Opsus.com - Paper Shredding Blog

Have you ever wondered what you should and shouldn’t shred? It can be confusing and there is the worry you may shred something that you may eventually need. Identity theft is a huge concern and we should all be vigilant about keeping personal information safe and secure. Are you aware that if you throw documents out in your trash that contain personal information you are at risk? Someone can legally go through your trash and take your information. This is commonly referred to as dumpster diving.

There are many documents that can be shredded without worry. Medical bills, bank statements, paid credit card & cable bills, address labels from junk mail and magazines, pre-approved credit card applications; and the list goes on and on.

Other documents can be shredded, but only after having them for a certain amount of time. According to the IRS, individual taxpayers should keep their tax returns and supporting documentation for at least 3 years and any property related materials should be kept for an additional 3 years after selling.

There is of course information that you should never shred such as wills, power of attorney, birth certificates, marriage documents, divorce or child care orders, trust documents, business agreements, military records and IRA contribution lists, to name a few.

Your identity is very valuable and should always be “yours”. Paper shredding is one of the best ways to protect your personal information. Shred all documents that you are certain you will not need and if unsure, store your records in a secure place until you are ready to destroy them.