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2026 Tax Season: Protect Your Assets with Document Safes
Whether you’re filing personal tax returns or managing financials for your business, protecting your financial documents is one area where you can’t afford to compromise on security. As the 2026 tax season approaches, explore safety and security measures you need to take to safeguard important assets from theft, fraud and environmental damage.
When Does the 2026 Tax Season Start?
The IRS will begin accepting and processing returns for the 2025 tax year in late January. Individual tax returns are due April 15, while the deadline for businesses like partnerships, C Corporations and S Corporations is March 16, 2026.1 Be sure to check with your tax advisor for specific deadlines and requirements based on your situation.
Why It's Important to Protect Your Assets During Tax Season
Tax preparation requires compiling and organizing your income statements, receipts, Social Security numbers and expense reports all in one place. However, this can make your personal and financial information more vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. Tax identity theft occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to steal your tax refund. In 2023, the IRS flagged over one million returns for identity fraud.2 Unfortunately, identity theft can detrimentally impact your personal or business finances and lead to legal consequences, the loss of assets and negative impacts to your credit standing.
To help protect your identity during tax season:
- Safely dispose of financial documents you don’t need by shredding them once you have filed your tax return.
- Be hyperaware of phishing attempts during tax season, including emails and phone calls from IRS and bank impersonators.
- Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication if you’re filing online.
- Obtain an Identity Protection Identification Number (IP PIN) from the IRS to prevent cyber criminals from filing a fraudulent tax return with your social security number.
In addition to guarding against fraud, it’s important to protect your tax documents from environmental threats, like fires and natural disasters. By storing your important assets and files in a document safe, you can safeguard them against theft, loss and damage all year long
How Document Safes Can Provide Financial Security
Document safes are your first line of defense against theft and fire and water damage. SentrySafe document safes are constructed with fire-resistant materials and often have additional features like waterproof seals or digital locks to ensure maximum security.
Document Safes for Your Home
To keep documents safe at home, consider purchasing a compact safe that also provides ample storage space for important documents. Our safes accommodate hanging files, so you won’t have to bend or stack your tax documents and paperwork. Additionally, it’s important to choose a safe with a secure locking mechanism, such as a digital keypad or privacy key lock, to prevent unauthorized access.
Document Safes for Businesses
Running a business comes with a multitude of concerns, but SentrySafe business safes help eliminate worries about the security of your cash, receipts, deposit slips and tax documents. Specifically crafted to thwart burglaries at the point of purchase, SentrySafe safes go beyond mere theft protection. Some also offer fire and water protection, ensuring that your crucial paperwork, cash and valuables remain unscathed in the event of a disaster.
How Long are You Required to Keep Tax Documents?
The IRS recommends keeping your tax documents for three years from the date you filed your original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, and even up to seven years in other cases.3 In 2025, the IRS enacted new AI solutions to support identification of tax returns deserving of audits, making it critical to preserve records and documents.
If you need to access transcripts of past returns, wage and income statements, or business tax transcripts, you can request them online from the IRS. To keep documents safe at home or at your place of work for years to come, purchase a safe that’s fireproof and waterproof. When shopping for a safe with a high fire rating, it’s imperative to choose one certified by trusted independent testing labs such as UL or EL.
How to Store Documents in a Fire-Proof Safe
To safely store your documents in a fireproof safe, consider putting your documents inside a fire-proof bag within the safe for dual-layer protection. This bag will keep all your valuables and files in one place for grab-and-go protection in an emergency, while doubling as another layer of protection against fire and water damage.
How to Keep Documents Dry in a Safe
Many SentrySafe safes have airtight seals to prevent water damage, but this can trap moisture from the air inside the safe. Prevent mold, moisture and mildew damage to your documents by opening your safe at least once per month and using moisture-absorbing desiccant packs when the safe is locked.
Desiccant packs are another essential tool to keep your important documents dry within your safe. Simply place them in the safe next to your documents, and they will help absorb any moisture to keep your tax documents in good condition. Desiccant packs last up to six months before they need to be replaced, depending on the humidity levels in your area. SentrySafe offers a subscription for desiccant packs where you can save 15% on your purchase and receive automatic deliveries every six months, ensuring that you always have fresh packs on hand for your safe. Learn more about how to manage moisture levels in your safe and care for the valuables inside it.
Tax document protection requires deliberate planning and the most trusted security solutions. Whether you need to protect against fire and water or theft and fraud, it's important to choose a safe that offers the right level of protection for your documents. Find a safe with the right level of protection for the 2026 tax season by using our Safe Selector tool.
