SnapBooksThe short answer
Keep business receipts for at least the period below, counted from the point shown. Keep them longer if a return was filed late, is under review, or covers something you still own. If in doubt, keep the record: a digital copy costs almost nothing to store.
Rules change, and some depend on your type of business. Check the official source or ask a tax professional before you destroy records.
Minimum retention periods by country
| Country | Keep for at least | Details |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 years | From the date you filed. 6 years if you left out more than 25% of your income; 7 years for a bad-debt or worthless-securities claim; at least 4 years for employment tax records. (IRS) |
| United Kingdom | 5 years | Self-employed: at least 5 years after the 31 January filing deadline for the tax year. Limited companies: 6 years from the end of the company’s financial year. (GOV.UK) |
| Canada | 6 years | From the end of the last tax year the records relate to. Longer for some records, such as long-term property. (CRA) |
| Australia | 5 years | From when you prepared or obtained the record or completed the transaction, whichever is later. Companies must keep records for 7 years under ASIC rules. (ATO) |
| Germany | 8 years | Booking records such as receipts and invoices (since 2025); 10 years for books and annual financial statements; 6 years for business letters. Counted from the end of the calendar year. (IHK Berlin) |
| France | 10 years | Accounting records and receipts under the Commercial Code. The tax authorities can review the last 6 years. (BOFiP) |
| Spain | 6 years | Books, invoices and receipts under the Commercial Code (article 30), counted from the last entry. The tax limitation period is 4 years. |
| Italy | 10 years | From the date of the last entry (Civil Code, article 2220), and longer while a tax assessment started within that time is still open. (Brocardi) |
| Netherlands | 7 years | The basic records, including invoices; 10 years for records about real estate. (Belastingdienst) |
| Poland | 5 years | From the end of the calendar year in which the tax payment deadline passed. (biznes.gov.pl) |
| Japan | 7 years | Books and most receipts for blue-return filers; 5 years for documents such as quotes and delivery notes. Counted from the day after 15 March of the following year. (National Tax Agency) |
| South Korea | 5 years | From the statutory filing deadline of the tax period; 7 years for offshore transactions (Framework Act on National Taxes, article 85-3). |
| India | 6 years | Income-tax books: 6 years from the end of the relevant assessment year (Rule 6F; new rules under the Income-tax Act, 2025 may change this). GST records: 72 months from the due date of the annual return. (Income Tax Department) |
| Pakistan | 6 years | After the end of the tax year (Income Tax Ordinance 2001, section 174), and longer while proceedings are pending. (FBR) |
| Indonesia | 10 years | Books, records and supporting documents, kept in Indonesia (General Tax Provisions Law, article 28(11)). (DJP) |
| Malaysia | 7 years | Sufficient records of your business under the Income Tax Act 1967 (section 82A). (LHDN) |
| Philippines | 5 years | Books of accounts and accounting records, under the Ease of Paying Taxes Act rules (RR 7-2024). (Grant Thornton summary) |
| Brazil | 5 years | Generally, for invoices (including NF-e XML files) and accounting records, matching the tax authorities’ 5-year review period. Some records must be kept longer. |
| Mexico | 5 years | From the date the related returns were filed or were due (Federal Tax Code, article 30). The Commercial Code sets 10 years for business records. |
| United Arab Emirates | 7 years | Corporate tax records, after the end of the tax period. (Federal Tax Authority) |
| China | 30 years | Accounting vouchers, including original receipts (Accounting Archives Management Measures, 2015). (gov.cn) |
Keep records longer when…
- A return was filed late. The clock often starts when you file, not when the return was due (in Canada, for example).
- A review, audit or appeal is open. Keep everything for that year until it’s settled.
- The record is about something you still own, such as a vehicle or equipment. Keep it while you own the asset and for the retention period after you sell it.
- You carry losses forward. Keep the records that show how the loss arose.
Digital copies usually count
Most tax authorities accept scanned or photographed receipts if the copy is complete and readable. The Dutch tax authorities, for example, let you keep scanned invoices digitally as long as their authenticity is preserved, and HMRC’s Making Tax Digital is built on digital records. Check the conditions in your country.
SnapBooks keeps the receipt image with each expense, so the proof stays attached to the number. On Pro and Team, receipts are kept for as long as you have your account. The free plan keeps receipt images for 90 days, then deletes the image and keeps the expense. SnapBooks emails you at least a week before, so you can save the ones you need or upgrade.
Already lost one? Fill in a missing receipt affidavit and attach your card or bank statement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to keep the paper receipt if I have a photo?
In most countries, a clear and complete digital copy is accepted. Some countries attach conditions, so check the official source for yours before you throw paper away.
When does the retention period start?
It depends on the country: the date you filed (US), the filing deadline (UK, South Korea), the end of the tax year (Canada, Pakistan) or the end of the calendar year (Germany, Poland). The table shows the starting point for each.
How long does SnapBooks keep my receipts?
On Pro and Team, for as long as you have your account. The free plan keeps receipt images for 90 days and keeps the expense after that. SnapBooks emails you at least a week before any image is removed, so you can save the ones you need or upgrade.