Tax and Legal

What Investment Records Should You Keep From Day One?

By Walid Mograbi · 2026-05-10 · 2 min read

Good record keeping reduces later confusion and makes tax review far easier than rebuilding the history after the fact.

Why this lesson matters

Good record keeping reduces later confusion and makes tax review far easier than rebuilding the history after the fact.

The core idea

• Keep dates, prices, fees, and transaction type.
• Prefer official statements over screenshots.
• A clean file makes later review faster and safer.

Practical example

A sale may look simple months later, but the tax treatment can depend on records you either kept at the time or lost.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on memory.
• Keeping only screenshots.
• Ignoring fee and statement records.

Quick checklist

• Dates
• Prices
• Fees
• Statements
• Transfer notes

Key takeaway

A good lesson improves judgment, risk control, and execution discipline before it changes action.

Important caution

Tax education should stay tied to current official guidance for the relevant jurisdiction.

Further reading

• https://www.gov.uk/capital-gains-tax/records
• https://www.gov.uk/capital-gains-tax/losses