Based primarily on AICPA recommendations, this chart provides basic guidance on how long different types of documents must be retained. However, many businesses and industries must meet additional or more stringent retention requirements. For more on this topic, read our article "Three Simple Rules of Record Retention."
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Advisor
Compliance Officer
Entrepreneur
Lawyer
Owner
Paralegal
Para-Professional
Business Segment
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Single Establishment
Traditional Local Player
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Customer
Prospect
Geography National
Domestic
Industry Type
Agriculture
Accounting
Advertising
Aerospace
Aircraft
Airline
Apparel & Accessories
Automotive
Banking
Broadcasting
Brokerage
Biotechnology
Computer
Consulting
Consumer Products
Cosmetics
Defense
Department Stores
Education
Electronics
Energy
Entertainment & Leisure
Executive Search
Financial Services
Grocery Health Care
Internet Publishing
Investment Banking
Legal
Manufacturing
Motion Picture & Video
Music
Newspaper Publishers
Online Auctions
Pension Funds
Pharmaceuticals
Private Equity
Publishing
Real Estate
Retail & Wholesale
Securities & Commodity Exchanges
Service
Software
Sports
Technology
Telecommunications
Television
Transportation
Trucking
Venture Capital
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