These are the outer federal limits. Bureaus often delete items a little early. Your state may set shorter limits for some reports, and the limits don't apply to the large-loan, large-insurance and $75,000-salary reports described below. This tool gives general information, not legal advice.
Federal reporting time limits at a glance
| Item | How long it can be reported | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Late payment | 7 years | Date of the late payment |
| Collection account | 7 years + 180 days | Date of first delinquency on the original account |
| Charged-off account | 7 years + 180 days | Date of first delinquency before the charge-off |
| Repossession or foreclosure | 7 years | Date of the first missed payment that led to it |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | 10 years | Bankruptcy filing date (order for relief) |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | 10 years | Bankruptcy filing date (order for relief) |
| Civil judgment or eviction judgment | 7 years | Date the judgment was entered |
| Paid tax lien | 7 years | Date the lien was paid |
| Arrest or charge that did not lead to a conviction | 7 years | Date of the arrest or charge |
| Criminal conviction | No federal limit | Date of the conviction |
| Hard inquiry | 2 years (bureau practice) | Date of the inquiry |
Where these limits come from
Section 605 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681c, bars consumer reporting agencies from reporting most adverse information older than seven years and bankruptcies older than ten. The same limits apply to background check and tenant screening companies, because they are consumer reporting agencies too.
For collections and charge-offs, § 1681c(c) fixes the start of the seven years at 180 days after the delinquency that led to the collection or charge-off. A collector that reports a newer "date of first delinquency" to make a debt look recent is re-aging it, which is a common FCRA problem.
When the limits don't apply
Under § 1681c(b), the time limits do not apply to a report used in connection with credit or life insurance with a face amount of $150,000 or more, or employment at an annual salary of $75,000 or more. Criminal convictions also have no federal limit, but some states restrict them, and sealed or expunged records should not be reported.
Medical collections
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion say they do not report paid medical collections or medical collections under $500, and they wait one year before an unpaid medical collection can appear. Those are the bureaus' own policies, not a federal statute. A CFPB rule that would have removed most medical debt from credit reports was vacated by a federal court in July 2025.
What to do if an item is past its limit
- Get your reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com, or request your background check from the company that ran it.
- Dispute the item in writing as obsolete. Our dispute letter builder writes the letter for you.
- Keep the dispute results. If the item stays, or it cost you credit, a job or an apartment, get a free case review.
Common questions
How long does negative information stay on a credit report?
Most negative information can be reported for seven years under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c. Bankruptcies can be reported for ten. Criminal convictions have no federal limit, though some states set one.
Does paying a collection restart the seven years?
No. For collections and charge-offs, the seven years run from 180 days after the original delinquency. Paying, settling or selling the debt does not change that date.
What if an item is still on my report after its limit?
Reporting obsolete information can violate the FCRA. Dispute it with the bureau or background check company first. If it stays, or it already cost you credit, a job or an apartment, you may have a claim.
Do these limits apply to every report?
No. Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(b), the time limits do not apply to reports used for credit or life insurance of $150,000 or more, or for a job paying $75,000 a year or more.