As part of keeping invoices and legal documents for 6 years, does that include proof of postage receipts?

[letsjustgosomewhere]

For those who are self employed, we’re told by law that we have to retain invoices and other legal documents for 5 years now but does that include proof of postage receipts from the Royal Mail?

I’ve been keeping them but they’re taking up so much space and I already have PayPal and other electronic invoices with postage paid for by customers. Do I also need to retain the receipts for postage? I’m a sole trader and do all tax returns myself. I charge a little more than the customer pays for postage but this is due to commission charges by the marketplace sites I sell on.

I really appreciate to know if the electronic invoices would be legal enough and I can throw away the proof of postage receipts by Royal Mail as they’re taking up so much space and there’s too many to retain. They don’t always state the price on them either.

Thank you for your help if anyone is willing to share.

Well, you either need to start scanning receipts to keep electronically, sort your postage out online and get a printer to print the postage or find somewhere to keep the paper reciepts for the required amount of time.

They are your options essentially if you are running a business. You have to decide which one works best for you.

Have you got all the right insurances/ mortgage/ landlord approval etc if you are running a business from home? If you are posting stuff out on the scale where you are struggling to store the receipts at home then it doesn't sound like just a pocket money type business?

@Scrowy

Well, you either need to start scanning receipts to keep electronically, sort your postage out online and get a printer to print the postage or find somewhere to keep the paper reciepts for the required amount of time.

They are your options essentially if you are running a business. You have to decide which one works best for you.

Have you got all the right insurances/ mortgage/ landlord approval etc if you are running a business from home? If you are posting stuff out on the scale where you are struggling to store the receipts at home then it doesn't sound like just a pocket money type business?

Anyone would struggle storing 6 years worth of receipts. I’m working on a solution to go electronic.

I used to store everything in lever arch files that I then kept in my loft.

Don’t have a loft. Looking to go electronic when I’m free.