TLDR: In France, tax documents must be kept for at least 6 years from the date of the transaction or declaration, with specific exceptions. Individuals must retain tax receipts for 3 years, while non-profit organizations and investment gold traders have special obligations. Failure to retain documents may result in penalties.
Retention period by taxpayer category
In France, the retention period for tax documents varies depending on the taxpayer category. Individuals benefiting from tax reductions for donations must keep tax receipts for 3 years from the year the tax is due. Non-profit organizations issuing tax receipts for tax reductions must retain documents for 6 years from the date of issuance. For investment gold traders, retaining customer identification documents is mandatory for 6 years, but only for transactions amounting to €15,000 or more.
Types of documents to retain
Tax documents to be retained include accounting books, purchase and sales invoices, expense receipts, documents related to transactions with VAT deduction rights, software documentation, and specific registers. Digital documents must be kept in their original format for at least 6 years. Retention must ensure traceability of transactions for the required period.
Start of retention periods
The retention period for tax documents begins from the date of the last transaction recorded in the accounting books or from the date of issuance or receipt of the document. This principle applies to both paper and digital documents, ensuring that all transactions remain traceable for the required period.
Exceptions and penalties
There are exceptions to standard retention periods. For example, certain registers must be kept for 10 years. Failure to retain documents may result in penalties of up to €150, applicable after a formal notice. In case of repeat offenses, more severe penalties apply, including the possibility of disqualification.
Specific obligations for digital documents
Digital documents must be retained in their original format for at least 6 years. This means that if a document was issued or received in digital format, it cannot be converted to paper for retention but must remain electronically accessible.