Your permanent or long-term records will include documentation that enables you to determine the basis of your home and other assets, and your investments. These records should include:
Closing or settlement statement on the purchase of a home or other property
Property titles and deeds
Mortgage records
Loan agreements
Appraisals
Records of any home improvements you have made
Tax assessments
Depreciation calculations
Brokerage statements (for basis of investments in securities, mutual funds)
There are personal records that you need to keep indefinitely for a variety of purposes, including income tax:
Birth certificates, for you, your spouse, and dependents
Social Security cards
Immigration and naturalization records
Military discharge papers
Marriage certificate
Copy of your written separation agreement or the divorce, separate maintenance, or support decree, for purposes of corroborating your filing status and, if you pay or receive alimony, to support your deduction or your income
If you are claiming an exemption for a person under a multiple support agreement, you need to keep a copy of the signed statement from all other eligible individuals who could have claimed the exemption.
Child Care Credit - You will need the name, address, and taxpayer identification number for all persons or organizations that provide care for your child or dependent. You can use Form W-10, to get the information from the care provider.
If you are disabled and under age 65, a statement from a physician certifying that you were permanently and totally disabled on the date you retired
For disabled Veterans, Form 21-0172, Certification of Permanent and Total Disability, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (This replaces the physician’s statement of disability.)
Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
Keep copies of the following forms and records until all distributions are made from your IRA(s).
Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information, or similar statement received for each year showing contributions you made, distributions you received, and the value of your IRA(s)
Form 1099-R, Distribution From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., received for each year you received a distribution.
Form 8606, Nondeductible IRAs, for each year you made a nondeductible contribution to your IRA or received distributions from an IRA if you ever made nondeductible contributions.
Documentation of your affiliation with a retirement plan
Documentation of the legal formation of a business, if you are an owner or partner, such as articles of incorporation, partnership by-laws, state and local registration