The Ultimate Storage Guide: Which Documents Should You Keep?

Introduction

In Switzerland, keeping order in personal administration is not just desirable, but also necessary. Document management is crucial for keeping track of important papers. Whether it's tax documents, contracts, or pay slips – each type of document has its own retention periods. In this blog post, we will show you how long you need to keep which documents and provide you with a clear overview of what you can throw away and what should stay.

Why is Retention Important?

Properly storing your documents can help you not only with your tax return but also with legal questions and claims. If you dispose of important documents too late, you might lose valuable information that could be useful to you in the future.

Legal Retention Periods in Switzerland

Here you will find an overview of the common retention periods for various documents:

Tip: Keep your documents in an organized system to maintain an overview.

Detailed Overview

Let’s take a closer look at the different documents:

1. Tax Documents

Tax documents are of great importance to the tax authorities. You should keep everything related to your income, expenses, and deductions for at least 10 years. This includes:

• Tax returns
• Receipts for deductions
• Bank statements

2. Contracts

Whether it's a rental agreement, employment contract, or purchase agreement – you should also keep all contracts for 10 years. They can serve as proof in legal matters.

3. Invoices

Invoices you have received or issued must also be kept for 10 years. This applies to invoices from craftsmen or service providers as well.

4. Insurance Documents

Insurance documents should also be kept for 10 years. This includes:

• Policies
• Correspondence with the insurance company
• Claims reports

5. Pay Slips

Pay slips are important for the AHV and pension fund. You should keep them for at least 5 years to be able to prove what you earned if needed.

6. Bank Documents

Bank documents, especially bank statements, should also be kept for 10 years. These documents are important for tracking your financial transactions.

7. Purchase Receipts

You can generally dispose of purchase receipts after 2 years, unless you have warranty claims that last longer.

What Can Go?

• Old Purchase Receipts (after 2 years)
• Pay Slips (after 5 years, if you have no more claims)

What Stays?

• Tax Documents (10 years)
• Contracts (10 years)
• Invoices (10 years)
• Insurance Documents (10 years)
• Bank Documents (10 years)

Conclusion

Properly storing your documents is crucial for your personal administration. With a clear overview of the legal retention periods, you can ensure that you are well-prepared if needed. At ELVIDA, we help you organize your documents and keep track of deadlines so you can focus on what matters most.

Want to learn more about our document management? Check out our platform!