Small Business Taxes

Recordkeeping Essentials for IRS Audit Protection

Updated 2025-10-28

What to keep, how long, digital vs. paper, and workflows that make your books audit‑ready year‑round.

  1. What to keep
  2. How long to keep records
  3. Digital workflows
  4. Audit readiness checklist

What to keep

How long to keep records

Retention periods vary by document type; longer for property and payroll records.

Digital workflows

Use OCR receipt capture, cloud storage, and role‑based access. Maintain immutable backups.

Audit readiness checklist