10/07/2026
How long do you actually need to keep business records? 🤔
It's one of those questions that trips up a lot of small business owners.
Keep too little and you're at risk if HMRC comes knocking; keep too much and your office turns into a paper mountain…
Here's the general rule of thumb:
📁 6 years - most financial records, tax returns, and VAT documents
📁 3 years - for most limited companies' statutory records
📁 Indefinitely - some HR records, like accident books or certain health & safety documentation
The tricky part isn't just knowing the rules - it's having somewhere sensible to put everything so it's not causing you stress in the meantime.
Whether you're storing client files, financial records or compliance documents, having a system for it takes one thing off your plate.
What's your biggest headache when it comes to keeping on top of paperwork? Let us know below 👇