Receipt and invoice retention practices in the UK and US

Retention rules differ by country and business structure. In the UK, businesses commonly keep accounting records for several years, and VAT records have their own requirements. In the US, IRS guidance and state rules can affect how long records should be retained. Confirm the exact period with your accountant.

The practical goal is the same in both places: keep documents readable, searchable, and connected to the transaction they support. Store the image or PDF, the spreadsheet row, and any payment evidence in a consistent structure.

Use folders by tax year or calendar year, depending on how your business reports. Include the vendor and date in the file name. If you work across states or countries, include location or tax jurisdiction when relevant.

Backups matter. A receipt archive should not live only on one laptop or one phone. Use a secure cloud folder, local backup, or both. Limit access to people who need it, because receipts may contain names, card fragments, addresses, or other personal data.

Finally, test the archive. Pick a random spreadsheet row and see whether you can open the original receipt within a minute. If not, the system needs simplifying.