How long do I need to keep accounting records for?

The Companies Act states that the directors of private companies are obliged to keep the accounting records for 3 years after the end of the accounting year. However, VAT regulations require that records be kept for 6 years, unless the local VAT Business Advice Centre gives written permission for a lesser period. We therefore recommend that accounting records are retained for 6 years. The statutory documents such as the certificate of incorporation, share certificates and company registers must be kept for the life of the company and company minutes must be kept for 10 years.