How long should you keep US tax returns?

Updated on December 17, 2025

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Here’s a simple rule of thumb: keep your tax returns for at least three years, hold onto foreign-related documents such as overseas income records or FBAR/FATCA statements for six years, and keep any records tied to loss claims for seven years.

Certain documents, such as retirement contribution records, home-purchase paperwork, and any records that may affect future capital gains, are worth keeping permanently.

Why does the IRS use different time periods?

The IRS uses different retention periods because each one lines up with a different audit window. The more room there is for mistakes, missing information, or underreported income, the longer the IRS keeps the ability to review your return.

3 years is the standard window for a typical, accurate return.
6 years applies when income was underreported by more than 25% or when certain foreign financial assets weren’t fully reported.
Foreign asset forms (like FBAR and FATCA) often require a longer retention buffer because the IRS needs more time to verify account balances, ownership, and international reporting.

These timelines matter even more for expats. When your income, accounts, or investments live outside the US, there are simply more moving parts and more opportunities for the IRS to double-check what was filed.

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What documents should you keep, and for how long?

Below is a clear and scannable summary of the retention periods that expats rely on.

Tax record retention table for US expats

Document/record type	How long to keep it	Why it matters	Expat notes
Filed tax returns (Form 1040)	At least 3 years	Standard IRS audit window	Store digital PDFs forever, which can be useful for visas, residency proofs, and bank reviews
W-2, 1099s, income statements	3 years	Supports income reported on the return	Keep foreign wage statements + currency conversion logs
Receipts, deductions, expense records	3 years	Verifies deductions	If using FEIE or FTC, keep foreign bills longer
Foreign income records	6 years	IRS can audit foreign income for extended periods	Save payslips, contracts, bank transfers, and FX rates
FBAR/FinCEN 114 supporting docs	5 years (6 years for extra safety)	FinCEN’s review period aligns with a 6-y