With April 15th right around the corner, you no doubt are rifling through important papers and receipts, collecting all the information you need to deliver an accurate tax return to the IRS. Depending on how much you have to write off, it's important to ensure you have the necessary paperwork to back up your claims. Superfluous data, however, can be eliminated, but as much of it may contain sensitive information you want to dispose of it correctly. That's why shredding should be a part of your tax preparation.
Some people may be reluctant to take paper to a professional shredder for fear of being audited. Nobody wants to destroy information that may be needed sometime down the road, yet keeping loose receipts and bank slips around can post a threat to your financial security. Were somebody to get his/her hands on a Social Security number, a bank account number or other data, it could prove a hassle to correct any identity theft problems. As an official audit can only go back five years, anything you've saved dated prior to the cutoff needs to be shredding beyond recognition.
Usually in March or April to coincide with tax preparation, banks and other financial companies may sponsor a public shredding event to raise awareness of identity safety. For the price of a small donation to a charity - usually canned good or other gently used items - people can bring their backlog of paper to be destroyed. Industrial shredders built into the backs of trucks tear through the paper and plastic credit cards and create piles of illegible remains which are usually taken to a recycling center. Your information remains secure and you help the environment by reducing waste!
When you're through with your taxes this year, take the time to shred what's left, what you don't need. You'll clear your home of clutter and live with peace of mind that your finances are more secure.
K. Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Richmond shredding services and biometric time clocks.
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