Although the IRS's statute of limitations for an audit is three years, tax experts recommend that you retain all tax records for seven years in the event that there are questions about the deceased person's final return.In addition, each state has its own requirements.hich Records to Keep. Additional records besides the deceased's final tax return need to be retained. A quick list of items to keep 1  : Paper copies of pay stubs, insurance policy statements, credit card statements, bank and investment statements and receipts that aren't tied to deductions can be shredded after one year.