How long to keep your records
Standard retention periods and digital records in Xero - explained
HMRC requires you to keep all business records for a minimum time period. The retention period depends on the type of records.
Standard retention periods
- VAT records: 6 years from the end of the VAT period
- PAYE records: 3 years from the end of the tax year
- Company statutory records (minutes, share register): permanently
- Corporation Tax records: 6 years from the end of the accounting period
Digital records in Xero
Documents attached to transactions in Xero (receipts, invoices, bank statements) are stored in Xero's cloud and count as your HMRC-compliant digital records. We recommend downloading an annual backup of your Xero data, in case you ever need to switch software or access records after closing the company.
💡 Good to know: Paper originals can usually be discarded once a clear digital copy is stored in Xero. HMRC accepts digital records instead of paper for most business records.
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