If you send a Self Assessment tax return by the deadline, keep your records for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year it covers. If you send it late, keep them for at least 15 months after you sent the return.
GOV.UK gives an example: if you send your 2024 to 2025 tax return online by 31 January 2026, keep your records until at least the end of January 2027.
At a glance
| Situation | Minimum period | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Return sent by the deadline | 22 months | End of the tax year the return is for |
| Return sent after the deadline | 15 months | The date you sent the return |
| Self-employed business records | Longer than the above | See current GOV.UK guidance |
Why these periods
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may check your records to make sure you are paying the right amount of tax. Keeping them for the full period means you can explain any figure on your return if you are asked.
The periods above are minimums. Nothing stops you from keeping a document for longer, and some records, such as your P60, are useful for other reasons.
These periods come from GOV.UK: Keeping your pay and tax records: how long to keep your records.
What counts as a record
For an employee, GOV.UK lists, among others, your P45, your P60 and any P11D form showing benefits from your employer. You should also keep records of tips, work-related expenses and benefits such as Statutory Sick Pay. Our guide to P60, P45 and payslips goes through each one.
Special cases
You are self-employed. GOV.UK says you must keep records of business income and costs for longer. The period depends on your situation, so read the current guidance before throwing anything away.
You filed late. The clock starts on the day you sent the return, not at the end of the tax year. Note the date on the confirmation.
You lost a record. Ask the employer or the organisation that issued it. For pay and tax details, your personal tax account or the HMRC app may also show the information.
How to stay organised
Keep one folder per tax year, with the return, the P60 and any supporting papers. Write the date after which the folder can go on the front.
With Coffrio, you scan each document when it arrives, file it under Tax, and add a reminder for the date it can be thrown away. You always know what to keep, and where it is.
Sources
Keeping your pay and tax records and How long to keep your records, GOV.UK, consulted on 20 September 2026.
Coffrio reminds you before the date
Scan a document once, note its deadline, and Coffrio tells you when it matters. Private, organized, always with you.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I keep records for a Self Assessment tax return?
At least 22 months after the end of the tax year the return is for, if you send it by the deadline. If you send it late, keep the records for at least 15 months after you sent the return.
Do self-employed people keep records for longer?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must keep records about your business income and costs for longer if you are self-employed. Check the current GOV.UK guidance for the exact period that applies to you.
Why does HMRC ask to see records?
HMRC may check your records to make sure you are paying the right amount of tax, so keeping them for the full period lets you answer a query or explain a figure.
General information, up to date as of 20 September 2026. It does not replace legal advice. Coffrio is not affiliated with any government body.
