How long do you keep tax records in Canada?
The CRA says to keep your records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. If you filed late, the 6 years run from the date you filed; records of long-term property purchases and sales are kept indefinitely.
Every rule for Canada, with an example
From the official pages linked in each row, checked on October 5, 2026. The example column shows the keep-until date for the 2025 tax year where the rule gives one.
| Document | Official rule | Example (2025) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax returns (your copies) | Keep your records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Longer if: Return filed late: 6 years from the date you filed it; Objection or appeal: until it is resolved or the 6 years have passed, whichever is later; Destroying records early needs written permission from the CRA | until December 31, 2031 | canada.ca |
| Receipts and records behind your return | Keep your records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Longer if: Return filed late: 6 years from the date you filed it; Objection or appeal: until it is resolved or the 6 years have passed, whichever is later; Destroying records early needs written permission from the CRA | until December 31, 2031 | canada.ca |
| Payslips, W-2s, P60s | Keep your records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Longer if: Return filed late: 6 years from the date you filed it; Objection or appeal: until it is resolved or the 6 years have passed, whichever is later; Destroying records early needs written permission from the CRA | until December 31, 2031 | canada.ca |
| Bank statements | Keep your records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Longer if: Return filed late: 6 years from the date you filed it; Objection or appeal: until it is resolved or the 6 years have passed, whichever is later; Destroying records early needs written permission from the CRA | until December 31, 2031 | canada.ca |
| Business books and records (self-employed, small business) | Keep your records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Longer if: Return filed late: 6 years from the date you filed it; Objection or appeal: until it is resolved or the 6 years have passed, whichever is later; Destroying records early needs written permission from the CRA | until December 31, 2031 | canada.ca |
| Payroll records (if you employ someone) | Employers: the same 6-year period applies to payroll records under the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Pension Plan. Longer if: Return filed late: 6 years from the date you filed it; Objection or appeal: until it is resolved or the 6 years have passed, whichever is later; Destroying records early needs written permission from the CRA | until December 31, 2031 | canada.ca |
| Home and property purchase records | Records of long-term acquisitions and disposals of property must be kept indefinitely, because they decide the gain when you sell. | no fixed date | canada.ca |
We found no official retention rule in Canada for: medical records and bills, receipts for purchases (warranty). Keep those while they could still matter — for a claim, a warranty or a sale.
Keep them on your phone instead of in a box
Scanned copies take up no space and are easier to find when the tax office asks. For the full list of household papers and how long to keep each, see what documents to keep and for how long; to scan them, see how to scan documents on iPhone. For other countries, use the record retention calculator.
General information from official sources, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and your situation may add exceptions — the linked official page is the final word.
How to work out how long to keep a tax record
- Choose the country. Pick the country whose tax authority the record is for — the one you file returns in.
- Choose the document. Tax return, receipts behind it, payslips, bank statements, business records and so on. Documents with no official rule are marked.
- Enter the year or date. Most rules count from the tax year or from the day you filed. The tool asks for whichever this rule needs.
- Read the date and the exceptions. You get the keep-until date, the rule in plain words, the cases where you must keep it longer, and the official source. Add a calendar reminder if you like.