keeping documents for tax purposes

[bignanny]

My mother is moving into sheltered accommodation and has given me all her oaoerwork to sort out. Most of it relates to pensions and investments which she got when my father died 35 years ago. They date back to then.

My question is, How long do I have to keep these documents and is there any other reason besides Tax that I need to keep them for?

Thank you any help will be greatly appreciated as I have about 10 carrier bags full of paperwork!
Thanks aan

[boxtops]

I believe that the tax papers should be kept for seven years, that's what i do.

[MarkRae]

I believe it's seven years.

[boxtops]

snap, mark :-)

[MarkRae]

Great minds / fools... :-)

[bignanny]

Thanks very much everyone, now to get shredding!

[Peter Pedant]

Keep them all and be careful about shredding

you will find that she has not put any of your father's stuff in her name altho she inherited it all those long long years ago
and you will need a lot of it to show that when she dies it is yours

and then you will regret shredding anything