Negative Items

7 Years

  • Late payments (from original delinquency)
  • Collections (from original delinquency)
  • Charge-offs (from charge-off date)
  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy (from filing)
  • Foreclosures (from filing)
  • Paid tax liens (from payment date)

10 Years

  • Chapter 7 bankruptcy (from filing date)

2 Years

  • Hard inquiries (from inquiry date)

Positive Items

10 Years

  • Closed accounts in good standing
  • Paid-off loans

Indefinitely

  • Open accounts in good standing

Important Notes

The impact of negative items diminishes over time. Recent negative items hurt more than old ones.

Making a payment on old debt can reset the statute of limitations in some states.