Different retention periods for keeping documents in France

In France, different commercial and non-commercial documents have different retention periods. Are you informed about this subject? Contracts concluded within the framework of a business relationship, bank documents, and documents are drawn up for the transport of goods must be kept for five years. Custom declarations must be kept for three years. Other documents such as customer or supplier invoices, contracts concluded electronically, and commercial correspondence (purchase orders or delivery notes) must be kept for ten years.

Furthermore, the accounting books and registers, as well as the supporting documents, must be kept for ten years.

Data relating to tax obligations should be kept for 6 years, this includes: 

- income tax

- corporation tax industrial and commercial profits (BIC) and non-commercial profits (BNC)

- local direct taxes,

- the business property tax (CFE)

- business value added (CVAE)

- value added tax (VAT) , etc.

Other documentation, such as the company's articles of association must be kept for five years from the date of removal of the company from the trade and companies register.

Documents relating to the annual account (balance sheet, income statement, appendix, etc.) must be kept for ten years.

The convocations, the attendance sheets, the powers, and the reports of the manager or the board of directors must be kept for three years.

According to the Tax Code, failing to adhere to retention periods can result in fines of up to 10,000 EUR. This is particularly the case if an auditor asks for specific documentation that the taxpayer can’t deliver.