The Season of Shredding

It's everyone's favorite time of year...tax season! Whether you've finished filing your taxes or still need to begin, knowing which documents to save or shred is in important part of putting together your "tax puzzle".

Have you ever heard of the “Three Year Rule”? After you have filed your taxes, make sure to hold on to certain documents for at least three years. Why three years? You need to keep your documents that will support the items on your tax return for three years in case the IRS needs to start an audit.

Shred after three years:
· Tax return forms
· Tax return schedules
· Property records
· Investment records & statements
· Business assets (for depreciation)

These aren't the only records to shred after you have completely filed your taxes. To ensure you will not be a victim of identity theft, shred anything with sensitive information on it.

Documents to shred sooner than 3 years:
· Tax records
· Pay stubs
· Bank statements
· Credit card statements
· Medical records
· Insurance records
· IRA contributions
· Home purchase/sale/improvements
· Warranties

Don’t have a shredder? WACOSA's DocuShred, located next ThriftWorks!, will shred all of your confidential documents.

3 Thrift Store Finds You Won’t See at a Department Store

Thrift stores have a variety of different things, you never know what you are going to find. People shop at them because they are usually looking for certain things that department stores won’t have. Department stores typically provide matching sets of home décor and other high quality and expensive things, whereas thrift stores do not. Although thrifting can be fun, it takes a lot of patience. If you can’t find what you’re looking for one day, there are plenty of other days; people are always donating their antiques and other old things.

Here are 3 items that can be found at a thrift store and not at a department store:

1. Typewriters

Typewriters are a popular item to collect these days. People want them for display at their home or for use. They are a fun tool to have for scrapbooking; just make sure you test it out before bringing it home! Finding a typewriter at a thrift shop is either a hit or a miss. You have to shop at them regularly to find one because they are in high demand. If you aren’t picky about having a certain one and you see it at a thrift shop one day, buy it. Chances are the typewriter won’t be there the next day. On the other hand, if you are looking for a certain one, that will take some time. With some research and patience, you will find one.

2. VCRs

What's your favorite Disney VHS? 

Remember all the Disney movies on VHS? Everyone had them! Many people these days still have them because they are fun to have just in case you want to pop in an old classic one night. Even though Netflix has taken over, some households still have VCR players. If you don’t have one, they are so easy to find at thrift stores. People are donating them left and right because they have no use for them anymore. You can find one for $20 or less; and while you’re there, pick up a $.50 VHS.

3. Collectibles

If you are interested in a unique set of collectibles, thrift stores a great place to look for them. Collectibles like salt and pepper shakers, lunchboxes, porcelain dolls, stoneware crocks, and vintage glassware are popular in thrift stores. These items range from having a big display of them while others have only one or very few at a time. You just have to look through the entire thrift store. Only buy if it you really love it. Although you are a collector and you see a piece that you need, don’t get it if it’s not up to standards of what you’re looking for. There might be a little chip in it or missing a piece of it. You will find it!

If you’re looking for something specific and you know a department store won’t have it, check out your local thrift store. With a little high and low searching, you will find it. Also, many things there can be turned into an inexpensive and easy DIY project for your home. There is something for everyone at thrift shops; you won’t be disappointed in your finds.

So come check out ThriftWorks! at WACOSA, you might just find what you’re looking for.

Identity Theft: Top 8 Things to Shred Right Now

Phillip Cummings was a help-desk worker at a software firm. During his stay in 1999, he stole spreadsheets and login information, granting him access to a number of employee credit reports. The criminals he sold the information to made $50-$100 million from the 33,000 people whose reports were stolen.

In 1994, Jeri Marks received a letter informing her that her 12 year-old son Gabriel’s taxes had already been filed. Jeri discovered that an illegal immigrant stole her son’s social security number. To this day, Gabriel still faces problems from the theft, and hopes to get a new social security number to resolve the problem.

So, how do you protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft? The best thing to do is be wary of who you give personal information to. Shredding important documents that thieves can use to harm you is crucial. Keeping these documents around is asking for trouble.

 

Top 8 things to shred right now: 

· Old Tax Returns

· Bank Statements

· Credit card offers

· Old Photo IDs

· Pay Stubs

· Convenience checks

· Cancelled Checks

· Cancelled Credit Cards

If there’s one thing to learn from any case of identity theft, it’s that it really isn’t possible to be too careful when it comes to protecting your identity. Identity theft can drastically impact your life and those around you, so taking every precaution with data protection is critical to maintaining your safety. WACOSA’s DocuShred service has over 25 years of experience in the destruction of personal and business information. With DocuShred, you can be provided with the kind of total security and reliability you require to keep your identity safe.

Pick-up or drop-off services are available. Our convenient drop-off store is open to the public for business or personal needs. Hours are 10am-6pm, no appointment necessary. Pick-up services are available, as well as consoles or caster carts to safely store your documents.

WACOSA DocuShred is AAA certified by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), which gives our customers further assurance that we meet all the stringent demands of running a safe and secure document destruction facility.

To learn more, click here.