US Federal

How long can negative information stay on my credit report?

7 years
Standard limit
10 years
Bankruptcy
2 years
Inquiries
7 years
Collections
The Short Answer

Most negative information can stay on your credit report for 7 years; bankruptcies can remain for up to 10 years.

What the Law Says

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets federal time limits on how long negative information may remain on consumer credit reports. These limits ensure outdated or irrelevant data does not unfairly harm creditworthiness.

Under federal law, most derogatory information — such as late payments, charge-offs, collections, and foreclosures — must be removed from your credit report after 7 years from the date of the first delinquency that led to the adverse event.

Bankruptcies are treated differently: Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcies may stay on your report for up to 10 years from the filing date. Chapter 13 bankruptcies may be reported for 7 years from the filing date — or 10 years if filed before November 1997.

Credit inquiries made by lenders (hard pulls) remain for 2 years. Tax liens and civil judgments are no longer routinely reported by major bureaus due to changes in reporting standards, but when reported, they historically followed 7-year rules unless renewed.

Statutory Text

Consumer credit reporting

— 15 U.S.C. § 1681 — Congressional findings and statement of purpose

What to Do

1

Review your free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com to check for outdated negative items.

2

Dispute any item older than its legal limit using the credit bureau’s online or mail dispute process.

3

Include documentation (e.g., account statements, bankruptcy discharge date) with your dispute.

4

Follow up if the bureau doesn’t respond within 30 days — they’re required to investigate and correct inaccuracies.

5

If unresolved, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Sources

statute15 U.S.C. § 1681 — Congressional findings and statement of purpose

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.