Document Retention: 6 years is always a solid guess

Overview: Documents need to be retained for specific periods and disposed of at a certain point. 

1. PAYE Records: 3 years after the end of the tax year to which they relate
2. Banking records: 6 years
3. Intellectual Property: 6 years
4. Donations: 3 or 6 years
5. Employment Records: Generally, 6 years
6. Health & Safety Policy: The life of the company and historic versions, previous versions  should be kept for a minimum of ten years
7. Most other Health and Safety Documents: Retain for 6 years if there are updates.
8. Accidents and injuries: at least 3 years from the date of reporting
9. Pension scheme records:  life of Pension scheme +
10. Hazardous waste: 3 years
11. Data Protection Act (personal data): Delete as soon as possible
12. Company Documents

• Key company documents: Articles of Association, certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association, stakeholder official documents,  ...:  retained for the life of the company. 
• Directors' contracts & Directors’  qualifying indemnity provisions:  six years after termination or expiry.
• Annual Budgets, quarterly financial reports, VAT records, Statutory Report and Accounts:  6 years
• Corporation Tax records: 7 years after filing
• Contract for purchase of own shares, labour agreements: 10 years from the buying date
• Property Records: 15 years after expiry

Note: This is my rough guide, as lots of people love talking about Document Retention.