A Certificate of Destruction certifies in writing that your documents were destroyed in compliance with the laws that apply in your state or industry. Certificates of destruction can be especially helpful when: 

It’s easy for shredding to take a back burner to other organizational initiatives, but it’s critical to develop policies, procedures, and practices that support organizational and client security. Proprietary business information and confidential client information – like credit card numbers and social security numbers – leave organizations every day in the form of paper waste. This information can quickly land in the hands of ill-willed criminals, looking to steal priority information or compromise the security of your clients by hacking into their bank accounts or stealing their identity.  A carefully considered document destruction policy can help you mitigate risk, protect your assets, and provide your clients with the privacy the expect and deserve from your organization. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

All businesses have confidential information they need to protect. Once you no longer need to keep a client’s files, you have to find a way to destroy them – as long as the client doesn’t want his or her file – and do it securely. A regular strip shredder is definitely not secure enough since a criminal can put the strips back together. And, if the strips are not narrow enough, big chunks of confidential information is readily visible.

Identity theft can wreak long-term havoc on individuals and business owners alike.

Clutter. Few of us can get away from it. There always seems to be something that we're holding to and some reason to keep it. Whether it's because you don't know if you'll ever need it again or because you have some sort of sentimental attachment to it, the reality adds up to a lot of stuff that really doesn't need to crowd your home. But while it might not be easy to get rid of your old jeans from high school, it seems less likely that you've formed the same sort of emotional bond to your tax records. If you're tired of opening a file cabinet and feeling like it's exploding in unorganized madness every time tax season rolls around, see how you can start to clear it up with the help of mobile shredding. 

Which records should you keep for tax purposes, and how long should you keep them? The question causes confusion every year during tax season, in part because so many different rules apply.

One of the most important components of a business is being able to protect data. A good way to do this is by shredding any paper documents or electronic files. Knowing how safely conduct document destruction methods will not only protect the business but adds credibility for your customers. There are certain regulatory protocols to be met, and shredding helps keep security at optimal levels.

While most people now keep tax documents on their computers, some still keep the documents in paper files. The 2020 tax season was delayed by moving the filing date to July, so it’s tax season for those who did not file their taxes in April. As you file your current year’s tax documents, you should go through your files, especially paper files, to get ready to shred old tax documents and those you do not need to keep. If you do keep a paper file, be sure you keep it in a secure place. You should also have separate files for each year so that you can find the information when you need it.

Throwing documents away in the regular trash, even if they have only your address on them, gives identity thieves another piece of the puzzle they need to steal your identity. Even if you shred documents with a home office shredder, your data isn’t safe. Strips are easy enough to put together to get confidential information. When you use mobile shredding services, you know that your information is safe. The trucks are secure, and we use cross cut shredders that create tiny shreds of paper that are nearly impossible to put back together.

The coronavirus has managed to throw a wrench into nearly all of our 2020 plans, including when and how we file for taxes. The IRS and the Treasury Department have extended the deadline to July 15 for taxes and even contemplated extending the timeline until September. This has not made anyone exempt from paying taxes, but it has given people the chance to get their bearings and (hopefully) catch their breath during the pandemic. Now that you have more time though, you may want to consider how you're preparing for the new deadline on the horizon. Learn more about why you should take care of shredding tax documents and how it could save you some hassle down the road.