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16 Financial Documents That Should Be Shredded (Not Just Thrown Away)

Even your pet's junk mail could be an identity thief's gold mine.

secretary destroying paper sheet using shredder in office
Updated July 2, 2025
Fact checked

Your mailbox may be full of paper that could spell disaster if it falls into the wrong hands. Failing to properly dispose of sensitive documents can leave you vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.

Yet, many people make ‌the surprising financial mistake of keeping papers they should have shredded years ago.

If you hope to avoid wasting money on preventable financial mishaps, now is the time to clean house. Here is a list of must-shred documents that might be lurking in your home.

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Expired IDs and unused credit cards

Farknot Architect/Adobe woman choosing credit card to use

Identity thieves can use expired IDs and credit cards. Some expired cards still have valid card numbers, making them prime tools for fraud.

Shred these cards once they're no longer in use, and never simply toss them in the trash.

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Driver's license renewal receipts

Andrey Popov/Adobe woman putting envelope in mailbox

When renewing your driver's license, you'll receive a temporary paper receipt. Keep this only until your new license arrives, then shred it.

These receipts often contain personal information that could be exploited if lost or stolen.

Old medical information

volgariver/Adobe medical bill rising medical cost

Outdated medical records, bills, and insurance statements all contain sensitive health information and personal details. Keeping these documents for longer than a year unnecessarily increases your risk of medical identity theft.

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Resumes and cover letters

kathayut/Adobe resume on wooden table

Resumes, cover letters, and other employment application paperwork contain personal details like addresses, phone numbers, and employment histories. That is the kind of information identity thieves love.

Pet medical documents

Krakenimages.com/Adobe man in scrubs consults with a female client holding a poodle

Pet medical records might not seem like a security threat, but they often include your name, address, and phone number.

Additionally, an Aura survey found that 39% of "pet parents" have used their pet's name as a part of their password for an online account.

If your pet's records aren't needed for ongoing care, shred these documents — and update your passwords while you're at it.

Outdated insurance records

Jade Maas/peopleimages.com/Adobe doctor healthcare insurance and patient form for health information

Outdated insurance policies and claim records contain policy numbers, beneficiary details, and other sensitive financial information.

Your employer might even be listed if you're part of a group coverage plan. Once a policy expires, shred these records.

Boarding passes

boonsom/Adobe businesswoman giving passport to airlines ground attendant

Boarding passes contain more than just your flight details. They can include frequent flyer numbers and personal data that scammers use to access travel accounts.

Travel itineraries

alexkich/Adobe person signing document with passport

Much like boarding passes, printed travel itineraries can be used by criminals to verify your identity. Avoid leaving them in hotel rooms or tossing them intact.

Tax-related documents

Achira22/Adobe taxation concept

Tax-related documents should be kept for up to seven years in case of an audit, but anything older than that can be securely shredded.

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Old home and vehicle titles

Rix Pix/Adobe california automibile certificate of title and keys

Once you sell a home or vehicle, you no longer need the corresponding title. These documents can be used in scams, so dispose of them securely.

Prescription labels

18percentgrey/Adobe doctor with rx prescription

Prescription bottles often include your full name, medication details, and pharmacy information. Thieves can use this data for medical fraud or even to attempt to refill prescriptions.

Always remove and shred labels before disposing of medication containers.

Return shipping labels

olga_demina/Adobe streamlining the return process

Online shopping is convenient, but your return labels include your name and address, making them a prime target for identity thieves. Peel off and shred any shipping labels.

Canceled checks and bank statements

K. Geijer/Adobe financial documents

Even if a check is canceled, it still has account details that can be exploited. The same goes for old bank statements.

Pay stubs

Haris Rauf/Adobe pay stub

Your pay stubs contain sensitive information, including income details, bank accounts, and tax withholdings. Once you've reconciled them with your W-2 end-of-year earning statement, shred them.

However, keep in mind that in some instances, you will need to have up to three months of pay stubs on hand as proof of income for a rental application, auto financing, or other loans.

Junk mail

Andrius/Adobe bunch of envelopes in the kitchen

Junk mail may seem harmless, but pre-approved credit cards and mortgage refinance offers can be used by scammers to open accounts in your name. While it may be junk to you, it's a gold mine for thieves.

Sticky notes

aksonsat/Adobe business hand writing on an adhesive note

Many people scribble down passwords, PINs, phone numbers, or other sensitive information on sticky notes. Don't just throw sticky notes away — shred them.

Bottom line

Stephen/Adobe lots of paper on a desk

Some documents such as wills should be kept indefinitely, but many others can and should be shredded once they're no longer necessary.

If in doubt, scan important documents before shredding them and back up the documents to the cloud or other online storage space. This small habit can help you eliminate some money stress by protecting your identity and preventing fraud.

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