How Long Items Stay on Your Credit Report
Learn how long negative items stay on your credit report, when the clock starts, and why re-aging is illegal under federal law.
When a negative item appears on a credit report, the question is not just what it is, but how long it will remain visible to lenders. The answer is governed by federal law, specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681c. This statute sets the maximum time that most adverse information can be reported; the CFPB summarizes it as seven years for most negative information and up to ten years for bankruptcies. Understanding these time limits is essential because they determine when a debt stops affecting credit scores and lending decisions.
The most common misunderstanding is that the clock starts on the date of the last payment or the date the account was closed. It does not. For most negative items, the reporting period begins on the date of the first delinquency—the first missed payment that led to the account being reported as delinquent. This date is crucial because it is the starting point for the reporting clock: 7 years plus 180 days for a collection or charge-off.
Reporting Periods by Item Type
The FCRA sets different maximum reporting periods for different types of information. The table below summarizes the key categories and the relevant time limits.
| Item Type | Reporting Period | When the Clock Starts | When It Does NOT Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collections and charge-offs | 7 years plus 180 days | Date of first delinquency on the original account | The clock does not restart when the debt is sold or placed with a new collector. |
| Late payments on an account later brought current | 7 years | Date of that late payment | The account itself is reported as current once it is brought current; the past late payment remains in its history. |
| Bankruptcy (any chapter) | Up to 10 years | Date of the order for relief (filing date) | This is the legal maximum for every chapter. |
| Completed Chapter 13 (bureau practice) | 7 years | Filing date | A voluntary bureau policy, shorter than the 10-year legal maximum. |
| Tax liens | Not reported at all | — | Since April 2018, under the National Consumer Assistance Plan, the three nationwide bureaus have not reported tax liens of any kind, paid or unpaid. If one appears on your report, dispute it. |
| Civil suits and judgments | Law allows 7 years from entry, or until the statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer | Date of entry | Since 2017 the three nationwide bureaus have stopped including civil judgments in credit reports under the National Consumer Assistance Plan. |
| Inquiries (hard pulls) | 2 years (bureau practice; the FCRA sets no period) | Date of inquiry | Soft inquiries (pre-approved offers, background checks, your own checks) do appear on your own copy of the report, but lenders cannot see them and they are not scored. |
| Positive information | Indefinitely | N/A | Positive accounts can remain on the report indefinitely, which is good for credit history. |
Note that the FCRA does not require that negative information be removed after the time limit; it only prohibits reporting it after that time. In practice, most bureaus remove items automatically when the period expires.
The Date of First Delinquency: Why It Matters
The date of first delinquency (DOFD) is the date the account first became delinquent and was never brought current. For example, if a payment was due on January 1, 2020, and the borrower missed that payment and never made it up, the DOFD is January 1, 2020. The collection or charge-off can be reported until 7 years and 180 days after that date, about 1 July 2027 in this example, not 7 years from the date the account was charged off or sent to collections.
This distinction is critical because some debt collectors or credit bureaus might report a more recent date, which would extend the reporting period. That practice is illegal. Under the FCRA, a furnisher (the company that reports the information) must report the accurate DOFD. If a collector re-ages the debt by reporting a later delinquency date, that is a violation of federal law.
Re-Aging: What It Is and Why It’s Illegal
Re-aging is the practice of changing the delinquency date on an account to a more recent date, effectively resetting the reporting clock. This can happen when a consumer makes a partial payment or agrees to a payment plan, and the collector updates the status to “current” but also changes the DOFD. That is not allowed.
The FCRA and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibit re-aging. Specifically, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued rules that require furnishers to report the accurate DOFD. If a consumer disputes an item, the credit bureau must investigate and correct any inaccurate information.
Why does re-aging happen? Often it is a mistake or a result of a data entry error. But sometimes it is intentional, to keep a debt on the report longer, which can pressure the consumer to pay. Regardless of intent, re-aging is illegal, and consumers have the right to dispute it.
The Most Common Mistake: Paying a Collection to Remove It
A widespread myth is that paying a collection account will make it disappear from the credit report. That is not true. The FCRA does not require removal upon payment. The account can remain for the full 7 years and 180 days from the DOFD, but the status will change to “paid collection.” While a paid collection may look better to some lenders, it still counts as a negative item and can still affect credit scores.
