Otherwise, you'll save more tax dollars by foregoing the home mortgage interest deduction and claiming the standard deduction instead. Complete Schedule A and compare the total of your itemized deductions to your standard deduction to find out which method is most advantageous for you.
How long a patent lasts depends on the type of patent being issued and the country issuing the patent. For example, under recent changes in the laws, in the United States, patents are now granted for a term of 20 years from the date of application (14 years for design patents).
So if the IRS hasn't raised any issues about your 2004 tax return by now, then it should be safe to shred and discard it. Seven Years. Keep any tax return and documentation that includes a claim for deducting worthless securities for seven years.There you have it.ere is what you should keep and how long you should keep it. Three Years. Keep your federal and state income tax returns and related receipts and statements for at least three years.