France / Individual – How Long to Keep Personal Documents (2025 Guide)
You are required to keep your personal documents—bills, bank statements, contracts, tax notices, and employment records—for varying lengths of time, depending on their nature, legal value, and applicable statutes of limitation.
Keeping your documents properly allows you to protect your rights, respond confidently to a tax or administrative audit, and avoid costly disputes. This guide walks you through what to keep, how long to keep it, and in what format, in line with current regulations and best practices.
Document retention serves a legal and evidentiary purpose.
It enables you to prove a right, demonstrate compliance with an obligation, or respond to requests from tax authorities or other administrations.
Retention periods depend on:
- the type of document,
- its intended use,
- applicable legal and tax rules.
⚠️ The timeframes below reflect recommended minimum retention periods. You may keep documents longer if your personal, legal, or financial situation warrants it.
Documents to keep for life
Some documents have permanent legal value and should never be discarded.
Civil status and family records
- Civil status certificates (full copies and extracts)
- Family record book
- Divorce or adoption judgments
- Marriage contracts and civil partnership agreements
Education and health
- Diplomas and degrees
- Significant medical records (e.g., X-rays, specialist reports)
Real estate assets
- Deeds of sale
- Property titles
These records are essential to reconstruct your career history and calculate pension rights.
Employment records
- Pay slips
- Employment contracts
- Work certificates
Documents to keep for 5 years
Banking
- Bank statements
- Check stubs
Housing (condominiums)
- Proof of payment of shared charges
- Correspondence with the property manager
- Minutes of general meetings
Utilities and services
- Electricity bills
- Gas bills
- Water bills
Household employers
- Employee pay slips
- Employment contracts
- Workplace accident declarations (if applicable)
Documents to keep for 3 years
Rental housing
- Rent receipts
- Lease agreements
- Move-in and move-out inspection reports
(3 years after the end of the lease, furnished or unfurnished)
Professional activity
- Final pay settlements
- Expense reports
- Proof of unemployment benefit payments
Household employers
- Time tracking records
- Tax certificates
Documents to keep for 2 years
Insurance
- Insurance contracts
- Premium receipts
- Renewal notices
- Cancellation letters
Employment
- Employment service certificates
(2 years from registration as a job seeker)
Health
- Health insurance reimbursement statements
- Bills from private healthcare facilities
Documents to keep for 1 year
Telecommunications
- Landline phone bills
- Mobile phone bills
- Internet subscription invoices
Local taxes
- Property tax notices
- Secondary residence housing tax notices
Payment records
- Credit and debit card receipts
(until the corresponding bank statement is received)
Appliances and equipment
- Appliance purchase invoices
- Warranty certificates
(until the warranty expires)
How long must you keep tax documents?
You must retain tax documents for 3 years, starting from the year following the year of assessment:
- Income tax returns
- Tax assessments
- Supporting tax documents (deductions, credits, allowances)
In what format should you keep your documents?
Legal validity depends on how the document was originally issued:
- If the document was provided digitally, you may keep it in digital form.
- If the document was provided on paper, you should retain the original.
A scanned copy is considered a duplicate and may not be sufficient if requested by authorities.
📌 You may scan paper invoices and store them electronically for the full tax retention period (6 years), provided their integrity and readability are guaranteed.
Best practices for document retention
- Organize documents by retention period
- Use secure storage (physical and digital)
- Back up critical documents regularly
- Securely destroy documents once retention periods expire
- When in doubt or in case of dispute, keep documents longer
FAQ – Personal Document Retention Periods
How long should you keep your bills?
Utility bills must be kept for 5 years, telecommunications bills for 1 year, and equipment invoices until the warranty ends.
Which documents should you keep for life?
Civil status records, diplomas, family court judgments, and property titles should be kept indefinitely.
Can you discard bank statements?
You may discard bank statements after 5 years, unless a dispute is ongoing or foreseeable.
Do digital documents have legal value?
Yes, if the document was originally issued digitally or if the digital copy meets integrity and readability requirements.
How long should you keep tax documents?
Tax documents must be kept for 3 years following the year of assessment.
🔐 Information & disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only. Retention periods may vary depending on individual circumstances. When in doubt, professional advice is recommended.