# Keeping old checks - how long?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-old-checks-how-long/117428>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 5, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-old-checks-how-long/117428 "2002-07-05T00:45:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-old-checks-how-long/117428/1 "2002-07-05T00:45:14Z")

</div>

In the past couple of months, I have been attempting to exorcise the pack rat within by throwing out old junk that, at the time, was important to me for some reason. In the process, I have uncovered the location of bank statements dating back to 1997.

I know that tax returns should be kept for seven years. How about all these old checks and statements? Should I get me a shredder and go nuts or should I hang on to them for a while longer?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2002, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-old-checks-how-long/117428/2 "2002-07-05T00:54:20Z")

</div>

Piker. Helping an Aunt move, we found cheques and statements going back to the late '50’s. They made such a fine glow in the fire.  
Tax forms, seven years. All others. three.  
I think I heard this on “Today”