Join us at Hattiesburg Walmart
Look for us at Walmart Supercenter, 6072 US-98 Hattiesburg, MS 39402 March 8th from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Gather your documents
Regardless of whether you're prepping for taxes, recently finished filing, or still in procrastination phase; chances are you have stale documents lying around. Now is a great time to gather them all up and notate their purpose to make it easier to decide what to do with them.
To keep - or not to keep
Once you have located and gathered all your sensitive documents, you can move onto the next course of action; to file or destroy. in most cases, you should plan on keeping tax returns and any supporting documents (e.g., W-2s, mileage logs if you itemize, etc.) for at least three years after the date you filed or the due date of your tax return, whichever is later. Always consult your tax-preparer if you have questions. Receipts, not related to refunds or extended warranties, can be set aside for shredding. Mail or any old documents with your name, address, or other personal information that is not needed for tax purposes probably needs to go.
Start shredding
Now that you're ready to start shredding, you should practice safe measures of disposal! This doesn't mean tearing the documents in half and taking them to the curb! Instead, come see us at the community shred event March 8th!
Secure it
Sensitive documents such as passports, birth certificates, and social security cards should be locked up in a fire-proof filing cabinet or lockbox. Any documents that need held indefinitely or for extended periods of time should be placed alongside. It can not only keep them safe, but help you remember where they are stored when everything is in one, manageable location.
Too much hassle?
If storing, sorting, and taking the time to destroy all your important documents is too much of a hassle, check into e-document services. Sunbelt's Cloud Documents holds important financial documents in a secured manner for up to 12 months with real-time delivery and easy access anytime by computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Other services like SmartVault or DropBox will allow you to hold any document; receipt, tax documents, statements, etc. online in a secured environment indefinitely.
A little planning this coming spring, alongside your traditional
cleaning, can set you up for a great financial year!
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