I'm cleaning out my file cabinet, and someone told me to hold onto 10 years worth of tax returns. I just got a fast scanner and can scan tons of documents quickly. Is it ok to scan items and keep the records as a pdf, or are there specific items that I should keep paper records of? For example, for receipts (ex for home office/from moonlighting), is it ok to scan these, or do I have to keep these in paper form? Is there anything else like W-2's I should keep in paper rather than scanned form?

Zip Code: 02114

We get this question all the time.

Check out these guidelines issued by the Massachusetts Society of CPAs available at:

http://www.mscpaonline.org/pdf/retengde.pdf.

Zip Code: 01801

Thank you! That is really helpful. Are scanned pdf's of receipts (for home office deductions for ex), pdfs of paystubs, OK? I know I've been asked to submit actual receipts for reimbursement at work, for example, and wondered if there was something wrong with just keeping electronic copies of receipts rather than cluttering up my file cabinet. Thanks!

Zip Code: 02108

I would say that if you're required to submit your original receipts to your employer, then scanned copies would be fine.

But anything that you get reimbursed for work wouldn't show up on your tax return anyhow, right?

Zip Code: 01801