Same answer in every state and territory
How long to keep tax records in Australia
Anywhere in Australia, tax records must be kept for five years from the date you lodged the return, under federal ATO rules. After that they are just paper. Shred anything with an account number, tax file number, Medicare number, date of birth or signature, and put the shreds inside a paper bag before they go in the recycling bin.
Sources ATO: records you need to keep
What do I do with paperwork & documents?
- Tax records Keep five years from the date you lodged. After that they're just paper.
- Shred anything identifying Account numbers, tax file number, signatures, Medicare, date of birth.
- The rest Recycling bin. Put shredded paper inside a paper bag — loose shreds blow out of the truck and fall through the sorting screens.
ATO record-keeping rules are federal — five years from lodgement, everywhere.
How long do I need to keep tax records in Australia?
Five years from the date you lodged the tax return they relate to, under Australian Taxation Office rules. That applies in every state, because tax is federal. Records for assets you still own, like a property or shares, need to be kept for five years after you sell them.
What paperwork should I shred?
Anything that identifies you or an account: bank statements, tax file number, Medicare number, signatures, date of birth, old passports and licences. Shred it or cut it up. Everything without those details, like manuals, old bills without account numbers and junk mail, goes straight in the recycling.
Can shredded paper go in the recycling bin?
Yes, but inside a paper bag or a box. Loose shreds blow out of the truck and fall through the sorting screens, and most councils ask for them to be contained. Never in a plastic bag.
Should I scan everything before I throw it out?
No. You will spend a weekend digitising paper you would never have looked at again and end up with digital clutter instead. Scan the few documents you genuinely need, keep the ones the ATO requires, and recycle the rest.
Need it gone this week?
Pick your state to compare removal options:
This answer is the same in every state and territory, so there is one page for it. The answers that change at the state border are listed at where does it go.