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When decluttering , you may be tempted to chuck that pile of papers you’ve kept ‘just in case’… but don’t consign them to the bin just yet.

In the latest edition of his newsletter, the Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder recommends hanging onto financial documents for longer than you might think; at least six years in some cases.

The ‘conventional wisdom’ is to keep bank, credit card and other paperwork for this long, because it’s believed that’s how far HMRC can ask you to go back if you’re being investigated for tax purposes .

This timeframe applies most to limited companies rather than individuals doing self assessments, who normally only need documentation for around 22 months after the end of the financial year.

But beyond tax, it’s

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