Full Definition of STATUTE. 1. : a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government. 2. : an act of a corporation or of its founder intended as a permanent rule.3. : an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority. See statute defined for English-language learners.ull Definition of STATUTE. 1. : a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government. 2. : an act of a corporation or of its founder intended as a permanent rule. 3. : an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority. See statute defined for English-language learners.
The IRS generally has up to three years after the tax-filing deadline to initiate an audit, so keep your tax returns and supporting documents at least that longâin other words, after April 15 this year, hang on to returns and documents for tax years 2012 through 2014 .
How long should I keep tax returns? In most cases, you should plan on keeping tax returns along with any supporting documents for a period of at least three years following the date you filed or the due date of your tax return, whichever is later. So for example, if you filed your 2015 tax return on February 1, 2016, you should have kept the return and supporting documents until at least April 15, 2017. What tax records should I keep? You should keep every tax return and supporting forms. This includes W-2s, 1099s, expense tracking, mileage logs if you itemize and other documents.