Why do people believe this? Because some debt collectors offer “pay for delete” agreements, where they agree to remove the collection from the report if the consumer pays. This is not guaranteed, and it is not required by law. In fact, the credit bureaus’ policies generally prohibit such agreements, but they sometimes happen anyway. Relying on this can lead to disappointment and wasted money.
Another common mistake is assuming that making a payment on an old debt resets the clock. A payment does not reset the reporting period, but it can reset the statute of limitations for suing on the debt. These are two different clocks. The reporting period is set by federal law, while the statute of limitations is set by state law and governs how long a creditor can sue. Paying a debt can restart the state’s clock, making the consumer vulnerable to a lawsuit even if the reporting period is almost over.
When the Clock Starts: The 180-Day Rule
The rule is seven years plus 180 days from the date of first delinquency. Section 1681c(c)(1) of the FCRA starts the seven-year period at the end of a 180-day window that begins with the delinquency that led to the collection or charge-off, which comes to seven years and about six months in total. So if the first missed payment that was never cured was on 1 January 2020, the item must come off by about 1 July 2027, six months after the plain seven-year mark. The date that matters is the date of first delinquency (DOFD), and it does not reset if the debt is sold, assigned or transferred to a new collector — a furnisher placing a delinquent account for collection must report the DOFD under §1681s-2(a)(5).
This 180-day rule is why some accounts appear on the report with a “date of first delinquency” that is earlier than the actual charge-off date. It is also why the DOFD is not always the same as the date the account was closed.
Checking Your Report for Accuracy
Because the DOFD is so important, it is wise to check credit reports for accuracy. Consumers can get a free credit report from each of the three nationwide bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) every week through AnnualCreditReport.com, as the FTC explains; the FCRA itself guarantees one free report from each every 12 months. Reviewing the DOFD for each negative item can help identify re-aging or other errors.
If an item is reported incorrectly, a consumer can file a dispute with the credit bureau. The bureau must investigate within 30 days (45 days if the consumer provides additional information). If the furnisher cannot verify the information, it must be removed.
State Variations and Legal Help
While the FCRA sets the maximum reporting periods, some state laws may provide additional protections. For example, some states have shorter statutes of limitations for debts, but that does not affect the reporting period. The three nationwide bureaus no longer report civil judgments or tax liens at all. If a consumer is facing a lawsuit or a large debt, it is advisable to consult an attorney who specializes in consumer law.
Summary of Key Points
- Collections and charge-offs can be reported for 7 years plus 180 days from the date of first delinquency; a late payment on its own, for 7 years.
- Bankruptcy can be reported for up to 10 years under the FCRA; the bureaus remove a completed Chapter 13 after 7 years as a matter of policy.
- Hard inquiries stay for 2 years.
- Positive information can stay indefinitely.
- The clock starts on the DOFD, not the last payment or charge-off date.
- Re-aging is illegal under the FCRA.
- Paying a collection does not remove it from the report.
- Check credit reports regularly for accuracy.
This information is based on federal law, but it is not legal advice. For specific situations, especially involving lawsuits or large sums, seek professional legal help.
Common questions
How long does a late payment stay on my credit report?
A late payment can be reported for 7 years from the date of that delinquency, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If the account was later charged off or sent to collection, the collection or charge-off itself follows the longer collection rule: 7 years plus 180 days from the date of first delinquency.
When does a collection account fall off my credit report?
A collection account can be reported for 7 years plus 180 days from the date of first delinquency on the original account (FCRA section 605(c)). If the original account first went delinquent, and was never brought current, on 1 January 2020, the collection must come off by about 1 July 2027, even if the collection was placed later or the debt was sold.
Does paying a collection remove it from my credit report?
No. Paying a collection does not remove it from your credit report. The account can remain for the full period (7 years plus 180 days from the date of first delinquency), but the status will change to 'paid collection.' Some collectors may agree to 'pay for delete,' but that is not guaranteed and is not required by law.
Can a debt collector re-age my account to keep it on my report longer?
No. Re-aging, or changing the date of first delinquency to a later date, is illegal under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If you believe an account has been re-aged, you can dispute it with the credit bureau, and they must investigate within 30 days.
How long does a bankruptcy stay on my credit report?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows any bankruptcy to be reported for up to 10 years from the date of the order for relief (in practice, the filing date). The three nationwide credit bureaus remove a completed Chapter 13 after 7 years from filing as their own policy; that shorter period is a bureau practice, not a requirement of the law.
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