Shredder. If you are keeping them, I'd probably leave it for now and shred when you dispose of them.

We shred and put the shredding in our compost bin.

We have a micro-cut shredder. It would be very difficult for anyone to put a micro-cut sheet of paper back together again, especially where there are a whole heck of a lot of micro-cut pages together.

When disposing of documents, I burn anything with my name or info on it. My garbage contains nothing personally identifiable. I also rip my name off the back of catalogs, junk mail , mailing labels etc.

I recently wrote out a check to the IRS for income taxes. The instructions say to write your Social Security number on the check. I didn't.

We have a cross-cut shredder, and we also have a fire pit. Anything sensitive goes one way or the other.

If there are several pages and SS# is only on the first page, I either shred that page or mark it out with a wide Sharpe.

If they are documents that you still want or need to keep, you could black out the number as long as that won't destroy the usefulness of the document (for whatever purpose you need it -- potential IRS audit, perhaps). But, I haven't worried about it (Maybe I should -- I suppose it is possible that someone who breaks into the house could find and steal any of my personal information, but so far thefts have been limited to items of value, and items used to set up housekeeping.)

My country/township has a good recycle program. You can get rid of those electronics that nobody wants and get stuff SHREDDED on the spot. It's well organized... just follow the signs. I had 2 "boat anchor" TV sets that worked just fine but NOBODY wanted. I don't know what they (OTC) do with them, but they took them and added them to a growing heap of stuff. As long as your documents are in paper, like brown market bags or even cardboard boxes, they will dump them into shredded as you watch.

I had to have proof of something for something and needed something with WHOLE SSN on it. Not very easy to find anymore!

I think the concern some of you are suggesting is needed is excessive and very disproportionate to the minimal risk. If,and if and then if, and if, then if, maybe there's a small possibility of a problem. It's highly unlikely and so much worry and attention aren't warranted, in my opinion.

Edit:

I had a later response to Elizabeth that's no longer visible so I'll put it here . Elizabeth, I believe banks are required to restore to your balances any amounts fraudulently removed. Did your bank fail to do that? Please share more details of the money loss you're suggesting you had.

Lucy -- Are you pulling our (collective) leg? The person receiving your check is already seeing your Soc. Sec. number on your tax form. If your check gets separated from your form...you will not be credited as having paid your tax.

Our bank has a free shredding opportunity at tax time every year.

I wish it was as easy to get rid of partially used paint cans.

If you ever had money stolen or accounts opened fraudulently in your name.......you tend to be extremely cautious in the future.

Chisue, in my county, left over paint is very easy to dispose of, depending on it being latex paint. Oil based takes a bit more effort.

chisue, I am not pulling your leg. The IRS instructions say to write your SS number on the check. I know that the IRS has my SS number. My concern is with the bank check clearing system. I don't want my SS number on a check floating around somewhere. As far as the check being separated from the tax form, I figure the IRS can match it up by my name and address, if that ever happens. I am not writing my SS number on the check, regardless of what the IRS instructions say to do.

I also have a (slightly irrational) fear of identity theft. I do as Elizabeth does, I remove anything with name/address from junk mail, and that goes into the shredder. The shredded paper is used to start our wood stove.

When we leave town, I collect up sensitive documents (bank statements, CC bills, etc) and put them in an unlikely spot. Our house is fairly secluded, and if anyone was bent on stealing data, they could spend hours in our house and nobody would know. I have info on tenants, which include applications with every piece of ID-theft data in one spot. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't protect that and someone got it. My document collection process takes me about 5 minutes, and I sleep better at night.

With all of that, I don't take extra effort to protect tax records. They're in filing cabinets in an out-of-the-way closet, but they're there. They take up a lot of space, with two businesses, so I'm not sure what else I could do with them.

LucyStar1 - I thought the same thing when filling out my check to the IRS. I bet they can match the check to the tax return should the two get separated.

Ever wonder why the Lifelock CEO no longer gives out his SSN on his company's ads? https://www.wired.com/2010/05/lifelock-identity-theft/

Chisue, do you have an out of the way place you can sit partially used cans of paint - garage, basement? Take the lid off. Latex or oil. They can go directly into our garbage cans here when dry and hard. But be aware it can take a few weeks for a can of paint you don't want to keep to dry completely. Paint still in liquid form is only accepted on hazardous waste day at our sanitation facility. About 5 miles out of town, hours 8 AM - 11 AM Wednesday mornings only. Completely inconvenient for many.

We have a micro shredder, but if it's records I'm keeping, I black out all but the last four digits.