Question: How long does negative information stay on my credit report?
Answer: Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), most negative information will stay on your credit report for a minimum of seven years. There are exceptions to these credit reporting time limits for certain types of negative information.
- Delinquency information like late payments and collections has a credit reporting time limit of seven years from the date of delinquency.
- Charge-offs, seven years + 180 days from the date reported to the credit bureau.
- Student loan defaults, seven years.
- Foreclosures, seven years.
- Law suits or judgments, seven years from the date of filing or the state statute of limitations, whichever is longer.
- Bankruptcy, 10 years from the date you file.
- Paid tax liens, seven years from the date paid.
- Unpaid tax liens, 15 years.
For California Residents
- Paid or released tax liens remain on your credit report for 7 years from the date released or 10 years from the date filed.
- Unpaid tax liens stay on your credit report for 10 years from the date filed.
For New York Residents
- Paid judgments stay on your credit report for 5 years from the date filed.
- Paid collections stay on your credit report for 5 years from the date paid or last date of activity.
