Career · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-10
Shredding a timesheet too early is a small act with a long shadow.
Turn a record date, a check date, and a retention period into a keep-until date and the days that remain.
Small employers, payroll clerks, and anyone clearing out old employment records.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Write the date the record covers, such as the pay period or the year of the timesheet.
Write the years that apply to this record type. Payroll records and time cards carry different periods.
Write today's date, or the date you plan to clear the files.
Add the retention years to the record date. That is the keep-until date.
Count the days between the two dates and subtract from the period. Dispose only after the period ends and your local rules allow it.
A record dated 2024-05-01 with a three-year period must be kept until 2027-05-01. On 2026-05-01 it has been on file for 730 days, with 365 days left.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: For covered employees, records can include hours worked and wages paid. Ask about the records that apply to the work and employer.
Source limit: Coverage and record requirements depend on the worker, employer, and law. This guide does not state that federal law always requires pay stubs.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
This guide counts days and years from the dates you enter. It does not give legal advice or set a retention rule.
Coverage and record requirements depend on the worker, employer, and law. This guide does not state that federal law always requires pay stubs.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Turn a record date, a check date, and a retention period into a keep-until date and the days that remain.
This App counts days and years from the dates you enter. It does not give legal advice or decide which retention rule applies.
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Turn a record date, a check date, and a retention period into a keep-until date and the days that remain.
Free · no account · no upload
Open Payroll Record Retention ClockThe App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.
Companion App: Payroll Record Retention Clock. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.