Archive · 23 Jul 2026
Tax Experts Warn Against Discarding ITR Documents for 6 Years
Tax experts advise keeping your income tax return (ITR) documents for at least 6 years after filing.
This includes your filed ITR copy, acknowledgement, Form 16, TDS certificates, bank statements, and property papers.
Keeping these documents is important because they serve as proof of the information you reported in your return.
If your return is selected for scrutiny, your refund is delayed, or the Income Tax Department asks for explanations, having these documents will help you.
For NRIs, additional documents like foreign income proofs and residential status proofs are also important.
Keeping these records can save you from future problems and ensure you have the necessary proof when needed.
Tax experts recommend keeping ITR documents for at least 6 years.
Critical documents include filed ITR copy, ITR-V acknowledgement, Form 16, TDS certificates, bank statements, and property papers.
NRIs should preserve additional documents like foreign income proofs and residential status proofs.
Keeping these documents helps avoid problems during scrutiny, refund delays, or when the Income Tax Department asks for explanations.
Long-term documents like original purchase deeds for major assets should be kept indefinitely.
- Who
- Taxpayers and the Income Tax Department
- What
- Tax experts warn against discarding ITR documents for at least 6 years
- When
- Applicable for ITR filing AY 2026-27 and beyond
- Where
- India
- Why
- To avoid problems during scrutiny, refund delays, or when the Income Tax Department asks for explanations
Taxpayers
Income Tax Department
Document Retention Period
Taxpayers
Taxpayers should keep documents for at least 6 years to avoid future scrutiny issues.
Income Tax Department
The Income Tax Department may require documents for scrutiny or verification beyond this period.
- Recommended Retention Period
- 6 years from the end of the relevant assessment year
- Critical Documents
- Filed ITR copy, ITR-V acknowledgement, Form 16, TDS certificates, Bank statements, Property papers
- NRIs
- Should preserve foreign income proofs, foreign tax documents, bank statements showing inward and outward remittances, residential status proofs, Form 67-related records
- Long-term Documents
- Original purchase deeds for major assets, sale deeds, inheritance or gift deeds for significant property, permanent account-related records, key investment purchase records
- Disclaimer
- This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax advice.