorporated though )meant letters to me, my husband and the company as a seperate entity.

Maybe its a Smith thing ?

[Val_2]

They published a list in the Telegramme some time ago and I remembered some of things

All bank correspondence and cheque stubs - 10 years

All utilities - 5 years

School reports - lifetime

Property papers - lifetime

Tax papers - 10 years or more I think it was.

Accounts receipts for business - 10 years

Insurance policies/receipts etc - 5 years.

Vehicle papers - for the length of time you keep the vehicle.

Personally I would keep anything important for at least 10-15 years and anything relating to my home for ever just in case something should crop up in case of a death etc.

[Dick Smith]

[quote]I thought it was 6 years.....no need to feel alone though Dick, our name has come out of the hat too (only looking at capital gains when we incorporated though )meant letters to me, my husband and the...[/quote]

They haven't got to S yet (they told me), so we must be special. This week's letter told me that if I didn't resubmit a tax form from 1998 (for which we have a letter acknowledging receipt) they are going to fine me £60 a DAY. My accountant reckons they've got my picture on the noticeboard at the tax office.

[Miki]

Personally I would keep anything important for at least 10-15 years and anything relating to my home for ever just in case something should crop up in case of a death etc.

That's us Val, we are promising that if and when we move, we will have a good clear out, until then everything stays on the bookshelf, no books (they are somewhere else !) just bills and important papers !!

What is the law that says "If one throws any paper away, the next day some bugger will ask you for it" ? Cos it's often true.........................

Dick, when they start throwing arrows at the picture, they mean business, then perhaps it's time to make Normandy a little more permanent

 

              

[Pucette<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Pucette<FONT><P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">"Qui ne connaît pas la campagne lhiver, ne connaît pas la campagne et ne connaît pas]

Tax forms in the UK are for six tax years so seven years, almost eight if you have an accounting period that ends in May.

In France the dates have been changed within the last couple of years; I keep everything as long as the government says to do so, I think that the reason no one has any problems is because nearly everyone has their bits of paper.

Maggi-Cerise: Telephone bills should be kept for one year; although some sources suggest keeping them for two years for comparison in the case of a dispute. Within the year the company can change its mind about the bill (and you can dispute it too).

EDF-GDF is still 5 years; again, the reason is that they can change it; so can you.

Tax papers should be kept for three years from the filing date.

Bank statements & cheque stubs are 10 years as Val2 says (again they can be disputed within that period).

Insurance receipts should be kept for 2 years - the maximum time for making a claim.

I go through my boxes of old papers every year to see if I can throw anything away. When I was in the UK and it was just business that I (knew I) had to worry about I wrote the "can destroy" date on all my archive boxes.

[Pucette<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Pucette<FONT><P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">"Qui ne connaît pas la campagne lhiver, ne connaît pas la campagne et ne connaît pas]

Did you know you should keep hotel bills for six months, during which period they can demand payment for a night or for a longer stay? After six months they can't do anything, you can throw them away while remaining tranquil.

(Avantages, septembre 2004)

[Cerise]

Sorry but can't bear all the junk so I will continue in my irresponsible ways (I do keep important business paperwork).  My point is - businesses apart - do you actually know anyone who needs all this old rubbish.  My dearly beloved nearly always forgets to fill in cheque stubs so a fine use they would be anyway!!

Yours frivolously

Maggi

[Pucette<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Pucette<FONT><P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">"Qui ne connaît pas la campagne lhiver, ne connaît pas la campagne et ne connaît pas]

Ah yes, it used to be one of my favourite questions... people can talk for hours on the subject and there are plenty of horror stories to be had... perfect for when faced with a room full of people contemplating your Englishness...