ExplainThisDocWhich documents to keep – and for how long?
The pile of folders keeps growing, and sooner or later you wonder: what can go, and what has to stay? Few rules apply to private households, but there are good reasons to keep some papers for a long time. This guide gives rules of thumb and shows how to stay organized digitally, without a folder system.
Rules of thumb for personal paperwork
- For life: birth, marriage and death certificates, diplomas, pension records, notarized documents, medical reports and doctors' letters.
- Until retirement: employment contracts, payslips and proof of contribution periods.
- Several years: tax returns, notices and receipts, until the tax authority can no longer change the assessment. The period depends on your country.
- While it applies: leases, insurance policies, warranty receipts – and for a while afterwards in case questions come up.
These are rules of thumb, not legal or tax advice. When in doubt, ask a tax adviser or a consumer advice service.
Scan or original?
A scan makes documents easy to find, but it does not replace every original. Keep certificates, wills, notarized contracts and documents with seals in the original. For much else, a good digital copy is enough in everyday life – decide deliberately before you throw paper away.
Organized without a folder system
In ExplainThisDoc you don't create folders. Scanning or importing is enough; search and filters bring every document back. The app sorts documents by kind, such as tax, insurance or health.
Back up and take it with you
Your archive lives on your device. Optionally, iCloud keeps it up to date on your own devices, and an export backs up the whole collection. Face ID protects access.
Start with one document
Snap or import
Scan a document or bring in a photo or PDF. No sign-up, no folders.
Understand it in plain words
Light analysis, free on your device¹. In depth with Pro: 1 credit per analysis.
Find it when you need it
The original, the explanation and your notes stay together in your archive.
- No sign-up
- No subscription
- Start right away
Scan with your iPhone camera¹ With Apple Intelligence enabled on a supported device and in a supported language.