Business records if you're self-employed
How long to keep your records
You must keep your records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may check your records to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax.
Example
If you sent your 2022 to 2023 tax return online by 31 January 2024, you must keep your records until at least the end of January 2029.
Very late returns
If you send your tax return more than 4 years after the deadline, you’ll need to keep your records for 15 months after you send your tax return.
If your records are lost, stolen or destroyed
If you cannot replace your records, you must do your best to provide figures. Tell HMRC when you file your tax return if you’re using:
- estimated figures - your best guess when you cannot provide the actual figures
- provisional figures - your temporary estimated figures while you wait for actual figures (you’ll also need to submit actual figures when available)