Keep Your Tax Records When Tax Season Is Over — Here’s Why
When tax season ends, it’s tempting to take a deep breath, relax, and forget about taxes entirely.
But before you do, there’s one last step you shouldn’t skip — keeping your tax records safe.
Here’s why storing your tax documents matters, how long you should keep them, and how to stay prepared for next year.
📁 Why You Should Store Your Tax Records
Keeping your tax documents organized is essential — especially for international students, J-1 participants, and nonresident workers.
1. The IRS May Audit You
If the IRS selects you for an audit, you’ll need copies of your filed tax returns, W-2, 1042-S, 1099 forms, and receipts that support any deductions or credits you claimed.
The IRS can review your returns going back three years, so always keep at least that much documentation ready.
2. You Might Need to Amend Your Tax Return
Sometimes, after filing, you might discover an error or a missed deduction.
In that case, you’ll need access to your previously filed return and all supporting documents to file an amended return.
3. Applying for a U.S. Green Card or Residency
If you plan to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to show proof that you’ve complied with U.S. tax laws.
Having copies of your past tax returns will make this process much smoother.
4. They’ll Help You File Future Tax Returns
Your previous returns can help you when preparing future ones — for example, to check refund amounts, deductions, or other key figures.
⏳ How Long Should You Keep Tax Records?
The IRS recommends keeping tax records for at least 3 years after the date you filed your return.
Example:
If you filed your 2021 tax return in April 2022, keep all related documents until at least April 2025.
When to Keep Them Longer:
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6 years if you underreported income by more than 25% of your total reported income.
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7 years if you claimed a bad debt deduction or worthless securities.
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Indefinitely for property-related documents (e.g., purchase/sale of a house or stock), or if you never filed or filed incorrectly.
💡 Our advice: Keep all U.S. tax records for at least 3 years after you leave the U.S.
💾 How to Keep Your Records
You can store your records digitally or physically — whichever works best for you.
If you go digital, scan your documents and keep secure backups (e.g., on a hard drive or cloud storage).
🧾 Filing and Post-Filing Support
All international students and scholars in the U.S. must file a tax return — even if they earned no income.
At J1 Summer Tax Back, we make it easy to:
✔ File your 1040-NR or Form 8843 correctly
✔ Maximize your legal refund
✔ Stay compliant with the IRS
✔ Get 24/7 expert support
Once you’ve filed, remember — the IRS may contact you for additional documents or clarification.
That’s where our Post-Filing Support Service helps.
We’ll communicate with the IRS on your behalf, saving you time, stress, and confusion.
🛡️ Why Use Our Post-Filing Support
✅ We handle all IRS communication for you
✅ Simple, secure, and online
✅ Peace of mind knowing your taxes are 100% compliant
Keep your records organized, stay compliant, and let us take care of the rest.
Start your nonresident tax return and post-filing protection today.