Bookkeeping
How long do you need to keep your records?
The tax retention obligation explained: which documents you keep for how long, and whether digital storage is allowed.
· 3 min read · By the Boekhoudvriend team
As an entrepreneur, you generally keep your records for seven years. For data relating to real estate, such as business premises, a retention period of ten years applies for VAT (btw).
What falls under the retention obligation?
- Sales and purchase invoices and receipts
- Bank statements and cash records
- General ledger, accounts receivable and accounts payable
- Annual accounts and tax returns
- Contracts, payroll records and time records
Can you store records digitally?
Yes. You may scan paper documents and store them digitally, as long as the data remains complete, legible and verifiable throughout the entire retention period. A scanned receipt on your phone is therefore enough, provided you archive it properly.
How we handle it
Documents you submit via the app, email or WhatsApp are automatically linked to your entries and archived digitally. That way you meet the retention obligation without shoeboxes full of receipts.
Common questions about bookkeeping
Terms in this article