Overview
Credit reports record the history lenders and public agencies report about your borrowing, repayment, and public financial events. How long a specific account stays on your credit report depends on the type of account, its status (current, late, charged-off, paid), and the legal reporting limits under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Understanding these timelines helps you prioritize fixes, plan credit recovery, and decide whether to keep or close accounts.
Authoritative sources: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the three national credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. See CFPB: https://www.consumerfinance.gov and FTC: https://www.ftc.gov for legal background.
How reporting timelines actually work (the key dates)
- Date of First Delinquency (DoFD): For most negative events (late payments that lead to charge-offs or collections), the 7-year clock starts on the first missed payment that led to the unpaid status. That date is critical — not the date the account was charged off, settled, or sold.
- Filing date: For bankruptcies, the reporting clock usually starts on the bankruptcy filing date (see bankruptcy section below).
- Date of last activity / date of last payment: For positive accounts, credit bureaus typically use the last activity or last update date to determine how long positive tradelines may appear (many items can remain up to 10 years).
These concepts matter because small differences in those dates can change when an account automatically falls off your report.
Typical timelines by account type
Below are commonly observed reporting periods and practical notes about each.
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Late payments (derogatory marks): Up to 7 years from the Date of First Delinquency (FCRA). A late payment reported as 30/60/90 days stays as a negative tradeline; subsequent charge-offs or collections are separate entries but usually tied to that same 7-year clock. (Source: FTC/CFPB guidance on consumer reporting.)
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Collections and charge-offs: Up to 7 years from the Date of First Delinquency that led to the charge-off, even if the collection agency later reports activity. Paid collections may remain reported, but major bureaus changed policies in recent years about medical collections and paid collections — check bureau sites for current rules. (See CFPB and the bureaus.)
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Charge-offs that are later sold to a collection agency: The original delinquency date still governs the 7-year period in most cases, even if the creditor sells the debt.
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Paid or settled accounts: Paying or settling a collection does not automatically remove the underlying 7-year reporting period. However, some bureaus have updated practices to remove paid medical collections or not report small medical debts; paid status may affect scoring models differently.
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Closed accounts in good standing (positive accounts): Up to 10 years for positive information. A closed card that was managed well can continue to help your credit profile for years; keep in mind lenders often value longer positive histories.
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Student loans (current): If in good standing, they remain on your report as long as the account is active and for up to 10 years following certain closure/paid dates in some reporting contexts; defaulted federal student loan delinquencies and defaults follow the same 7‑year rule for derogatory items starting at the first delinquency.
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Bankruptcies: Chapter 7 bankruptcy can remain up to 10 years from the filing date; Chapter 13 bankruptcy typically stays for 7 years (timing can vary by reporting and whether debts are discharged). (Source: FCRA treatment of public records and CRA policies.)
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Tax liens and civil judgments: Historically these were public records on credit reports. Since the late 2010s and into the 2020s, credit bureaus substantially changed reporting of public-record tax liens and civil judgments; many are no longer reported. Check bureau websites for current practices.
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Hard inquiries: Typically remain on your report for 2 years and can affect score for about a year.
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Authorized-user tradelines: If you are an authorized user on someone else’s account, that tradeline can appear on your report while it’s being reported by the card issuer. Positive authorized‑user accounts can help but may be removed when the primary account stops being reported.
Examples that show how timelines affect outcomes
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Example 1 — A late payment that led to a collection: If you missed a payment on January 1, 2018 (DoFD) and the creditor charged it off and sold it, that collection entry is typically eligible to drop from credit reports on January 1, 2025 (7 years later), regardless of later payments to the collection agency.
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Example 2 — Closed credit card in good standing: A credit card you closed in 2016 with a long positive history may continue to appear and help your credit score through 2026 if the last activity was 2016 and the bureau retains the positive tradeline for up to 10 years.
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Example 3 — Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed 2015: That bankruptcy entry may remain until 2025 (10 years from filing) and can have a large impact on mortgage pricing and loan eligibility during that time.
Recent bureau policy changes to be aware of
The three nationwide credit reporting agencies and scoring companies have refined how they treat medical debt, paid collections, and very small collection balances over the past few years. For example, major bureaus announced policy changes that reduce the appearance of paid medical collections or exclude small-balance medical collections; scoring models and lenders gradually adapt to those changes. Always confirm current bureau guidance at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion and monitor CFPB updates: https://www.consumerfinance.gov.
What to do now: practical, prioritized steps (my professional recommendations)
- Get your reports annually and after major life events: Use AnnualCreditReport.com (the website authorized by federal law) to download your reports from all three bureaus at least once a year and before major loan applications. For help reading, see our guide: “How to Read Your Credit Report: A Line-by-Line Walkthrough” (FinHelp).
- Verify Date of First Delinquency: When a negative item appears, identify the DoFD. If it’s wrong, you have grounds to dispute because the removal date can change.
- Dispute inaccuracies promptly: If the dates, balances, or ownership of a tradeline are wrong, file disputes with the bureaus and the furnisher. Our step‑by‑step on disputes can help: “How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report” (FinHelp).
- Prioritize paying current accounts and lowering utilization: Current accounts and low utilization improve scores faster than waiting for old negatives to age off.
- Consider professional help for complex issues: For bankruptcies, identity theft, or legal public-record disputes, consult a qualified attorney or credit counselor.
How lenders interpret the timelines
Lenders don’t only read the list of items — they look at mix, recent payment behavior, credit age, utilization, and the severity and recency of negatives. A 7‑year old charged‑off account may matter less to a mortgage underwriter than a recent 90‑day late payment. Conversely, a recent negative event often cancels out the benefit of some older positives.
Common misconceptions
- Misconception: Paying a collection removes it immediately. Reality: Paying a collection doesn’t automatically remove the history — it updates the status but the 7‑year clock usually still applies. Recent bureau changes mean paid medical collections may be removed in many cases, but verify with the bureaus.
- Misconception: Closing an account removes it from your report. Reality: Closed accounts in good standing may remain as positive tradelines for up to 10 years and can help your credit mix and length-of-history metrics.
Useful links and internal resources
- How to get your free credit report: https://finhelp.io/glossary/how-to-get-a-free-credit-report/
- Read your report line-by-line: “How to Read Your Credit Report: A Line-by-Line Walkthrough” — https://finhelp.io/glossary/how-to-read-your-credit-report-a-line-by-line-walkthrough/
- How long negative items stay: “How Long Negative Items Stay on Your Credit Report” — https://finhelp.io/glossary/how-long-negative-items-stay-on-your-credit-report/
External resources for legal and technical details: CFPB (https://www.consumerfinance.gov), FTC (https://www.ftc.gov), and the three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).
Professional disclaimer
This article is educational and reflects typical reporting practices as of 2025. It is not individualized legal, tax, or financial advice. For personal recommendations, contact a qualified credit counselor, attorney, or financial advisor.
Author credentials
I am a financial educator with 15+ years in personal finance and lending, licensed as a CPA and CFP®. In my practice I help clients identify Date of First Delinquency errors, dispute inaccurate tradelines, and prioritize actions that improve scores within 6–12 months.
If you would like, I can provide a checklist you can use while reviewing your credit reports (DoFD tracker, dispute template, and prioritized action list).
