Skip to main content

  •  Tel: (217) 525-1111
  •  Fax: (217) 525-1120  SECURE CLIENT PORTAL

  • Home
  • About Us 
    • Our Firm
    • Our Team
  • Client Services 
    • Audit & Assurance Services
    • Tax Services
    • Accounting Services
    • Consulting Services
    • Charitable & Not-For-Profit
    • Wealth Management
  • Resources 
    • Useful Websites
    • Financial Calculators
  • Careers
  • Contact

Our Mission

your success is our only mission

Helping You

manage the changing face of life

Proactive Planning

for a successful future

  Previous   Next

    You are here

  1. Home
  2. Blogs
  3. Three questions you may have after you file your return

Three questions you may have after you file your return

Submitted by Eck, Schafer & Punke, LLP on April 29th, 2019

Once your 2018 tax return has been successfully filed with the IRS, you may still have some questions. Here are brief answers to three questions that we’re frequently asked at this time of year.

Question #1: What tax records can I throw away now?

At a minimum, keep tax records related to your return for as long as the IRS can audit your return or assess additional taxes. In general, the statute of limitations is three years after you file your return. So you can generally get rid of most records related to tax returns for 2015 and earlier years. (If you filed an extension for your 2015 return, hold on to your records until at least three years from when you filed the extended return.)

However, the statute of limitations extends to six years for taxpayers who understate their gross income by more than 25%.

You’ll need to hang on to certain tax-related records longer. For example, keep the actual tax returns indefinitely, so you can prove to the IRS that you filed a legitimate return. (There’s no statute of limitations for an audit if you didn’t file a return or you filed a fraudulent one.)

When it comes to retirement accounts, keep records associated with them until you’ve depleted the account and reported the last withdrawal on your tax return, plus three (or six) years. And retain records related to real estate or investments for as long as you own the asset, plus at least three years after you sell it and report the sale on your tax return. (You can keep these records for six years if you want to be extra safe.)

Question #2: Where’s my refund?

The IRS has an online tool that can tell you the status of your refund. Go to irs.gov and click on “Refund Status” to find out about yours. You’ll need your Social Security number, filing status and the exact refund amount.

Question #3: Can I still collect a refund if I forgot to report something?

In general, you can file an amended tax return and claim a refund within three years after the date you filed your original return or within two years of the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. So for a 2018 tax return that you filed on April 15 of 2019, you can generally file an amended return until April 15, 2022.

However, there are a few opportunities when you have longer to file an amended return. For example, the statute of limitations for bad debts is longer than the usual three-year time limit for most items on your tax return. In general, you can amend your tax return to claim a bad debt for seven years from the due date of the tax return for the year that the debt became worthless.

We can help

Contact us if you have questions about tax record retention, your refund or filing an amended return. We’re available all year long — not just at tax filing time!

Thomson Reuters © 2019

Contact Us

Tell a Friend

227 South 7th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701 United States

227 South 7th Street
Springfield, Illinois
62701 United States

  •  Tel: (217) 525-1111
  •  Fax: (217) 525-1120
  •  hkern@espwms.com

Securities offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA, SIPC 

Investment advisory services offered through Avantax Advisory ServicesSM​.

Insurance Services offered through an Avantax affiliated insurance agency.

Avantax affiliated advisors may only conduct business with residents of the states for which they are properly registered. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state.

The Avantax family of companies exclusively provide investment products and services through its representatives.  Although Avantax Wealth ManagementSM does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Avantax representatives may offer these services through their independent outside business. 

This information is not intended as specific tax or legal advice.  Please consult our firm and your legal professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.

Content, links, and some material within this website may have been created by a third-party for use by an Avantax affiliated representative.  This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not represent the views and opinions of Avantax Wealth MangaementSM or its subsidiaries.  Avantax Wealth ManagementSM is not responsible for and does not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third-party website.

© 2025 Eck, Schafer & Punke, LLP. All rights reserved.

Website Design For Financial Services Professionals