Do we need to keep all statements from French bank?
Documents can be used as proof in cases of disagreement
Keeping bank statements related to large or otherwise important purchases may be advisable without limit
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Reader question: Is it obligatory to keep your bank statements in France? A neighbour said he keeps them for at least 10 years.
Retaining important documents is highly recommended in France.
While there are no legal penalties for not doing so, keeping these, if possible in hard copy, is the best way to retain evidence that may be needed in any future disagreement with a company or government authorities.
This applies to a range of information, from tax notices (avis) and employment information such as contracts to property documents and insurance policy proofs. Banking documents are also included in this .
The list below from government sources details how long each document type should be kept for:
Mortgage and consumer credit agreements and supporting documents: two years from the last payment date
Documents relating to opening an account (current account, Livret A or PEL savings account, etc) such as an account opening agreement: five years from the closing of the account
Account statement (current account, PEL, Livret A savings account, etc.): at least five years
Cheque stub: at least five years
Bank card receipt: payments and withdrawals: Until receipt of the account statement showing the corresponding balance.
Documents can be kept for longer if you wish, which may be useful for bank accounts related to professional services or businesses you manage (if any).
Keeping bank statements related to large or otherwise important purchases may be advisable without limit, similarly where relating to work on a property in case of being needed as proof you paid for the work for capital gains calculations (if it is not your main home).
Note that PDF downloads of statements usually remain available via online banking for 10 years.
Keeping statements is especially important in the case of non-residents living outside the EU, as the fiscal representatives who are involved in calculation and payment of capital gains tax (unless, eg. the sale is exempt because the property was owned for more than 30 years) often ask to see these.
Some have in the past asked for paper originals, however PDFs should be acceptable.
Those planning to close bank accounts should download digital versions and print them out or store them securely digitally (through a memory stick, cloud storage, etc).
