Storage periods.
WHAT DETERMINES IT
Legal and tax requirements, which vary.
WHAT TO DO
Ask your accountant what periods apply to you.
Then follow them.
WHY IT MATTERS
Disposing too early leaves you unable to support a filing.
Keeping everything forever creates storage and privacy problems.
WHAT TO KEEP LONGEST
Anything relating to tax filings Contracts, for their duration and after Records relating to assets Anything subject to a dispute
WHAT TO ORGANISE BY
Period, so disposal is straightforward.
WHAT TO DO AT THE END OF A RETENTION PERIOD
Dispose securely.
Not simply discard.
FOR DIGITAL RECORDS
Delete, including from backups where practical.
FOR PAPER
Destroy securely.
WHAT TO RECORD
What you disposed of and when.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Keep customer personal data indefinitely with no reason.
WHAT TO STATE
Your retention periods, in your privacy notice.
