Shred Event Coming Up

When you put a piece of paper in the trash it can be difficult to know what happens to it. It is likely to pass through several stages on its way to a landfill or incinerator.  Every step that occurs once the trash leaves your control carries risk that someone will find personal information they can use to cause you harm.

One way to safeguard personal information is to shred it before it goes into the trash. The CV Chamber, along with the La Cañada Flintridge and Montrose-Verdugo City chambers, will be hosting a free shredding event in conjunction with our annual tri-chamber Business Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

We make it very easy for you to get that shredding done. On the 14th, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (or whenever the shredder is full), simply pull your car up to the shredding facility in the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital lower, east-end lot.  Volunteers will take up to 10 boxes of documents from your car and shred them on site. You’re then free to park and enjoy the Expo inside the air-conditioned fourth floor community room in the hospital. Free food, prizes, information and giveaways are available at this event that is open free to all area residents. Learn about many of the useful businesses and restaurants in your community.

The slow days of summer are a good time to start collecting your documents. Here are some tips on what to collect and bring to the shredding event: Tax information & returns. The IRS has three years from when you file your tax return to start an audit (no limit on fraudulent returns). Therefore you can shred documents that support your 2013 tax returns and earlier. Keep copies of your actual tax returns forever. Investment records and statements. Documentation of purchases and sales of investments must be kept for three years past when you report them on your taxes. Bank statements and canceled checks. Most people keep bank statements and checkbook registers for several years to document important purchases. Canceled checks, however, can take up a lot of space. Keep those that support tax deductions and consider shredding the rest. Paycheck stubs. These can include very sensitive information such as Social Security and financial institution account numbers. You may need to keep the last three month’s paystubs if you are applying for a loan. Otherwise you only need the most recent one. Shred the rest. ATM receipts. Keep ATM receipts until you can compare them with your bank statement. Then carefully dispose of them. Insurance. Insurance policies and claims information should be kept for as long as the policy remains in effect.  Shred afterwards. Home financial information. Deeds, mortgages and information on home improvements should be kept for as long as you own the home plus three years for tax purposes. Shred afterwards. Personal documents and pictures. Shred anything containing sensitive information and private pictures.

Documents to keep forever:  wills, powers of attorney, birth certificates, marriage documents, divorce or childcare orders, trust documents, business agreements, military records and other such permanent records.

See you on Sept. 14 at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital!

  Lisa DUPUY